The art production of the new feature film “Maria” is stunning and the story of one of the greatest opera singers to ever live is as dramatic as any Greek tragedy. But the explosive power of the biopic that is based on the final seven days in the life of opera legend Maria Callas is the selection of Academy Award-winner Angelina Jolie. It is as if all the Muses conspired to find the perfect performer to tell this heartbreaking story.
Jolie’s Oscar-worthy performance can be seen starting Dec. 11 on the streaming service Netflix.
What made the casting so critical is that Callas was one of the most iconic performers of the 20th Century. Unlike Elvis Presley who captivated the world with raw sexuality it was the heavenly voice of Callas that made her opera royalty. Her legacy has faded into musical history with the passing years making this production a beautiful and proper tribute to her.
Anyone could have been cast in the role because no singing skills were needed. Being able to deliver lines was not enough considering the level of excellence Callas brought to the music world. Jolie’s rise to the top of Mt. Olympus of acting made her the only performer who could bring the kind of regal aura needed to make the performance work. Only Sophie Lauren would have been as good a choice had the movie been made decades ago.
Since the film generally focuses on the final days of Callas, the performance needed to show the pain felt by the singer as her voice began to fade and the empowerment that Callas felt despite her decline. Jolie embraces both with equal passion and bravery.
It helped that the film was directed by Pablo Larrain who had already explored the magic and mystery of iconic women with Jackie Kennedy in “Jackie” and Princess Diana in “Spencer.” All three films rip back the public personas of women as presented through constant media scrutiny to reveal the human at the core.
Larrain delves deeper into a mystical approach with “Maria” as he blends the real and the surreal. Callas was very dependent on strong drugs in her final days and the director shows this chiefly through an interview being done with Callas while wandering the streets of Paris. The interviewer serves as a surrogate narrator to progress the story of Callas through her on-stage career and off-stage romance with shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis (Haluk Bilginer).
Screenwriter Steven Knight mixes the interview with glimpses of Callas’ past such as being told as a child to sing for occupying forces in Athens. There are also brief looks at the many memorable performances by the opera great.
What anchors all of the elements is what happens in those final days. That’s particularly strong in the relationship Callas has with two of her loyal housekeeper Ferruccio (Pierfrancesco Favino), and housemaid Bruna (Alba Rohrwacher). There are moments when she treats them with painful arrogance as in the case of forcing the pair to move a massive piano around the Paris apartment. Then there are sweet moments as the three play cards.
It is those moments that show the true diva and the truth about the diva.
The weaker moments are those with Onassis who hated opera but loved mysterious women and a meeting between Callas and John F. Kennedy (Caspar Phillipson) discussing the relationship between Onassis and his wife. Those scenes don’t play with the same impact as the moments when Jolie can lose herself in the role.
It is Jolie’s performance that is the flame that will keep drawing moviegoer moths to the story. The actress already had reached rarified acting airs with her own career and that helps make what Callas accomplished come across so powerful. It is one thing to play a diva but understanding the power that goes with that takes a special gift.
Jolie has earned a Golden Globe nomination for her stunning performance and looks to be a lock for an Oscar nod. That’s what happens when a member of the acting hierarchy takes on one of the greatest divas in opera history.
Movie review
Maria
Grade: A-
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Pierfrancesco Favino, Caspar Phillipson, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer.
Director: Pablo Larrain
Rated: R for language, sexual reference
Running time: 123 minutes.
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