nyfilm’s review published on Letterboxd:
“music is born from misery”
Depression. Hope and Lost Hope. Need for admiration. Desiring that life still requires purpose from you. This desire possessing your memories so much so that it begins sucking the warmth and color out of them.
Maria is a wonderfully directed bio-pic by Pablo Larraín, that depicts the last few weeks of life of acclaimed greek opera singer Maria Callas. Larraín and director of photography Edward Lacman once again deliver gorgeous visuals throughout the film. The camera acts as devise in certain scenes to place distance between the viewer and Angelina Jolie’s marvelously acted Maria. I had the assumption this could have been done to frame her in a way that mimicked her on-stage presence, something that she so clearly clings onto throughout the film. She desires to be viewed on stage and the camera obliges.
While I have yet had the chance to watch his film Spencer, I can say I very much enjoy what Larraín does with his bio pic films, really think he does a fantastic job with his lead actors like Natalie Portman in Jackie. However I really appreciate how Maria can stand out in comparison due to its storytelling approach. Maria changes throughout the film while also never coming to the actual realization that can ultimately save her life. A very tragic arc where you can see the culmination of one’s own lack of contempt after the credits roll. One drawback of the film I must admit however is screenwriter Steven Knights script. While some ideas really do shine through, many easily can become convoluted and also result in the occasional patches of disjointed dialogue. Less could have been more here… But I do think because of what Larraín and Jolie bring to the film, Maria becomes worth a watch in my eyes.
Another concept I would want to analyze some more on a rewatch would be the fictional tv crew that is following her around. They have the goal of filming a documentary on her career, which ultimately serves the film as easy exposition done with her life stories told to the director, but I really thought it was well done. Perhaps Spencer joins the watchlist for this month.
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