Maria Review: Angelina Jolie Evokes Classic Hollywood In This Melancholy Biopic [Venice 2024]

As a film enthusiast with a penchant for biopics that delve into the psyche of complex and troubled women, I found “Maria” to be a captivating and melancholic masterpiece. Pablo Larraín continues his streak of creating thought-provoking narratives, and this time he’s done it with the help of Angelina Jolie, who delivers an unforgettable performance as the reclusive opera singer Maria Callas.

Under the direction of Pablo Larraín, Maria marks another chapter in his series of portraying complex, emotionally fragile women in the limelight. This theme was previously explored in Jackie and Spencer. The film, a somber drama, sees Angelina Jolie as the secluded, mentally ill opera singer Maria Callas in the final days before her unexpected death in 1977. Some viewers might find the film too slow-paced or leisurely, with repetitive scenes of a piano being moved around an elegant yet solitary Parisian apartment, symbolizing both literal and metaphorical isolation. However, Jolie’s raw, moving portrayal in the lead role leaves a profound impact that is hard to ignore.

The story of “Maria” unfolds as the inevitable approach of its leading character’s demise. This is depicted through staged interviews for a film titled “Maria Callas: The Last Days,” ominous health warnings from doctors, and the concern of her caretakers, Ferruccio (Pierfrancesco Favino) and Bruna (Alba Rohrwacher). From the outset, we, along with the main characters, are aware of Maria’s eventual end. As she grows increasingly dependent on certain medications while resisting those that could potentially help, her caretakers can only watch and fret. She discusses writing an autobiography and testing her vocal abilities, but it is clear to all that she is nearing the end of her life, and quite quickly at that.

Angelia Jolie is at her very best

The key factor that makes “Maria” stand out is Pablo Larraín’s decision to cast Angelina Jolie in the role. Despite her numerous prominent roles where she portrays strong, intimidating figures, it’s when she delves into playing fragile, mentally complex characters that she truly shines. In the character of Maria, Jolie employs her natural screen presence akin to an old-school Hollywood starlet, captivating audiences even in casual interviews with her magnetic charm. Moreover, her beauty and grace are presented as delicate rather than overpowering, eliciting immense empathy from viewers. Her performance in “Maria” is likely to be among the top performances of the year, if not of her entire career.

In the film “Maria,” director Larraín explores the boundary between reality and illusion, or madness if you prefer, much like in many of his other projects. The character Maria convincingly discusses a crew coming to interview her, although whether they truly exist is uncertain. Interestingly, the journalist character, Mandrax, symbolizes the sedative drug Quaalude that Maria takes daily. Although Mandrax might not be real, he feels very real to Maria and helps her confront issues she’s grappled with for years.

Both Maria and the film are trapped in the past

In a way that resembles typical biopics, “Maria” appears to concentrate intensely on a particular time period, specifically the week preceding Maria Callas’ passing. However, Pablo Larraín can’t resist delving into her past as well. The initial montage provides a peek at Maria’s extraordinary career, setting the stage for our understanding of this enigmatic character reminiscent of Norma Desmond. Yet, the movie also incorporates several flashbacks to various stages in her life, with varying degrees of effectiveness.

Some parts of the movie “Maria” are particularly moving, such as when a young Maria is compelled by her mother to perform and potentially sleep with German soldiers during World War II in Athens. However, there are scenes involving her long-time lover Aristotle Onassis that don’t contribute much to the film or our understanding of Maria, and only make the movie longer. The director seems to struggle not to include Kennedy-related details (Onassis later married Jackie Kennedy, who was previously a subject of one of his films), but there are many aspects of Maria’s story that need attention, and they don’t always fit together perfectly. The film is most intriguing when Angelina Jolie portrays Maria living melancholically in her Parisian apartment, reminiscent of Miss Havisham, giving imaginary interviews and bonding with her staff who are clearly worried about her. The flashbacks don’t add as much to the story, although a brief appearance by Jack Kennedy is hard to resist.

In simpler terms, the film “Maria” appears beautiful on the outside. Director Larraín skillfully portrays the feelings of solitude and emotional vulnerability that Maria experiences throughout her extraordinary life, which was largely shaped by her voice until she lost it. This leaves her without identity. The film elicits a great deal of compassion for its protagonist, mainly due to Jolie’s nuanced yet impactful performance. Previously, such roles were tailor-made for the legendary actresses in Hollywood, and Jolie reaffirms herself as a top-tier movie star with this performance.

The film featuring Maria was first shown at the Venice Film Festival on the 29th of August, with a planned release on Netflix at a later time.

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2024-08-31 01:00