Bradley Cooper traded in his guitar for a baton in Netflix’sMaestro, a musical biopic about world-renowned composer Leonard Bernstein. While the film touches on Bernstein’s musical accomplishments,Maestrofocuses on the relationship between Bernstein (Cooper) and his wife, Felicia Montealegre (Carey Mulligan).Maestrois co-produced and directed by Cooper from a script he co-wrote with Josh Singer.
As one of themost anticipated Netflix movies of 2023,Maestrois finally available on the popular streaming service. In honor ofMaestro’srelease, you should check out these three films similar to Cooper’s newest movie. Our selections include a love affair between two musicians, a groundbreaking musical film, and a biopic about a French composer from the 18th century.
A Star Is Born (2018)
Before watchingMaestro, revisit Cooper’s first directorial effort,A Star Is Born. LikeMaestro, Cooper assumed nearly every title in the production – star, co-writer, producer, and director. Knowing what we know now about Cooper’s decision to make a film about Bernstein,A Star Is Bornwas his trial run for a story about the price of making art, the cost of fame, and the complicated love between two artists.
A Star Is Born, the fourth feature adaptation of the romantic drama, chronicles the love affair between aging musician Jackson Maine (Cooper) and unknown singer Ally (Lady Gaga). After a show, Jackson stumbles into a bar and discovers Ally singingLa Vie en Rose. Jackson invites Ally onstage at his next concert and then brings her on tour, launching her into the spotlight and raising her profile. As Ally’s career skyrockets, Jackson’s personal life plummets as he struggles to cope with his demons and past trauma.
Rent or buyA Star Is BornonYouTube,Google,Prime Video, orApple.
West Side Story (1961)
To the mainstream audience, Bernstein’s most famous work isWest Side Story, the 1958 Broadway musical that transportedRomeo and Julietto modern-day New York City. Bernstein composed the music while Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics. Three years later,West Side Storywas adapted into a film, where it went on to become the gold standard for movie musicals.
Directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins,West Side Storycenters on a turf war between two rival gangs – the Jets and the Sharks – on the Upper West Side. Tony (Richard Beymer), a former member of the Jets, and Maria (Natalie Wood), the younger sister of the Sharks’ leader, fall in love at a school dance. While Tony and Maria grow closer, outside forces and their respective allies try to tear these star-crossed lovers apart.West Side Storywas a landmark achievement for musicals, as the film went on to win a record-breaking 10 Oscars. Steven Spielberg adapted the musical in 2021, and it went on to receive seven nominations at the2022 Oscars.
StreamWest Side StoryonAMC+.
Chevalier (2022)
Speaking of famous composers, the life and career of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges received a feature film adaptation inChevalier. Kelvin Harrison Jr. stars as the titular Chevalier, the illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner. Saint-Georges begins to climb the social ladder within French society because of his expertise as a violinist and composer.
Saint-Georges’ musical prowess attracts the attention of Marie Antoinette (The Pale Blue Eye‘sLucy Boynton) and Marie-Joséphine de Montalembert, with the latter becoming his lover. Saint-Georges aspires to become the director of the Paris Opera, but the racial divide and a budding revolution threaten to destroy his life.
