Good movie. NOT great conducting...

I wanted so bad to "rant" to my symphony musician friends and family when I saw the press coverage, and the movie "Maestro." Especially Bradley Cooper's conversation on Fresh Air NPR.  

Please forgive me (Bradley), this is not kind....

He seemed to think he did a great job conducting, and critics are saying the same thing - and to ME it seemed like he was DANCING to the music.  The difference - and it is EVERYTHING - is that his motions were slightly after-the-fact of the notes, rather than a REAL conductor, who raises his hands anticipatorily so that the musicians see what's coming, with the downstroke coming on the beat - with PLENTY of notice, to keep them together in tempo and with cues. In fact, there is a scene with a student conductor, who knows what he is doing, and the timing difference is striking.

The way he talked, he seems to think the conductor is SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for the great music played by the MUSICIANS, and not just a leader who KEEPS THEM TOGETHER, and yes - can also encourage and inspire them to play their best, especially when the conductor lifts them up. But it's not the CONDUCTOR's sole achievement!!!  He never even mentioned the musicians!

Poor Bradley. He's a star, so probably no one will enlighten him... But he did not look like a great conductor. He looked like an actor, dancing to the music the musicians were playing. I'm sure he did his homework, and he was precise in mimicking Bernstein's movements, but in the timing, I'm sure he has no idea.

I also did not like the impressionistic cinematography. It seemed experimental, and much of it did not work, such as an outdoors conversation between Leonard and his wife, shot through a ?? - I think - an arbor. I found myself yearning for more normal framing and angles and lighting.

I really, really like Bradley Cooper, but now I consider him probably quite isolated, and surrounded by people who won't speak the truth to him, as are many celebrities. How sad. This timing thing almost ruined the movie for me. As well as Leonard being a narcissist. Of course he was a HUGE talent and I love much of his music, and this movie did humanize him effectively. He was warm, and loved people, and not all narcissists do. But at the end of the day, it just reinforced that he also had a huge ego (not uncommon in that professional world or among successful men) and thought everything was about him.

Maestro makes me want to see more movies about humble people who achieved greatness. Jesus. Desmond Tutu. Nelson Mandela. Jimmy Carter. Warren Buffett. I'm sure it's a long list. We need more movies about them.