Matthew Libatique Talks ‘Maestro,’ Hanging Out With “Icon” Steven Spielberg On Set & How Bradley Cooper Has Become “Quite The Director” — Camerimage
Zac Ntim, DEADLINE
November 16, 2023
The experience of observing the premiere and subsequent raves from afar had “actually been better than usual,” two-time Oscar nominee and Maestro DoP Matthew Libatique told Deadline. Libatique was calling into us at Poland’s EnergaCamerimage Film Festival, where Maestro is playing in the main cinematography-focused competition.
“It’s actually a lot of work when promoting a film. I’ve always been a fan of just putting the work out there and letting people decide whether or not they like it without me saying anything,” he added.
Maestro is Cooper and Libatique’s second collaboration following 2018’s A Star Is Born, and the pic solidifies the pair as one of the more interesting and daring director-DoP duos contemporary Hollywood has to offer. Below, Libatique speaks with Deadline about working with Cooper, who he said has “become quite the director,” hanging out with Steven Spielberg, one of the film’s producers, and his fears about shooting inside the real Bernstein family home.
DEADLINE: Because of the strike, this is one of the first in-depth conversations a member of the Maestro team has given in public. What has it been like seeing the response to the film while being slightly removed from it all?
MATTHEW LIBATIQUE: It’s actually been better than usual. It’s actually a lot of work when promoting a film. I’ve always been a fan of just putting the work out there and letting people decide whether or not they like it without me saying anything. So it’s been great. There’s been a lot of positive feedback, and I’ve been told the reviews are good. So I’m just really grateful that people understand what the film is about and appreciate the extraordinary life of both Leonard and Felicia Bernstein.