This is a very good movie, but it’s quite a great movie. Whether the Academy thinks it’s the best of 2023 is yet to be seen, but it deserves every one of its Oscar nominations.

Bradley Cooper’s resemblance to Leonard Bernstein is uncanny. I know that much was made of him wearing a prosthetic nose, but his facial structure and his mannerisms allow him to inhabit his character.

Carey Mulligan is an incredible actress and she absolutely shines in this movie. It’s probably her most accomplished performance to date.

The sound is a third important character in this movie. Few movies use the sound field as well as this movie does. Given the subject material, it’s fitting, and it honors the musical subject.

One thing that is notable is the amount of smoking in the movie. Did people really smoke that much?

I’m not sure that I would be in a hurry to watch it again, but I’m certainly glad that I experienced it!