Who wore it better: Bradley Cooper or Maestro Leonard Bernstein?

ToI’s movie maven and deputy editor consider the depiction of the troubled genius in Hollywood biopic ‘Maestro’ versus the master’s own voice in documentary ‘Bernstein’s Wall’

With:
  • Amanda Borschel-Dan
    Amanda Borschel-Dan

    Deputy Editor Amanda Borschel-Dan is the host of The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, What Matters Now and The Reel Schmooze podcasts, and heads up The Times of Israel’s features.

  • Jordan Hoffman
    Jordan Hoffman

    Jordan Hoffman, a member of the New York Film Critics Circle, is The Times of Israel’s long-time film reviewer and the co-host of The Reel Schmooze.

Welcome to The Reel Schmooze with ToI film reviewer Jordan Hoffman and host Amanda Borschel-Dan, where we bring you all the entertainment news and film reviews a Jew can use.

This week, we dive straight into our two films for this week, the 2021 documentary “Bernstein’s Wall” and Bradley Cooper’s 2023 “Maestro.”

WATCH the full episode here:

Our two classical music fans begin with the documentary, highlighting the parts of conductor/composer Leonard Bernstein’s life that were previously unknown to them. We hear how the movie employs Bernstein himself as its narrator by weaving together clips from dozens of revealing interviews the celebrity gave over his life.

Shifting over to the Hollywood treatment, we zero in on the Maestro’s relationship with his wife, Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. We learn where Cooper stayed true to the contours of the musician’s life — and where he missed the mark.

Stick around to see if “Bernstein’s Wall” and “Maestro” got an “oy,” “meh” or “not bad” in this week’s The Reel Schmooze.

The Reel Schmooze is produced by Ari Schlacht and can be found wherever you get your podcasts.

Check out last week’s The Reel Schmooze here:

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