Only a star of Angelina Jolie Pitt’s immense clout could get a film like By the Sea made. Her third film as director is essentially a chamber piece starring her and her husband Brad Pitt as a very unhappily married couple. Not much happens. In fact, hardly any words are exchanged by the bickering pair over the course the film’s (at times gruelling) 132 minutes.  There is a torrid sex scene between the two most famous stars in the world to liven matters up, but essentially By the Sea is Jolie Pitt’s attempt at a European art movie; those expecting a retread of their last outing together, Mr and Mrs Smith, will be sorely disappointed. But given that it stars Jolie Pitt and Pitt, and is backed by Universal, the studio behind the year’s biggest hit (so far) Jurassic World, By the Sea is at its core no such thing. As such, it’s a bit of an anomaly – but a mildly fascinating one at that.  Nothing seems to impress New York 70s couple Roland (Pitt) and Vanessa (Jolie Pitt). Upon checking into their impossibly chic suite overlooking a quiet seaside town in the south of France (the film was actually shot on the Maltese island of Gozo), the childless couple of 14 years don’t say a word or even take in the majestic view before mechanically unpacking their Louis Vuitton luggage for an extended stay.  Related: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt romantic drama By the Sea to open AFI fest  For this depressively glamorous couple, life has become routine, even when away on vacation. Roland, a writer, spends his days boozing and writing at a local pub in town, while Vanessa languishes in their vast room, popping pills and reading books she despises. As played by Jolie Pitt and Pitt, it’s undeniable the two are in love: their wordless chemistry confirms that. But at the outset of By the Sea, they can’t seem to stand to be in the same room as one another.  The pair’s gloomy existence lightens up with the introduction of two French, and very horny, newlyweds (Melanie Laurent, who starred with Pitt in Inglourious Basterds, and Melvil Poupaud), who move into the room next door for their honeymoon. While Roland is out, Vanessa discovers a peephole next to their bed that offers an ample view of their neighbours’ boudoir. In no time, she begins to spy on the young couple as they frolic about, no doubt recalling her happier days with Roland.  At the film’s world premiere at AFI Fest in Los Angeles, Jolie Pitt (who also wrote the script) tearfully told the audience that By the Sea was inspired by the passing of her mother. And while the associated pain registers palpably in her eyes throughout her drama, Jolie Pitt makes the bold decision of not revealing why Vanessa is so profoundly unhappy until well into the film’s last act.  As a result, it’s hard to feel sympathy for her and Roland’s plight, despite deeply committed performances from its two stars. Like the actors who play them, the pair have what most don’t: good looks and obscene wealth. But Jolie Pitt doesn’t seem interested in courting goodwill on the part of her two protagonists; Vanessa especially acts out in horrid ways that exacerbate her husband.  By the Sea’s uncompromising nature is its most admirable asset. It’s a vanity project that’s difficult to love, but alluring to unpack.
Following her historical drama Unbroken, Jolie Pitt dials it down to make what’s inarguably her most personal - and fundamentally inaccessible - film to date