This film is not really a biopic of conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein (played by Bradley Cooper), but an intimate love story between him and his wife Felicia (Carey Mulligan). Many of his most memorable accomplishments are glossed over in favor of the tumultuous relationship that was beleaguered by his affairs with men. Cooper, the actor, disappears into the role, creating a mesmerizingly charismatic character. Mulligan is equally exceptional in her complex reactions to their thorny rapport. Cooper, the director, has made some unusual stylistic choices that don’t always work, sometimes opting to leave the camera in a distant wide shot or focused on the reactions, not the action. He’s also chosen to start the film in black and white, then transition to color then wide screen to echo the visual style of movies from those periods. One tour de force scene is when he conducts Mahler in Ely Cathedral, shot in one continuous take. Even with its narrative flaws and frustrations, Cooper has elevated his accomplishments as an actor and director, creating a compelling look at a complex relationship. 
(4 / 5)