January 31st 2025

Maria

Babygirl

This week's films both feature top-shelf acting royalty, but are so different thematically. Choose between the tragedy of an opera diva as portrayed by Angelina Jolie, and the sexual shenanigans of Nicole Kidman.  

Maria

Dir:  Pablo Larrain

Length: 124 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDSxq4i5KKs

© Kismet - Jolie captures the essence
of Maria Callas, operatic divs extraordinaire

Arguably the greatest operatic diva ever, Maria Callas lived a life full of fame and of tragedy. Director Larrain chooses not to delve into her entire life, but to "reimagine" the last week of her life, before she died of a heart attack at age 53. We see her in declining health, after retreating to live in Paris, and dreaming of some sort of comeback, of which her voice is no longer capable. Her faithful house-servants Ferruccio (Pierfrancesco Favino) and Bruna (Alba Rohrwacher) cater to her every whim, while she reminisces upon her past, especially the grief caused her by Aristotle Onassis. Aussie Kodi Smit McPhee plays a character called Mandrax, who it seems is a figment of her imagination, a man who is chronicling her life with a name that is an embodiment of the drug she is addicted to. One cannot help but praise the wonderful performance by Angelina Jolie, perhaps an unusual choice to play the part. She has the elegance, aloofness, and moments of vulnerability, and apparently took opera lessons to be able to sing so that her voice could be "combined" with that of Callas. The opening close-up of her performing an aria is for me quite a mistake as it smacks (vocal-wise) of Jolie definitely not being Callas, but once the film gets underway she blends into the role, with its sumptuous settings, gorgeous costumes, and of course exquisite music.

3.5 - well recommended

Babygirl

Dir:  Halina Reijn

Length: 114 mins

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XXoNB0lVGo

© A24 - office flirtations can 
turn very dangerous. 

Romy (Nicole Kidman) is the high-flying CEO of a logistics company, married with two daughters to Jacob (Antonio Banderas). When a new batch of interns joins the company she is drawn to overly-confident Samuel (Harris Dickinson) and a torrid affair ensues, one that could put her entire marriage and job at risk. Kidman was nominated for a Golden Globe for this performance. I feel she was nominated thanks to this being a very "brave" performance, as she lays herself open (no pun intended) to all manner of quasi-sexual humiliation and power games, all in pursuit of an orgasm which, she claims, she has never had with her husband. Yes, she sure gives her all to the role. My issue is not about the very in-your-face sexual content, but with Kidman herself as a woman. Her porcelain, skinny appearance is something I've never found erotic, and so this film for me lacks the pizzazz such a potentially sexually-charged story should have. Despite the discussion-inducing references to gender-based office power-politics, kinky sexual fantasies, and fidelity, the film overall feels too contrived to be authentic. Even more of a stumbling block for me is the question of why anyone would want to risk losing such a gorgeous husband as Jacob, for a sordid fling with a mere pup? Still, Kidman fans should be suitably turned on! 

2.5 - maybe