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You have to give Bradley Cooper kudos for attempting to tell the story of the iconic legend Leonard Berstein and for directing himself, but, alas this film is not a symphony and barely equates to a concerto.

At times Bradley brilliantly channels the legend without falling into the oft performance miring genre of parody but in the larger score, he has limited depth and expression. The same cannot be said about Carey Mulligan who gracefully transcends what could have been ‘the bitch of the century role’ to create a wonderfully nuanced and subtle portrayal of a talented artist mired in a tormented yet long lasting love/hate/acceptance relationship.

A wonderful surprise is Sarah Silverman as Bernstein’s quirky sister. There are many others in small supporting, cameo-esque roles that provide yeoman service while saddled with an unapologetically shallow script.

How many stars? Let’s be charitable and say 2 1/2. Remember this is not a symphony!