Bradley Cooper is a maestro with this Leonard Bernstein biopic, but Carey Mulligan is outstanding

If you’re not careful, “you’ll die a lonely old queen”. That’s a warning from Felicia Montealegre to her husband, iconic American , composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, in the second half of Bradley Cooper’s extraordinary new film, Maestro.

And sexuality is a hugely important part of this latest feature from Cooper.

I haven’t seen his take on A Star is Born – I am only really familiar with him as Rocket Raccoon – forgive me! But on the basis of this, he is a seriously creative director and writer, and a very fine actor too.

It’s less about Leonard Bernstein as a composer/conductor, and more about his relationship with his wife, Felicia.

That was complicated, because although he very clearly and genuinely loved her, he was also bisexual and not monogamous. She accepted this – and in way that was not passive. In terms of that quote at the top of this review, what struck me so forcefully is that it’s only in relatively recent years that ‘bisexual’ has been more regularly used (though the word was coined in the 19th century).

For many, if attracted to the same sex, it was assumed that, even on spectrums, they were still ultimately and essentially ‘gay’.

A bit like the phrase ‘non-binary’. And if you don’t have the words to describe yourself, how do you understand yourself?

And in the case of Lenny and Felicia, how do they navigate both the sexuality issues and those of non-monogamy?

Though the politics of the times they lived through are also dealt with. Early on, it’s suggested to Bernstein that he drops the ‘stein’ from his name in order to ‘get’ an orchestra.

The cinematography is superb, with filing in both black and white and colour, and in different proportions dependent on when the scenes are set. It’s a joy to look at and Cooper ensures that we get the time to linger – including on faces as they register emotion (which means subtle acting is required). This is not some cinematic equivalent of fast food.

The music is great – and not just Bernstein’s own. There’s Mahler and Beethoven too. And Broadway, since Bernstein transcended genres. Watch for the stunning On the Town rehearsal/fantasy sequence.

Cooper is simply superb as Bernstein, but Carey Mulligan steals it from under his feet. She is outstanding as Felicia – and must be a favourite for the Oscars. I couldn’t recommend it more.