Angelina Jolie Steals The Show In "Maleficent"
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I just want to get it out there that I am a huge fan of Angelina Jolie. I think she's an amazing actress whose line of work is impressive and full of variation. She takes on roles that push the boundaries; portraying women that we come to hate, fall in love with, even lust. She truly is one of the more iconic actresses of our day, and a lot of that has to come from the smart choices she makes in what roles she plays. When it comes to casting a movie, I've found that it's either done poorly (i.e. Topher Grace as Eddie Brock/Venom in "Spider-Man 3"), it's done well (most movie roles fall into this category), or it's done perfectly, (i.e. Patrick Stewart as Professor X). I think it's fair to say that from the moment we first laid eyes on the very first image of Jolie donning the horns and emitting the malevolence of one of the most iconic fairy tale villains of all time, we were hooked. We all said to ourselves, "Yes! Yes! They got it right!" We hadn't even seen a trailer yet. After viewing the film I can safely say that our assumptions were correct.
Without delving into a pool of spoilers, let’s just say this rendering of what we all know as Sleeping Beauty turns the well-known fairy tale completely on its head, and presents a fantastical back story and a deeply-rooted motivation for the actions taken by the vindictive Maleficent. Disney's “Maleficent” is a film that explores the cycle of betrayal, revenge and, ultimately, redemption; how the wondrous power of "true love" can melt away a cold heart. Those familiar with the animated version might come to find the twists in this adaptation a bit odd, but yet still appealing.
It's a fantasy movie, so it has all of the out-of-your-mind, fantastical elements you would expect from a family-friendly Disney movie. There's mystical creatures, odd-looking foliage and incredible sequences of Maleficent soaring through the skies with her gigantic eagle-looking fairy wings. The most intriguing aspect of this iteration is confined within the story rather than the visuals. Maleficent, after cursing the child out of vindictive rage, is then cursed herself to watch as the child grows into an innocent, pure, albeit practically perfect young woman, causing her to question all the emotions she holds inside. It's a riveting sight to actually see the connection and never-before-seen relationship between young Aurora, played by the charming Elle Fanning, and Maleficent.
The one area I felt the film lacked was a truly visceral look into the darkness that plagues Maleficent. Angelina Jolie does an amazing job portraying the scary fairy, but only within the confines of a PG rated film. Had the movie been green-lit for a PG-13 rating, we might have been able to see a darker, more thematic retelling rather than holding back in order to remain kid-friendly. With that said, I applaud filmmakers who strive to make a family-friendly film because, honestly, there aren't enough of them. However, though Angelina Jolie hits this role out of the park, I feel she was held back in her performance. She has the potential to go to that dark place, and Maleficent is as dark a character as any. We do get a glimpse of that in this film, but in all honesty, the animated Maleficent is far scarier, far more malevolent that Jolie's.
That's not to say this movie isn't great standing alone. It's plenty entertaining and Angelina Jolie truly steals the show every time she's on screen. She embodies the role splendidly and brings a fresh take on a role practically made for her specifically. Whether you're a fan who grew up on the original animated feature or a youngin' who maybe hasn't see the timeless classic, you'll enjoy "Maleficent", and you may even go see it a second time.
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