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Maestro | 2023 | R | – 4.2.5
Why is “Maestro” rated R? The MPAA rating has been assigned for “some language and drug use.” The Kids-In-Mind.com evaluation includes several passionate kisses, scenes of implied sex and infidelity, scenes of a person dying of cancer, discussions of violence and violent fantasies, and about 8 F-words and other strong language. Read our parents’ guide below for details on sexual content, violence & strong language.
Biopic following the victories and struggles of Leonard Bernstein (Bradley Cooper) on his journey to become “The first great American composer,” including the toll that fame had on him, his family, and his ability to live truthfully. Also with Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer and Sarah Silverman. Directed by Cooper. [Running Time: 2:09]
Maestro SEX/NUDITY 4
– A man and a woman cuddle on the floor under a sheet (the man’s chest is visible), and sex is implied; the man jokes about seeing sides of the woman he had only “dreamed of.” A man wearing only boxers gets out of a bed that he is sharing with another man; the first man, in excitement, sits on the other man’s back, slaps his buttocks like a drum (he is also wearing boxers), and runs off (it’s not clear if there is a sexual encounter).
► A man encounters a husband and his wife on the street with their newborn baby; the man kisses both the man and the woman on the lips, then leans toward the baby and says, “You know, I’ve slept with both your parents.” A man touches another man’s hair and calls him gorgeous, and the two men kiss while standing in a hallway, as the wife of one man walks in; the husband follows his wife and she tells him that he is “getting sloppy.” A man and a woman perform a romantic scene from a play in an empty theatre and kiss passionately. A husband passionately kisses his wife in celebration, often after a concert he conducted. A man kisses a woman passionately, touches her face affectionately, then picks her up and carries her in a romantic embrace.
► During a concert, a man holds another man’s hand; the wife of one man notices and stares at them, looking upset. A man massages another man’s feet that are resting in his lap; he jokingly says, “I get overexcited with feet in my lap.” A man touches other men affectionately on the face, shoulders, and back in several scenes (romantic intent is implied). A man dances with a younger man (it is implied that the younger man is an adult but is a student of the older man) at a party; their bodies are pressed closely together and their faces are close, but they do not kiss. During a dance sequence, several couples dance closely and romantically; several men lift a woman and carry her briefly. A man jokingly slaps another man on the buttocks. A husband gets in bed with his ailing wife and embraces her tightly, spooning. A man kisses a woman’s hand.
► After a romantic evening, a woman asks a man, “Is this how you lure in all your male suitors?” In several scenes, a man discusses his love affairs, his sexuality, and rumors about both with his wife and his daughter in vague terms. A man tells another man, “I love you, baby.” A man tells a woman that he finds her very attractive. A woman refers angrily to the “dewy-eyed waiters” that her husband spends time with. A woman asks a married woman about her “suitor,” and the married woman says that the man took her to dinner to ask for her help, introducing him to another man; she tells her friend, “It seems I’m attracted to a certain type.” A woman discusses a man that she wants to introduce her friend to, and describes him as “your type.” A woman tells a man that she loves his smell. A man tells another man that a woman is “so beautiful.”
► At a party, a woman’s nipples are prominent under the material of her dress (there’s no nudity).
Maestro VIOLENCE/GORE 2
– A wife in a doctor’s office with her husband receives a cancer diagnosis; her doctor tells her that she has a tumor in her breast, that the cancer has reached her lungs, and that she will need surgery. A woman deteriorates from cancer over time and she looks increasingly frail and sick.
► A man tells his daughter a story about a young man he went to school with, who brought a gun to school to try to kill him because he was jealous of the man’s musical ability; he also tells her about another man that he worked with, who tried to strangle him during a rehearsal. A man talks about hating his father and having dreams and fantasies about killing him, because he was cruel. A woman makes a joke about her brother “beating the soprano out of his baby sister.” In a few scenes, characters discuss depression and suicidal ideation (e.g. “I want to stop the bus, I want to get off”). A man references “Hitler bombing Poland.” At a party, a man tells someone that he is “going to take a big [scatological term deleted].” A man tells a woman that he envies the air that moves through her; they make a flatulence joke and laugh.
► A sick woman coughs wetly several times and spits into a tissue (we do not see any goo).
Maestro LANGUAGE 5
– About 8 F-words, 1 scatological term, 1 anatomical term, name-calling (idiot, old queen), 4 religious exclamations (e.g. Hell, God, Jesus Christ). | profanity glossary |
Maestro SUBSTANCE USE
– People are shown using cocaine in a few scenes, people discuss cancer treatment including pain management medication, and we see a woman swallowing pills. People smoke cigarettes in many scenes throughout the movie.
Maestro DISCUSSION TOPICS
– Sexuality, fame, antisemitism, infidelity, depression, music, creative genius, divorce and separation, family, familial stress, cancer, cancer treatment, death, grief.
Maestro MESSAGE
– All anyone needs is kindness, and to be sensitive to others.
CAVEATS
Be aware that while we do our best to avoid spoilers it is impossible to disguise all details and some may reveal crucial plot elements.
We've gone through several editorial changes since we started covering films in 1992 and older reviews are not as complete & accurate as recent ones; we plan to revisit and correct older reviews as resources and time permits.
Our ratings and reviews are based on the theatrically-released versions of films; on video there are often Unrated, Special, Director's Cut or Extended versions, (usually accurately labelled but sometimes mislabeled) released that contain additional content, which we did not review.
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