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I hope we have not lost the anti-Redmayne/Hawking oscar fervor for performances like these, though B-Coops whittling down decades of Bernstein’s artistry to have him be a baton jockey for 7 minutes because it’s “cinematic” is a little funny

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What has the star of Jupiter Ascending been up to lately?

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Great review Vince. I had many similar reactions. I knew a decent amount about Bernstein before this, but little of his personal life. Still, I definitely felt like the movie underexplained his career just a tad, instead focusing on his relationships. There also were few obvious markers of what year we were in at any given time. In that way I guess it was opposite the recent Napoleon movie which seemed pained at times to show us exactly when we were in his story. Though I definitely enjoyed Maestro way more.

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Were you at all close to turning it off or walking out? This sounds fucking miserable.

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I don't remember the last time I've seen so many ads for a movie. They're everywhere and I keep wondering, who is this movie for?

It doesn't look interesting at all. I don't care about this guy and I don't imagine many people do. There's no real mystery, struggle, or twist to the guy's life so this just looks extremely boring.

It's just crazy to see so much press for what looks like the most boring movie of the year.

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I assume the movie opened like this? “You're gonna have to give him a moment, son. Leonard Bernstein has to think about his entire life before he conducts.”

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Finally a kindred spirit who acknowledges that conductors are bullshit

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Great review and discussion on the latest Frot. Wish I could post this picture of a wacky inflatable tube man in front of an orchestra. But a link will have to do instead:

https://pleated-jeans.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/funny-pictures-1-3-24-41.jpg

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I'd be more interested in a somewhat less glamorous subject like Raymond Scott. Just utterly inventive and if you don't know him you definitely know the Looney Tunes music Carl Stalling modified from him. But maybe there isn't as compelling of a personal story hook there.

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