‘Maestro’ viewers refuse to finish film over Bradley Cooper’s performance flaw: ‘Turned off after an hour’

Viewers of “Maestro” are imploring Bradley Cooper to improve his articulation. The film, available on Netflix, evoked numerous complaints on social media due to Cooper's excessively mumbled dialogue, which obscured the film's content. "The lack of clarity made the film difficult to follow," said a disgruntled viewer on platform X (previously known as Twitter). "The dimmed conversations, particularly the overlapping dialogue between him and his wife, made it impossible to stay glued to the screen. Gave up after an hour." Another user voiced ambiguity about the film, highlighting the inaudible dialogue as a key issue. "The performances are commendable but comprehension is challenging, which is problematic since viewers only get a single shot at understanding," they wrote.

The biopic features Cooper as Leonard Bernstein, the revered composer of “West Side Story,” and Carey Mulligan as his wife. Released in December, the film has already faced severe disapproval. Merciless text exchanges criticized Cooper for enhancing his appearance with a prosthetic nose, terming it an example of "Jewface." Tracy Ann Oberman, a Jewish actress, denounced this as the equivalent of blackface or yellowface.

The backlash over the "antisemitic prosthetic nose" amplified on social media. One outraged individual asked if the addition was necessary while another accused Cooper of riding this controversy for an Oscar. Following the controversy, the film's makeup artist, Kazu Hiro, expressed regret in a statement, explaining that their intention was to portray Bernstein's character authentically.

Although the film has drawn criticism, Bernstein's children — who were at the premiere — proclaimed their approval of Cooper's depiction of their father. They released a statement conveying their emotional response to the portrayal and defended Cooper's choice to utilize makeup for character impersonation. The children also shared their belief that their father would have accepted such considerations.

Despite the controversies, “Maestro” has garnered multiple Golden Globe nominations. It continues to be accessible for streaming on Netflix.