Maestro (2023)

Direction: Bradley Cooper
Country: USA

Directed by and starring Bradley Cooper, Maestro is a well-crafted representation of the enduring marriage between iconic conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein and his actress wife Felicia Montealegre. The film avoids messiness in its timeline, presenting an honest and mature biopic that excels on all fronts.

The story, spanning 30 years, starts with a prologue where Bernstein is filmed and interviewed at home, but the story quickly winds back to his conducting debut with the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall and his rapid rise to fame in 1943. Then, it focuses on the couple and how they changed over the years as he embraces the absolute freedom of the artist, sometimes recklessly. Despite betrayals and jealousy, their love proves to be resilient.

Cooper, who co-wrote with Josh Singer (Spotlight, 2015; First Man, 2018), not only delivers his best directorial work - I wasn’t particularly a fan of A Star is Born (2018) - but also his best performance, creating an extremely empathetic atmosphere that spans a wide range of emotions. Carey Mulligan’s earnest performance, the beauty of black-and-white and pastel-colored visuals by Darren Aronofsky’s regular cinematographer, Matthew Libatique, and the immaculate production, involving talents like Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, contribute to the film's richness and tonal consistency. Maestro stands as a testament to Cooper's directorial and acting prowess.

Priscilla (2023)

Direction: Sofia Copolla
Country: USA

Filmmaker Sofia Coppola has consistently impressed audiences with her unique perspectives and depictions in films like The Virgin Suicides (1999), Lost in Translation (2003), and Marie Antoinette (2006). In her latest work, Priscilla, a biographical drama based on Priscilla Presley’s memoir Elvis and Me, Coppola explores the turbulent journey and controversial relationship between the title character and the king of rock 'n' roll. 

The story begins when 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu is invited to a party in Germany and meets 24-year-old Elvis at the peak of his fame during military service. The initial fascination gradually fades over the years, marked by Elvis' aggressive reactions, addiction, and possessively toxic behavior. Priscilla goes from being a teen muse to a discarded wife.

Coppola, with the executive production assistance of Priscilla herself, creates an anti-fairy tale with sophisticated visuals. The film exudes earnest charm, and Cailee Spaeny, in a compelling performance, shines with incandescence. However, Jacob Elordi's portrayal of Elvis is unconvincing. While the film may lack a substantial plot or astounding revelations, and its tone becomes somewhat static, it is a gutsy, can’t-look-away work that captures the emptiness of a crumbling relationship.

Priscilla, painted with a filter of candor and maintaining its drive and passion, ultimately comes together nicely, more in the form of a dramatic whisper than a shout of affirmation.