Maria: A Visual Masterpiece Marred by Melodrama”

The tumultuous, beautiful and tragic story of the life of the world’s greatest female opera singer, relived and reimagined during her final days in 1970s Paris.Content collapsed.

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REVIEW:

“Maria,” directed by Pablo Larraín, is a visually stunning yet dramatically uneven biopic about the legendary opera singer Maria Callas. Starring Angelina Jolie in the titular role, the film attempts to capture the final days of Callas’s life in 1977 Paris, but struggles to balance style with substance.

Jolie delivers a committed performance, both emotionally and musically, as she portrays the iconic soprano grappling with her fading voice and past demons. The film’s cinematography by Ed Lachman is breathtaking, with lavish sets and costumes that transport viewers to Callas’s opulent world. However, the script by Steven Knight often feels weighed down by melodrama, reducing Callas’s complex life to a series of clichéd scenes.

While the operatic numbers are beautifully staged, the film’s reliance on visual spectacle sometimes overshadows its narrative depth. Jolie’s portrayal of Callas is compelling, but the movie’s focus on her final days lacks the dynamism of her earlier career. The supporting cast, including Alba Rohrwacher as Callas’s housekeeper and Pierfrancesco Favino as her butler, provide strong performances that add some warmth to the otherwise cold narrative.

“Maria” is a film that will be appreciated for its visual artistry and Jolie’s performance, but it falls short of doing justice to the full scope of Callas’s life and legacy. Fans of the opera legend may find it a frustrating watch, as it glosses over many of the more intriguing aspects of her story.