Carey Mulligan’s Performance as Felicia Shines in Bradley Cooper’s Maestro: A quick review

Carey Mulligan’s Performance as Felicia Shines

Bradley Cooper’s latest film explores Leonard Bernstein’s life with an angle of his complicated marriage with Felicia, played by Mulligan

Who was Leonard Bernstein?

Leonard Bernstein, the first great American conductor, pianist, and composer, is the subject of the new Netflix release, Maestro. Directed by Bradley Cooper, who also stars as Bernstein, the film centers on the complicated marriage between Leonard and Felicia Montealegre, The Chilean-Costa Rican actor known for her roles in television series on and off Broadway and was a social activist.

Leonard’s best work is known for West Side Story.

What Maestro is about?

The film begins with an elderly Bernstein looking back at his life, reflecting on the time spent with Felicia. While the film features flashes of artistic brilliance, it needs to catch up in its presentation of the subject matter, heavily guiding the viewer to look at the couple’s marriage.

The perspective on the subject that is, Leonard Bernstein feels almost pretentious and heavy, leaving the audience to stay in vain for the couple’s complicated marriage angle. It was like Cooper wanted to show off this angle only. So, the new Netflix release more than a biopic of the subject felt like a biopic on Bernstein and Felicia’s marriage.

The film was directed, produced, and written by Bradley Cooper, who also played the lead role in the film, Leonard himself. Josh Singer was the co-writer with Bradley Cooper.

Carey Mulligan’s Performance

Leaving the movie aside, and focusing on the characters and performances by the actors, Carey Mulligan as Felicia was a standout. She brings Felicia to life in a way that you almost forgot Carey is there. Mulligan offers intensity, warmth, and urgency in a film that needs to place more importance on the subject, Leonard than the filmmaker himself.

There was a particular scene in the film, where Felicia finally confronts Leonard, opening up a can of worms and catching Leonard off guard with her strong statement shushing him for the first time in years.

Your truth is a f*cking lie. It sucks up the energy in every room, Felicia said. This was the pinnacle of her performance, that showed absolute brilliance.