The newly-released trailer for Bradley Cooper’s upcoming biopic “Maestro,” centered around the life of iconic composer Leonard Bernstein, has ignited a controversy on social media. The chatter revolves around Cooper’s use of a prosthetic nose in the film, with critics accusing the actor/director of perpetuating stereotypes and questioning the casting of a non-Jewish actor in a Jewish role.
In the film, Cooper, a Philadelphia native aged 48, portrays the legendary musical conductor Leonard Bernstein. The trailer showcases his on-screen chemistry with Carey Mulligan, who plays his wife Felicia Montealegre, as the movie explores their relationship dynamics.
Online discussions have been fueled by the size of the prosthetic nose, which was noticeable during the movie’s filming in 2022. Critics juxtaposed images to emphasize that Bernstein’s actual nose size was not as exaggerated as portrayed in the film.
Left: Bradley Cooper with his prosthetic nose, playing Leonard Bernstein.
Right: The actual Leonard Bernstein.
This isn’t about making a non-Jewish actor look more like Leonard Bernstein; it’s about making a non-Jewish actor look more like a Jewish stereotype. https://t.co/WrYWuweosW pic.twitter.com/WxspPtHktj
— Joel S. (@jh_swanson) August 15, 2023
Several users voiced their opinions, stating that the prosthetic was unnecessary given Cooper’s uncanny resemblance to Bernstein. One commentator noted that the real Leonard Bernstein did not possess the distinctive nose that Bradley Cooper sported in “Maestro.”
Hollywood cast Bradley Cooper – a non Jew – to play Jewish legend Leonard Bernstein and stuck a disgusting exaggerated “Jew nose” on him.
All while saying no to Jake Gyllenhaal, an actually Jewish man, who has dreamt of playing Bernstein for decades.
Sickening. pic.twitter.com/YzudOstRAE
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) August 16, 2023
The casting choice and the prosthetic drew scrutiny from social media users, particularly considering that Cooper is not Jewish. Many argued that numerous talented Jewish actors could have been considered for the role. Comparatively, Jewish actor Jake Gyllenhaal had also pursued a competing biopic about Bernstein but ultimately lost the rights battle to Cooper’s production team, which includes Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.
Some individuals expressed that Cooper’s use of the prosthetic was both offensive and detracted from the authenticity of the storytelling process in the film. They raised concerns about a non-Jewish actor portraying a Jewish character through altering physical features, equating it to a form of “Jewface.”
The concept of non-Jewish actors playing Jewish characters has been a topic of debate in Hollywood, drawing comparisons to instances such as Felicity Jones portraying Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Kathryn Hahn being cast as Joan Rivers. The issue of proper representation in the film industry, especially concerning cultural and ethnic identity, remains a pertinent and evolving discussion.
As “Maestro” gears up for its release in theaters and on Netflix on December 20, the controversy surrounding Cooper’s portrayal and the use of prosthetics highlights the complexities of casting choices and respectful representation in the world of film.
