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Friday, May 30, 2014

MOVIE REVIEW Maleficent
 When Darkness Embraces The Light, And Vice Versa

Angelina Jolie as the title character in Robert Stromberg's action-adventure film "Maleficent".  Disney
       
by Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com        Follow popcornreel on Twitter FOLLOW                                           
Friday, May 30, 2014
In some respects Angelina Jolie hasn't been bolder or more vulnerable on film than in  "Maleficent", a Disney production directed by Robert Stromberg and written by Linda Woolverton.  Ms. Jolie is so wickedly good as the title character fairy, whose puppy love grows cold as human Stefan nefariously acts to become king of whatever wonderland he stomps around in.  When Maleficent's gigantic wings got clipped I couldn't help but think of Ms. Jolie's private anguish, which she detailed exactly one year and two days ago in this editorial.  In it the actress addressed the trying times of having a double mastectomy to ward off a high likelihood of breast cancer, yet she was a comforter and resilient source of inspiration to millions of similarly-situated women.

That same strength and grit is true to an extent for Ms. Jolie's Maleficent, whose evil exterior belies a tender heart and soft spot for King Stefan's daughter Aurora (Elle Fanning), who knows her fairy godmother has watched from afar.  Ms. Jolie's skill as an actress allows what could have been a one-note character fine theatricality and charisma.  As Maleficent, whose Achilles Heel is iron, Ms. Jolie scenery chews the way Gloria Swanson did in "Sunset Boulevard".  But this is all Sorcerer's Brew, as the grown-up and wronged Maleficent casts spells and curses for vengeance as the wretched Stefan (Sharlto Copley) pledges to destroy her.  Anna B. Sheppard's prosthetics and costume design for the character Maleficent are excellent, as is James Newton Howard's score.

The film itself though, is a lifeless and underwhelming affair.  Blanketed by flames and dragons "Maleficent" parches its early fairy-tale cuteness, devolving into full-decibel malice.  A furious, fiery PG-rated movie, "Maleficent" lays on the venom at a scale greater than necessary.  Much of Mr. Stromberg's film and Ms. Woolverton's script flaunts wild imbalances.  Attempts to level off Stefan, who slaps tiny women and large men around, are met with shots of a levitating virginal blonde 16-year-old Aurora, a cynical fantasy of the filmmakers and Maleficent's own envy.   This plastic, pretentious film also rejects its prim and proper prince, who apparently loves Aurora, who in turn is subject to a permanent sleep.  The prince has to be prodded to kiss the soft angelic figure neither he nor the film wants any part of. 

The character types are easy clichés including three mini-fairies (Juno Temple, Imelda Staunton and Lesley Manville of "Another Year"), with adult faces stuck on three-year-old bodies.  They haven't a clue how to care for an infant Aurora.  They're too busy throwing flour, water and anything else on each other they can get their hands on.  They slap each other silly like The Three Stooges or like frustrated non-participants in a wet T-shirt contest.  Maleficent's companion Deavil (Sam Riley), her eyes and ears, is an interchangeable piece in this film's puzzle.  "You can turn me into to anything.  I don't care anymore."  Neither did I after the 45-minute mark.

The shenanigans that pad running time are an odd way to entertain kids who will see "Maleficent" with their parents.  There's much violence and near total darkness in the film.  The tenderness, hurt and sensuality pulsing through Maleficent's eyes are overwhelmed by lazy, poor 3D-action sequences and digital effects that hinder the film and drowns out Ms. Jolie's fine performance.  Ms. Jolie has played mischief and mayhem before ("Girl, Interrupted", "Wanted", "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" among others,) but not as good as she does here.  "Maleficent", which could have been vintage, doesn't deserve her. 

Times are tough today.  As an adult you can't even enjoy trying to experience the wonder of being a child at the movies for two hours anymore, even in a PG Disney movie.  (Aurora seems too awkwardly sanguine as hell is raging around her.)  The days of "Bambi" and "The Lady & The Tramp" are long gone, eclipsed by special effects which these days often define and sometimes sink a movie, more so this frequently humdrum one.

Also with: Kenneth Cranham, Brenton Thwaites, Isobelle Molloy, Michael Higgins, Angus Wright, Oliver Maltman, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt.

"Maleficent" is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association Of America for sequences of fantasy action and violence including frightening images.  The film's running time is one hour and 35 minutes.

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