I was actually surprised by last month’s intel that post-production work on Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro” had been completed.
This was supposed to mean that the test-screening, which occurred on 02.09.22, must have, more or less, been the finished product. Reactions from that screening were mixed, but one person I spoke to, a former film critic, loved it.
Usually, a film that tests this early, months before its intended release date, is an indication that either the studio, or the filmmaker himself, aren’t happy with the finished product.
It makes more sense to now be hearing about Maestro’s reshoots and touch-ups, scheduled for next week in New York City. No word yet on how long it’s supposed to last, but I’ll edit this article accordingly, whenever I hear of an update.
If these are brief reshoots, lasting just a few days, then we need not be too worried, but if they last for more than a few weeks then sound the alarms, there’s panic going around.
The first 20 or so minutes of “Maestro” are supposed to be in black and white, but then it’s basically all in color after that intro. The makeup work is said to be incredible, Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein ages in very realistic fashion.
Cooper has been working closely with the Bernstein estate over the past couple of years to nail the details of this biopic. Suffice to say, this has been Cooper’s passion project for almost a decade now and I can’t wait to see it. There’s one scene that keeps getting mentioned in this film — Bernstein conducting at a cathedral.
The film will focus more on Bernstein's relationship with his wife (Carey Mulligan) than it does on his music, but has some great musical moments nonetheless. One of the other highlights is an On the Town dance/dream sequence.
The upcoming film is a biopic based on the life of Bernstein. It is said to span over 30 years, telling the story of the marriage between Bernstein and his wife, Felicia Montealegre.
“Maestro” started shooting last May and wrapped in early Fall. It’s most likely doing the fall festival circuit (Toronto, Venice), probably smack dab in the middle of the Telluride/Venice/Toronto storm.
Now it looks like Bradford Young — who took a sabbatical from movies these last seven or eight years — has attached to the project as DP. This is a welcome surprise.