Bradley Cooper's recent portrayal of Jewish composer Leonard Bernstein in the upcoming Netflix film "Maestro" has faced criticism upon the release of the film's trailer. Critics have taken issue with Cooper's choice to wear a noticeable prosthetic nose for the role, suggesting that it perpetuates Jewish stereotypes and has even coined the term "Jewface" in parallel with the historically offensive "Blackface" practice.
The debate also extends to the broader question of whether non-Jewish actors, like Cooper, should be cast in Jewish roles. The late Bernstein's three children, however, have defended Cooper's portrayal. They expressed their support for his decision to use makeup to enhance his resemblance to their father, highlighting that Leonard Bernstein did, in fact, have a distinctive nose.
Bernstein, a prominent composer and conductor, hailed from a Jewish-Ukrainian immigrant background and passed away in 1990. The issue of casting non-Jewish actors in Jewish roles has become a significant topic of discussion in recent years, drawing parallels to controversies like Helen Mirren's portrayal of former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir.
Despite the backlash, the Bernstein family praised Bradley Cooper's dedication to the project and acknowledged the criticisms as attempts to undermine his success. The family emphasized that Cooper's commitment to the role was admirable and expressed their disappointment in any misinterpretations of his efforts.
"Maestro" is scheduled to debut at the upcoming Venice Film Festival, although Bradley Cooper has confirmed he won't attend due to the ongoing Hollywood strike that prevents actors from promoting their films.
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