In honour of MLK day I watched Rustin on Netflix. I was so moved by the end- I was in tears. The 3 main GOP candidates are showing themselves to be racist - Esp. Desantis - who thinks slavary was good training -- and trump - who somehow thinks he has more standing in this country than Afro-Americans -- Black history is American history. It saddens me that all the rights fought for - esp. in the 1960s will be trampled on by these entitled bigots- That is what brought me to tears.
Point of order. I will likely NEVER watch Maestro; I have already watched Rebel Moon TWICE! And as soon as Sonny said, but wait, this is Zack Snyder so there will be an extended cut, I immediately understood, I would be watching a 3rd time, for sure. I really loved Rebel Moon. I loved the thematic theft, we'll steal from everybody, that nobody can be mad (the space ships and planets look directly lifted from the AAA Bethesda game, Starfield). I started counting all the different influences clearly visible throughout, including the Djimon Hounsou playing a gladiator in both the movie that influenced his origin scene AND the movie named "Gladiator." I saw some hints of Blade Run, several different Star Wars, Game of Thrones, etc; yet, somehow, I felt the movie retained its own identity. Loved it. Can't wait for more (until of course, we get Rebel Moon, Part 9 the mini-series on the Disney+, then I'll be out).
Reacher IS large, and therefore good (I guess). Apropos of nothing, when the Tom Cruise movies came out, a friend of my had read all the books, and he was pissed. He explained that Reacher was a hulking man, that was part of the appeal (I guess... again). But that information is funny, when 5' 7" Tom Cruise steps out of the bar into the street and ominously intones, "Remember, you wanted this." It just strains credibility, um... I guess.
I enjoyed the Maestro for its fine acting but perhaps it lets me peek into a time when this musical genre was somewhat popular. The movie was all about his relationship with his wife, and his musical accomplishments took a backseat. So it is hard to appreciate the film without knowing more about his professional life already.
Maybe Snyder is better off with stronger source material. I'm 15 minutes into Rebel Moon and I feel as if I can predict most of the lines and all of the scenes.
I hated Maestro, and I love Bernstein’s music, Mulligan and Cooper. The film seemed to get every note wrong except the acting. The writing was heavy handed, the sound mixing was awful, the emotional highlight of the movie was conducting Mahler, the most European composer imaginable when a key theme of the movie was about how Bernstein’s music, directing, reputation was optimistic and technical. In the first part of the movie Bradley Cooper did a rapid beat mid Atlantic accent and the second half he sounded like he had a sinus infection. I was so annoyed the entire time. I couldn’t stand any of the characters by the end. What a waste.
I was going to stream MAESTRO Wednesday night but instead took my kids to see THE BOY AND THE HERON. I was going to stream MAESTRO last night but sat down, found the TV had the Prime menu up, and got sucked into a Steely Dan documentary, never even pulling up Netflix. I was going to stream MAESTRO tonight but have been given enough pause by the mounting negative reviews of it that I’ve decided to just read instead.
Dec 22, 2023·edited Dec 28, 2023Liked by Sonny Bunch
...Man, that Variety article on the 100 Greatest Shows of All-Time was infuriating. Deadwood ranked at #74? Sex and the City at #6 (ahead of The Wire, and right behind Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and The Sopranos)? Ronald D. Moore's Battlestar Galactica not even making the list at all? Way too many of those picks appear to be based more on wokeness-criteria than actual quality. And The Simpsons became absolute lazy trash shortly after Season 8 ended.
And no Frasier, Battlestar Galactica (2000s remake), Firefly, Parks & Recreation or Futurama seem like fairly big omissions IMO. I get that it's hard to compile such a list and make everyone happy but a somewhat odd list to be sure.
Complete agreement on Maestro. Watching it was like watching an old home movie of people you've never met - cavorting,waving at the camera, acting - which might be interesting if you're one of people, or at least know the people. But is not interesting to me. I did not watch the whole thing and was even a little angry that it offered no way into these people. Big disappointment. Amateur Hour.
It seems that you walked in to Maestro expecting to see a film that the director hadn't planned to make. Interviews with Cooper that I've heard indicate that what you took away from the film: that here was a portrait of a famous & celebrated artist's marriage & how it was affected by his narcissim & homosexuality, was exactly what Cooper wanted you to experience. Your need to know information that the director chose not to provide looks to me like your problem, not his.
Even though you acknowledge all technical & creative aspects of the film were well done, it wasn't the film you wanted to see. Too bad for you, but let's not say it didn't work, since it did, just not in the way you'd expected/wanted...
Agreed...and it's possible that there's a generational element at work here: I'm old enough to have experienced Bernstein's public persona in real-time, including watching his Young People's concerts. And even though he lived in my hometown, all I knew about him were his works & his reputation. So I have the history you, and it looks like other commenters here, do not. And did you not think Mulligan's very visceral depiction of Montealegre's struggle & the scenes between the two were compelling?
Anyway...Cooper has his outlet & audience, as do you...he can't change your experience...unfortunate, though, that you might do that for some of your readers...but I suppose that's what your job is, as it's theirs to ultimately decide for themselves.
The one thing I will give Rebel Moon though: it probably does the best job of any sci-fi since the original Star Wars to show us a real, lived-in universe with a vast array of characters who all have their own histories. And it's gorgeous on the whole. Say what you will about Snyder but damn does he have an eye for film imagery
Snyder's work on Netflix makes me wonder what it'd be like to see him produce a film more directly with Nolan. If Nolan ever decides to do truly fantastical, god I hope he makes that film with Snyder
While I enjoyed Maestro, I agree with your analysis. They were more like vignettes exploring Bernstein’s relationships and one didn’t quite get how this affected his composing or conducting. Still, the acting was absolutely superb and this along with the cinematography make this a movie worth watching.
I was wondering what it was about Maestro that bothered me. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I loved Bernstein and the way he conducted. I am aware, because i was around during his tenure, of his way with music and conducting. It's a joy to watch him conduct and the music in the movie was superb. But it still bothered me, and i think you explained it beautifully. It really did not say anything. I knew he was bisexual, we all did. So! The acting was also superb, especially Cary. But i left the theater feeling like i missed something. I really wanted more of his music and less of his assignations. Thanks.
In honour of MLK day I watched Rustin on Netflix. I was so moved by the end- I was in tears. The 3 main GOP candidates are showing themselves to be racist - Esp. Desantis - who thinks slavary was good training -- and trump - who somehow thinks he has more standing in this country than Afro-Americans -- Black history is American history. It saddens me that all the rights fought for - esp. in the 1960s will be trampled on by these entitled bigots- That is what brought me to tears.
Point of order. I will likely NEVER watch Maestro; I have already watched Rebel Moon TWICE! And as soon as Sonny said, but wait, this is Zack Snyder so there will be an extended cut, I immediately understood, I would be watching a 3rd time, for sure. I really loved Rebel Moon. I loved the thematic theft, we'll steal from everybody, that nobody can be mad (the space ships and planets look directly lifted from the AAA Bethesda game, Starfield). I started counting all the different influences clearly visible throughout, including the Djimon Hounsou playing a gladiator in both the movie that influenced his origin scene AND the movie named "Gladiator." I saw some hints of Blade Run, several different Star Wars, Game of Thrones, etc; yet, somehow, I felt the movie retained its own identity. Loved it. Can't wait for more (until of course, we get Rebel Moon, Part 9 the mini-series on the Disney+, then I'll be out).
Reacher IS large, and therefore good (I guess). Apropos of nothing, when the Tom Cruise movies came out, a friend of my had read all the books, and he was pissed. He explained that Reacher was a hulking man, that was part of the appeal (I guess... again). But that information is funny, when 5' 7" Tom Cruise steps out of the bar into the street and ominously intones, "Remember, you wanted this." It just strains credibility, um... I guess.
I enjoyed the Maestro for its fine acting but perhaps it lets me peek into a time when this musical genre was somewhat popular. The movie was all about his relationship with his wife, and his musical accomplishments took a backseat. So it is hard to appreciate the film without knowing more about his professional life already.
That list was quite predictable. Having said that, I haven’t ever watched 2/3 of them.
Maybe Snyder is better off with stronger source material. I'm 15 minutes into Rebel Moon and I feel as if I can predict most of the lines and all of the scenes.
I hated Maestro, and I love Bernstein’s music, Mulligan and Cooper. The film seemed to get every note wrong except the acting. The writing was heavy handed, the sound mixing was awful, the emotional highlight of the movie was conducting Mahler, the most European composer imaginable when a key theme of the movie was about how Bernstein’s music, directing, reputation was optimistic and technical. In the first part of the movie Bradley Cooper did a rapid beat mid Atlantic accent and the second half he sounded like he had a sinus infection. I was so annoyed the entire time. I couldn’t stand any of the characters by the end. What a waste.
I was going to stream MAESTRO Wednesday night but instead took my kids to see THE BOY AND THE HERON. I was going to stream MAESTRO last night but sat down, found the TV had the Prime menu up, and got sucked into a Steely Dan documentary, never even pulling up Netflix. I was going to stream MAESTRO tonight but have been given enough pause by the mounting negative reviews of it that I’ve decided to just read instead.
...Man, that Variety article on the 100 Greatest Shows of All-Time was infuriating. Deadwood ranked at #74? Sex and the City at #6 (ahead of The Wire, and right behind Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and The Sopranos)? Ronald D. Moore's Battlestar Galactica not even making the list at all? Way too many of those picks appear to be based more on wokeness-criteria than actual quality. And The Simpsons became absolute lazy trash shortly after Season 8 ended.
And no Frasier, Battlestar Galactica (2000s remake), Firefly, Parks & Recreation or Futurama seem like fairly big omissions IMO. I get that it's hard to compile such a list and make everyone happy but a somewhat odd list to be sure.
Never dull? Maestro was one of the most intensely boring movies I ever endured. Mind crushingly boring.
Oh see I disagree with this. I don’t think it works as a narrative but it was always at least interesting to see what was happening on the screen.
Complete agreement on Maestro. Watching it was like watching an old home movie of people you've never met - cavorting,waving at the camera, acting - which might be interesting if you're one of people, or at least know the people. But is not interesting to me. I did not watch the whole thing and was even a little angry that it offered no way into these people. Big disappointment. Amateur Hour.
It seems that you walked in to Maestro expecting to see a film that the director hadn't planned to make. Interviews with Cooper that I've heard indicate that what you took away from the film: that here was a portrait of a famous & celebrated artist's marriage & how it was affected by his narcissim & homosexuality, was exactly what Cooper wanted you to experience. Your need to know information that the director chose not to provide looks to me like your problem, not his.
he made the movie he wanted to make and it doesn't work, bully for him
Even though you acknowledge all technical & creative aspects of the film were well done, it wasn't the film you wanted to see. Too bad for you, but let's not say it didn't work, since it did, just not in the way you'd expected/wanted...
A movie can be technically proficient and uncompelling as drama. Those are not contradictions.
Agreed...and it's possible that there's a generational element at work here: I'm old enough to have experienced Bernstein's public persona in real-time, including watching his Young People's concerts. And even though he lived in my hometown, all I knew about him were his works & his reputation. So I have the history you, and it looks like other commenters here, do not. And did you not think Mulligan's very visceral depiction of Montealegre's struggle & the scenes between the two were compelling?
Anyway...Cooper has his outlet & audience, as do you...he can't change your experience...unfortunate, though, that you might do that for some of your readers...but I suppose that's what your job is, as it's theirs to ultimately decide for themselves.
The one thing I will give Rebel Moon though: it probably does the best job of any sci-fi since the original Star Wars to show us a real, lived-in universe with a vast array of characters who all have their own histories. And it's gorgeous on the whole. Say what you will about Snyder but damn does he have an eye for film imagery
There's a better version of this movie out there somewhere, I just know it!
Snyder's work on Netflix makes me wonder what it'd be like to see him produce a film more directly with Nolan. If Nolan ever decides to do truly fantastical, god I hope he makes that film with Snyder
I'm 40 so I have zero idea who Leonard Bernstein is beyond a line in an R.E.M. song.
That is both horrifying and completely understandable. And it made me laugh (not at your expense; I’m glad you shared).
While I enjoyed Maestro, I agree with your analysis. They were more like vignettes exploring Bernstein’s relationships and one didn’t quite get how this affected his composing or conducting. Still, the acting was absolutely superb and this along with the cinematography make this a movie worth watching.
Isn’t Parmax one of those drugs advertised to aging gen Xers on the morning news?
I was wondering what it was about Maestro that bothered me. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I loved Bernstein and the way he conducted. I am aware, because i was around during his tenure, of his way with music and conducting. It's a joy to watch him conduct and the music in the movie was superb. But it still bothered me, and i think you explained it beautifully. It really did not say anything. I knew he was bisexual, we all did. So! The acting was also superb, especially Cary. But i left the theater feeling like i missed something. I really wanted more of his music and less of his assignations. Thanks.
I do what I can!