Angelina Jolie takes on the daunting role of Maria Callas, the renowned and influential opera singer of the 20th century, in Pablo Larraín’s latest film, ‘Maria Callas.’ This marks Jolie’s return to the big screen after a two-year hiatus, and she tackles the most challenging role of her career. ‘Maria Callas’ is the final installment in Larraín’s tragic women trilogy, following the critically acclaimed ‘Jackie’ (2016) and ‘Spencer’ (2021).
The film centers on Callas’s final days in 1970s Paris, where she finds herself isolated in her lavish apartment, grappling with addiction and haunted by the ghosts of her past. We see a pill-popping diva, withdrawn from the stage, who spends her days surrounded by her housekeeper Bruna (Alba Rohrwacher) and butler Feruccio (Pierfrancesco Favino). Callas’s reality blurs as she engages in a series of drug-induced hallucinations, notably a journalist named Mandrax (Kodi Smit-McPhee), who becomes a manifestation of her inner turmoil.
Larraín’s film, while visually stunning and featuring a strong performance by Jolie, ultimately struggles to capture the essence of Callas’s legendary voice and personality. The film’s narrative, crafted by Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight, is filled with poignant one-liners that offer glimpses into Callas’s psyche. However, it lacks a compelling narrative arc beyond the exploration of Callas’s internal struggles and the lingering pain of her past relationships.
The film’s visual splendor is undeniable. Cinematographer Edward Lachman crafts captivating autumnal tableaux, using a blend of 35mm, 16mm, and Super 8mm film to create a richly textured aesthetic. Jolie delivers a well-calibrated performance, capturing the vulnerability and torment beneath Callas’s larger-than-life persona. However, while Jolie reportedly underwent six months of vocal training, the singing sequences feel somewhat detached. Instead of fully embodying the celebrated musician, Jolie’s performance comes across as lip-syncing, detracting from the film’s emotional impact.
Despite its shortcomings, ‘Maria Callas’ offers a poignant exploration of a tragic diva’s final days. While the film may not be the definitive portrait of Callas’s life and legacy, it provides a glimpse into the complexities of a woman who found herself trapped in a cage of her own making. The film is ultimately a poignant, if somewhat flawed, love letter to the iconic opera singer.
