Maria Review | Angelina Jolie Mesmerizes in the Performance of the Year

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As a cinephile who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of cinema, I must say that Maria is a film that truly stands out. Angelina Jolie‘s performance as the iconic opera diva Maria Callas is nothing short of extraordinary. Her portrayal of a woman grappling with her past, present, and future, while battling personal demons, is both captivating and heart-wrenching.

In the film titled “Maria,” opera singer Maria Callas reflects, as portrayed by Angelina Jolie in an impressive performance, musing about the theater she sees behind her eyes. This biopic from Pablo Larraín (known for films like “Jackie” and “Spencer”) offers audiences a captivating experience as it seamlessly blends the vibrant world of Callas’ imagination with her real life. The movie charts the last week of this legendary opera singer’s life, providing viewers with a visual feast that gracefully transitions between the kaleidoscope of her mind and the reality she inhabits. The film is a poignant tribute to Callas, as it unfolds in a manner reminiscent of the tragic operas she so masterfully brought to life with fervent passion.

Larraín’s latest film, Maria, marks the third instalment in his series examining 20th-century female icons. Previous films include Jackie (2016) with Natalie Portman portraying Jackie Kennedy after JFK’s assassination, and Spencer (2021) featuring Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana grappling with mental health struggles at Christmas while the Royal Family celebrates. Each film offers a compelling portrayal of remarkable women navigating critical points in their lives, with Maria continuing this theme within an impressive trilogy exploring powerful women and their sorrow.

In the movie titled Maria, which premiered at the Chicago International Film Festival and received much acclaim, the central issue, apart from the protagonist’s mental wellbeing, revolves around whether Callas can regain her potent voice that has been weakened by a mix of health problems and personal struggles. Appropriately, the sequences where the singer, and thus Jolie, struggle to endure the profound sorrow caused by significant personal tragedy are the most chilling and convincing. Jolie delivers an impressive, award-worthy acting display on screen.

Maria Blends Melodrama with Humor

Maria’s story begins on the day of the renowned American-born Greek soprano’s passing in September 1977. She lies on the floor of her opulent Paris apartment, and there’s a heavy atmosphere of sadness. The movie then moves back a week, detailing the events that led to her demise, with significant moments from her life being explored more deeply whenever Callas is reminiscing about those times.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d say the filmmaker masterfully combines black-and-white shots with an aged sepia tone to create a specific atmosphere, both in the past and present scenes. It’s clear that Callas’ past was vibrant and vivid, while her current reality seems hazy and fading, much like her voice.

Similar to Spencer, Maria also has three companions with her on her journey. In Spencer, it was Prince William and Prince Harry, who shared a special bond with Princess Diana. In Maria, these characters are Feruccio (played by Pierfrancesco Favino), Callas’ butler/chauffeur, and her housekeeper, Bruna (Alba Rohrwacher). These three characters form a powerful emotional trio, offering moments of levity amidst the story while providing a more authentic portrayal of a fading icon.

In essence, at this particular stage in Callas’ life, Feruccio and Bruna are her genuine family – the ones she consistently seeks out during her manic spells, as well as her casual jests. A recurring joke involves the quirky singer directing Feruccio on how to reposition her cherished piano in various rooms, repeatedly. These moments serve as significant shifts in tone, elevating the movie above mere tragic melodrama.

Angelina Jolie in an Award-Worthy Performance

In the course of our tale, we discover that Callas frequently visits a theater for vocal rehearsals, with her mentor, Stephen Ashfield, spurring her on. However, she’s anything but tranquil. She grapples with locating the notes and resonance she was once known for; at this stage, she’s 53 and hasn’t performed publicly in decades. The movie weaves a continuous tale that portrays Callas’ distress while simultaneously providing her an imaginary companion to confide in.

Instead of saying that, we have a television reporter named “Mandrax,” who is portrayed by Kodi Smit-McPhee (from The Power of the Dog and Memoir of a Snail), it could be rephrased as: In this context, we encounter a TV journalist character, nicknamed Mandrax, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee in various films. This name is shared with a sedative drug that Callas has been misusing, which has further complicated her health issues. The screenwriter provides Angelina Jolie with some of the most impactful lines for Mandrax, Feruccio, and Bruna. “I’m not hungry,” Callas meows during a visit to town. “I come to restaurants to be admired.” Well done. This rephrasing maintains the original meaning while making it more natural and easier to read.

If you’re curious about how skillfully the film portrays Callas performing on stage, it does so by showing flashbacks of her powerful presence commanding attention in opera houses filled to capacity, as she performs works by great 19th-century composers like Verdi and Puccini. These scenes are truly epic, masterfully depicting the raw power of a natural phenomenon. There’s a strange allure in observing Jolie, as she embodies Callas through her expressive lip-sync performances.

Maria Hits All the Right Notes

As Callas reminisces about her past and the significance of the present moment with the “TV journalist,” additional significant characters are likely to appear. Notably, there’s the intense love she shared with Aristotle Onassis (reminiscent of Larrain’s Jackie) portrayed by Haluk Bilginer, who convincingly plays his lover. In this narrative, you’ll enjoy observing Callas’ interactions with a charming yet slick JFK (Caspar Phillipson), whose wife Jackie eventually becomes involved with Onassis. This further highlights Callas as a powerful and independent woman. She is a character determined to control her own destiny, which adds tension to the unfolding events because Callas appears to be losing control of her life and ultimately her fate.

Among many things, Maria stands out in a distinct manner compared to Jackie and Spencer. By the culmination of their stories, the characters find themselves with a purpose and a place to move towards, offering them a glimmer of hope for rebuilding. Contrastingly, this narrative doesn’t follow that pattern (which might be an effective end to a trilogy). Although it doesn’t detract from the skillful storytelling in Maria, it does cast a shadow of despair over the film, making it seem rather gloomy and hopeless.

Apart from this, it’s challenging to imagine a more skillfully told tale by director Pablo Larraín, or a more captivating portrayal by actress Angelina Jolie. Maria delivers an intense emotional impact. Jolie’s performance lingers in your memory long after you exit the cinema. The movie is a victory and a deeply engrossing, dream-like experience that ticks all the right boxes. Maria will hit theaters on November 27, and can be streamed on Netflix from December 11.

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2024-10-29 02:34