Maria Callas (Angelina Jolie), the greatest opera singer in the world, lives out her final days in Paris, 1977. 

Maria is a biopic by director Pablo Larrain. Which is to say that it is unlike typical biopics. For anyone who has seen his previous films Jackie or Spencer, which focused on Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana respectively, will know that rather than attempt to portray their lives he prefers to portray a moment in time that captures their spirit. 

Here he follows Maria in the final week of her life as she discusses the key events that brought her to her reclusive life in Paris. We see events in the present time in colour and those in the past in black and white. Questions over what is real and imagined are ever present thanks to the many hallucinations caused by Maria self medicating. One such figment of her imagination is the mysterious interviewer Mandrax (Kodi Smit-McPhee) whom she tells her story to. 

Whilst in Paris her only real friends are her devoted butler Feruccio (Pierfrancisco Favino) and maid Bruna (Alba Rohrwacher). They both show a deep love and affection for her despite her difficult nature and try to protect her from both herself and outside influences. Her stories of the past take in the struggles of growing up in wartime Greece, various operatic performances and her love affair with Aristotle Onassis (Haluk Bilginer). 

The film looks gorgeous. The costumes and sets evoke a beautiful period feel and its contrasting scenes of colour and black and white are striking. But its failures lay with the lead performance and its icy demeanour. 

Both of Larrain’s previously mentioned biopics featured wonderful performances from their lead actresses. Natalie Portman portrayed Jackie Kennedy across a huge spectrum of emotions in both her public and private personas. Kristen Stewart was able to give real emotional weight to a woman who was hanging by a thread. Both allowed you to connect with and relate to women whose lives are completely removed from your own. Maria however is portrayed as a glacial ice queen by Jolie with a lot of very poor lip synching. A diva opera singer whom we never get real insight into and can never connect or relate to. In fact the characters that we connect with here are that of Ferrucio and Bruna. 

I loved the concept and I loved the look and feel of the film but I felt no connection with Maria. The result then is a biopic where I learn little factually about the protagonist as is its plan. But also have little emotional connection either. Which is a travesty for someone whose music carries such soul and power.

Beautiful to look at but lacking emotional heft.