"Maria" (2024) avec Angelina Jolie

Angelina is sublime.

Just saw this movie. It was wonderful and I was surprised.

Is there a reason nobody here is discussing it, or did I somehow miss the main thread?

I forgot it's on Netflix now. I'll get back to you.

I guess I'll watch it at some point. I'm old. I remember Maria Callas and her great love Aristotle Onassis. Callas had a gorgeous voice. I hated the fact that they cast Angelina in that role. IMO she was completely wrong for the part.

[quote]IMO she was completely wrong for the part.

How so?

I lasted 15 minutes. It might be a good movie but I couldn't believe that bony Angelina as Maria. Maria was curvaceous and sexy.

R6 Someone like a Salma Hayek type, physically, would have worked better. Someone emotional and passionate. I associate neither term with Angelina. She is dead and gone but back in the day, the fabulous Greek actress, Irene Pappas would have been perfect, except she and Maria were contemporaries.

Perhaps it helped that I knew nothing whatsoever about Maria Callas until I watched this movie.

But I really enjoyed it.

R2 Dataloungers (male portion) hates Angelina more than they hate Hitler and Trump combined. That's probably why

Is it a good movie even if you can’t stand Angie?

And what's wrong with me?

Maria was only curvaceous before she got famous, and she was never sexy. Elegant, sure.

She was from Brooklyn. Immigrant!!!!

It was a creative turn for Angelina Jolie. The film captured Maria Callas looking back on her life- especially under the male gaze- during her last days. The Mandrax motif was interesting. Onassis (and other men, like the French reporter) was her Man Dracula... siphoning away her confidence. When Marilyn was on stage, Maria commented on her voice and Onassis said: "no one cares about her voice, just like no one cares about your body" was shade. After that, she started to quietly disappear; drowning in her memories. She started off not ever wanting to listen to her own voice on record, but ended up leaning onto it as her last resort.

Angelina Jolie gave Maria range. You saw the change more when the 3rd Act began and Maria felt liberated by her sister telling her to close the door to her past. Maria responded that she "can't" because "that's the way the music gets in". I love that ending when Maria last sings. It's true Callas was a little bit fatter, but this story is during her final days of drugging herself - which is what the first act felt like: a meandering.

The cinematography was really good; some nice shots here and there. The beginning lacks close-ups, but it fits as her character is meant to be distant/withdrawn at that point in the story.

It was a poignant requiem for Maria Callas. Deserving of Oscar consideration.

SHE IS FABULOUS!

I wouldn’t call Maria‘s voice gorgeous. But definitely dramatic.

R2 Related thread.

r6 Her flawed voice embodied emotional depth, unique character, technical mastery despite limitations, compelling dramatic interpretation, and had significant cultural impact as that is why so many were drawn to it and her.

^ @ r16

Maria has it longueurs, but it's a worthy film. Callas lost 80 pounds mid-career and critics have often pointed to that weight loss to explain her diminishing vocal abilities. I thought Jolie was excellent. "I go out to dine, to be adored. I don't actually eat" (I paraphrase) suggests the quality of the script. Callas's adolescence as depicted in the film explains much about her artistic failures and her temperament. If your mother pimps you out to entertain Nazis and Fascists, I imagine that you begin to associate your singing with degradation and loss of control over your own decisions.

r20 "If your mother pimps you out to entertain Nazis and Fascists, I imagine that you begin to associate your singing with degradation and loss of control over your own decisions." Her life story.

I'm so tired of these biopics. They're so formulaic. It currently has a 63 Meta Score and the reviews for Angelina are positive, but the film itself is meh apparently.

I rather enjoyed it. The end was pretty stirring. Well told and eloquent, Angelina is in her Grand Dame phase with this. I'm a big Callas fan and definitely approve. She should do more roles with this kind of scope.

AJ was very good. But the movie is pretentious and very boring.

R24 Oh so like Jackie and Spencer? I mean, were we expecting some kind of revelation from the same director?

It's not at all a pretentious or boring movie. It was excellent. The musical choices were superb. Angelina was great as Maria. A gem from Pablo Larrain! If reviews are anything to go by, it is 73% on RT, not 63.

Agreed r1 and the script was well written. The director told a beautiful story. Maria is an eloquent piece.

New York Times review

I'm kind of all Romaned out by Gladiator 2. Not into flat musicals either. This one would be it for me. It was like a hallucination blended with her music.

My favorite film this year. Quiet and emotive. It's just right for Maria Callas.

R30 yeah, because if anyone was "demure" it was La Callas

I also only lasted about 15 minutes - boooooring

I loved it visually, wonderful locations, grand rooms, some terrific imagery. I liked some of the dialog. But seeing Maria depressed and adrift through the last weeks of her life makes for an inert, overlong movie. I remained interested but was never moved or convinced.

And while Jolie certainly knows how to act the diva, when you see clips of the real Maria Callas at the end of the movie, you realize how inadequate Jolie is. Callas had a remarkably expressive face, Jolie barely changes expression. Callas had warmth, humor, life — she was a zesty, bigger than life, temperamental Greek. Jolie is a cold fish.

One of the best movies of the year. AJ really nailed Callas.

Just watched it.

I kinda loved it. It was like a gentle waltz through a woman's life, who happened to have an extraordinary gift.

It was quite enjoyable. Angie was damn good, but I think the director was the star.

I love Jolie and I love opera.

But this movie was a slow-moving bore

Jolie was terrible in the opera scenes.

Her “acting” didn’t come close to the fire Callas brought to the stage.

NON. Ecrasez l'infame!!!!!

R22 is clueless. Whatever the film’s merits, it’s the opposte of formulaic.

Jolie is emotionally intense in the movie but not fiery like Callas was. I never for a second forgot that I was watching an Anglo actress downplaying a Greek woman. But I liked the film as a whole.

R26 Maria had a 63 Metascore which has currently dropped to 61⬇️

[Quote] I'm so tired of these biopics. They're so formulaic. It currently has a 63 Meta Score and the reviews for Angelina are positive, but the film itself is meh apparently.

[Quote] R22 is clueless. Whatever the film’s merits, it’s the opposte of formulaic.

Actually, R39 I wasn't specifically speaking of Maria which I haven't seen but biopics in general. as being formulaic;

R42, this one really isn't. It's chronicles the last week of Maria's life as she tries to (maybe) sing one last time. We get flashbacks to very specific points in her life in between the comings and goings of that final week.

Half the film is her hallucinating. It’s not a biopic—it’s an observation of her psyche in the last week of her life.

I couldn't take more than 10 minutes of those perpetually pursed "I'm-playing-a-legendary-diva" duck lips. I just find her too hammy and ungenuine. She just never rings true. And I don't even like Callas.

I think AJ is a good actress. But completely miscast in this part.

Am I the only one that's surprised Pablo Larrain is straight?

True demure does not do anal dear.

R1 Is she really? I think I might check it out. People talk a lot of shit about Angie but she is one of the beautiful ones that can actually act.

R43 I watched it on Netflix and found it both formulaic, cliched. boring and pointless. We see her life via flashback as we watch her sad last days in her lavish apartment. What about this film did you find original to say nothing of interesting?

In structure and narrative, it sounds a lot like La Vie en Rose. How similar is it?

Not as good.

Fuck this bitch and this movie! Gia was Jolie's only good movie, and that's because she was surrounded by an amazing supporting cast.

R51 less actual flashback, more end-of-life dream fever. Otherwise, of similar quality, although Edith is inherently more of an emotiional investment than Maria. Tilt goes to Cotilliard.

That’s the way it is…

Angie was heavily being touted for the Oscar. But that was before the film was released.

This appears to be a strong year for actresses. I suspect she will be left off the list.

She was awesome in Mr. and Mrs. Smith R53.

Yes—i loved when she yelled out: Watch out, he’s got a nug!

I'll have to watch it. I don't mind an actor playing a famous person if they're believable. I thought Angela Bassett as Tina Turner did a worthy job.

Wow, not good. I like Angelina but she was a zombie in this. Granted, portraying the last days of Callas sounded like a lugubrious idea in the first place but even the flashbacks were lifeless. I couldn't finish it.

R58 did you not read the thread? This is no biopic. There’s no house with a view in Baldwin Hills. There’s no coffee shop scene.

Every movie about Callas has been the same: few weeks before her death and she hallucinates about her life

Which other movies? Ass

R62, fuck you

Two movies are:

Callas Forever (by Zeffirelli) and Maria by Callas

Do they have La Divina dying a suicide OD or the frauen preferred "broken heart" ?

[quote]This appears to be a strong year for actresses. I suspect she will be left off the list.

I think she'll still make it, just because so many Oscar voters will watch it on Netflix. It helped Bradley Cooper last year to get nominated.

Neither of the two movies—one of which is over 20 years old, the other of which is a documentary—covers only a weeks before her death with hallucinations about her life.

Take a hike.

R64 she dropped dead, just like in life.

It is a terrible movie and she is not up to the task. It’s even worse than the same director’s godawful Diana film.

I'm sorry, OP, but I don't speak jive.

Bitch stole my act.

The film is getting terrible reviews. I wonder what Faye is thinking.

[quote] Neither of the two movies—one of which is over 20 years old, the other of which is a documentary—covers only a weeks before her death with hallucinations about her life.

Callas Forever absolutely does

Entirely different storylines. You must high on Madax.

Angelina is not winning the Oscar, but she's likely to be nominated.

[quote] Neither of the two movies—one of which is over 20 years old, the other of which is a documentary—covers only a weeks before her death with hallucinations about her life.

Who cares if one is 20 years old and one is documentary? The original challenge was "Which other movies? Ass"

And here are two other movies, ass.

Merde.

R75. can’t read between lines—bless its heart.

R77, realizing he looks stupid not knowing there were other movies about Maria Callas, changes the question, hoping no one will notice.

I'm watching it now and so far I like it. I'm hoping to see her butler naked by the end. Pierfrancesco Favino is fucking hawt.

Angelina, too much lips and not enough nose.

We Took Angelina Jolie to the Opera. She Found ‘a Poetry to It All.’

Can't wait for his Ari.

^ at least it would do some BO

On this one, I agreed with The Times: "But what we get here isn’t interesting, and it’s not told in an interesting way." I was bored shitless, got tired of the design porn, and thought Jolie was ridiculous to the point of Camp in the part.

BUMP^^^

It's clear why Jolie wanted to do it: she gets to look fabulous in practically every scene and emote heavily. But she looks and seems nothing whatsoever like Callas., and it's a pretty bland performance.

The weird thing is even though it's not very good, while I watched it I kept thinking about how much i would have loved it as a young gayling. Maria callas says ridiculously self-important things about her voice and her fame, and everyone else around her does the same thing. Then she orders everyone around her to do difficult and non-essential tasks to please her, and they do them just to make her happy.

It's the gay fantasy of being a princess from outer space, basically. Everyone bows down to your wishes, everyone agrees you are the most fabulous thing in the universe (and takes turns with you declaring it in flowery language), and yet you're still not happy.

I'd rather watch a biography of Faye Dunaway. She's far crazier than Maria ever was

Michael McDonald nabs a short-lived gig as Faye Dunaway's comedy coach after a chance encounter at one of his shows.

The purpose of this movie is to show that Angelina Jolie is every bit the grande dame that she imagines Maria Callas to be. She swans around with faux elegance, every inch a pretentious movie star.

Does Angelina just speak in her voice or does she put on some sort of accent?

Maria Callas was born in the United States and her family later moved to Greece. Angelina speaks with a slight Grecian accent which is perfectly acceptable. The problem with the film is that it's just not interesting and it has absolutely no depth whatsoever.

[Quote] Callas had warmth, humor, life — she was a zesty, bigger than life, temperamental Greek. Jolie is a cold fish.

I had to stop reading and quote r33 here because they're exactly right...she did not capture Callas AT ALL and this is why she was poorly cast. She barely emotes with her face too, not sure if she's had work done and it's inhibited her acting...then again she was never a good actress.

Ennui

Thank you Neville

Saint Angelina was deeply concerned about the effect the "deep pain" she expressed in the film would have on her children. She is so inexcusably, dully, pathetically full of shit. Absolutely anybody else would have been better in this role.

Is Angie over? Seems like it. The movie bombed. Her personal life eclipsed her professional life years ago. Even beauties, maybe especially beauties, age out.

[quote]She barely emotes with her face too, not sure if she's had work done

She has had a shit ton of work done.

Is Angie over?

According to IMDB she has one film in production and three in pre-production. Plus if she gets an Oscar nomination for Maria ...

She has never done that many films. She picks and chooses for quality

if Eternals, The Tourist, By the Sea, Salt, Those Who Wish Me Dead and Wanted are quality I dread to think what she turned down R99. Her filmography is singularly underwhelming.

"By the Sea" has to be the biggest snoozefest in cinematic history. Brad drinks a lot and Angie looks at a couple through a hole in the wall. For hours!

My father had a lot of Maria Callas records, I'm sure when I watch the music will be familiar to me.

I loved it. Jolie will be nominated for an Oscar and may win a globe because they reward movie stars over actual talent but she won’t win best actress. Callas was not a conventional beauty, but like Barbra what she had worked for her. I found her magnetic and charismatic in the clips at the end—and she isn’t even singing or speaking. She also had flawless skin before Botox and fillers and everything that is ruining faces on screens now. Jolie never disappeared in the role, but she was better than usual.

I thought she was atrocious.

[quote] I couldn't believe that bony Angelina as Maria. Maria was curvaceous and sexy.

It seemed to me that Jolie had pretty much the same body type as Callas had (after Callas's weight loss, of course), and also, the bulk of the movie is supposed to take place during the last two weeks of Callas's life, when I would think it's very likely she was somewhat thinner and frailer than in her prime. And I felt Jolie's approximation of Callas's unique way of speaking, with that indescribable accent, was perfect.

R103, it seems to me you contradicted yourself about three or four times in the course of one post. What's that all about?

R103 I loved the movie. Jolie was good but not great. The real Callas looked different. Is that basic enough for you?

Okay, R107. Then I disagree with you. I think Jolie very much disappeared into the role, but I realize that's very subjective.

The movie is a monotonous bore

The underwhelming response to the movie makes me think that Angelina is not a shoe in for an Oscar nomination. I think Mikey Madison (Anora), Demi Moore, Nicole Kidman, Cynthia Erivo, Amy Adams and Jean Marie Baptiste are more likely to get a nomination than Angelina.

[quote]...Angelina is not a shoe in for an Oscar nomination.

Oh, dear!

Shoulda hired Anne Hathaway or Gaga- someone who could actually sing.

Why should they have done that in this case, R112, when the vast majority of singing heard in the movie is the actual voice of Callas? Also, OF COURSE, neither Hathaway nor Gaga could adequately sing opera.

At least this kept me awake..

R114, another terrible Maria Callas biopic. I usually adore Zeffirelli's films, but that sucked

Agreed, R115. I suppose it had its moment, but it was awful overall. As I've mentioned, Zeffirelli's old bio film of Callas is vastly superior.

Wow. Go Miss Jolie. I'm 20 and started playing in my orchestra a couple of years ago. I particularly like Maria Callas' music. It's raw emotion. Saw the movie last night and was amazed at Angelina Jolie's portrayal. It was a beautiful movie from beginning to amazing end. Love Maria Callas more now. Of course and Angelina who really went in with that role!

Agree r58 Angela made that movie memorable. She didn't look anything like Tina, but she gave it all. Angelina did the same here. Truly an emotional performance. I watched it a couple of times now. It's streaming!

Angelina and Timothee Chalamet will both be nominated for their performances, despite both of their movies getting lukewarm reviews. Oscar voters can't resist a decent performance in a biopic. Renee Zellwegger won for an adequate performance in a terrible film.

R119: Chalamet will be this year’s Taron Egerton.

I thought Angelina was good, but the film seemed unnecessary.

[quote] 'm 20 and started playing in my orchestra a couple of years ago.

[quote] 'm 20 and started playing in my orchestra a couple of years ago.

[quote] I'm 20 and started playing in my orchestra a couple of years ago.

and I'm the Queen of Sheba

Angelina walked around with a scowl on her face. Does that make her good in the movie?

The movie bored me blind

R117 & r118= Angelina’s publicist

r88 Is that fairly recent?

r127 I'm so glad we don't live in the old days where you had to be FORCED to be around stupid people like you. I wouldn't hit you in the head with a broken violin. You are worthless.

Love orchestra music, r117! Hats off to the players. That really takes a lot of skill.

r118 Both biopics were amazing. Like Maria, I didn't know all there was to know about Tina until the film came out.

r88 Faye Dunaway was my introduction to Joan Crawford. I have that awesome performance she gave emblazoned in my mind's eye as the actual Joan.

Is he? r47

He's Chilean, so there are shades of Evita in this (Argentina, close enough). Maybe not as the public figure she was, but perhaps her private life.

Oh no how will I go on living r29? 😭😭😭

You write like you are mentally ill.

Just watched it. Angelina was good and I predict an Oscar nomination. Callas was said to be too skinny in her last days so I guess that matches Angelina but even in the flashbacks with Onassis she looked too bony. It was cute to have JFK and a glimpse of Marilyn singing Happy Birthday. I admit to tearing up at the end.

I’ve tried to finish it twice. This trend of biopics is becoming rather dull and the movie just falls flat for me.

It’s a shame because I wanted to like this.

Typical Pablo Larrain biopic of a famous woman about whom we know everything that needs to be known.

Fanny Ardant was another fail as Callas. Didn't look or act like her at all. Callas is like Marilyn Monroe, impossible to reproduce successfully although I must say Ana de Armas came damn close with MM.

This thread hasn't aged well at all Angelina was pretty much shut out of every award

Yeah I was surprised no one has mentioned how shut out she was. You'd think it would have major oscar buzz

No one in the business likes her.

I watched the first 15 minutes and could tell the movie was a dog.

It was tough to get through. I understand the cinematography nomination though. It was beautiful to look at.

The need for this movie wasn't clear to me but I thought the part should have gone to an ethnic actress that looked more like Callas.

According to Wikipedia, Callas voice began to decline in 54, she stopped singing by 68 and died in 77. After she died I ran across throwback tabloid stories about her cheating with Aristotle Onassis who was then married to Jackie Kennedy. That's how I knew her. I felt that there was more of that coverage than I needed.

Of course she had been a famous opera singer in Europe but by the time she died in 77 she had stopped singing for years. Anyone that heard her perform or followed her personal life is now quite elderly or deceased. For me, there are to many poorly chosen bio pics.

Well, she kind of wasn’t cheating on a Jackie because her close relationship with Onassis began many years before Jackie and was essentially a common law marriage. The Jackie marriage was a huge shock to Callas and, by all accounts, Onassis greatly regretted it and wished he was back with Callas.

I'm 144. Yes, I remember something like that. I was simplifying but thanks for explaining.

[quote]The need for this movie wasn't clear to me but I thought the part should have gone to an ethnic actress that looked more like Callas.

What do you mean by "ethnic?" Callas was 100 percent Greek, so would you only have accepted a Greek actress playing her? I thought that, with the help of makup and wigs, Jolie looked quite a lot like her, more so in some scenes than others.

[quote]By the time she died in 77 she had stopped singing for years.

Not quite true, she did make that comeback concert tour with Giuseppe Di Stefano in 1973-74. It was pretty disastrous, but she did sing in public then.

I saw a picture of Angelina in character today in passing. She looked passably like Callas but this was a unique opportunity for a Greek actress with a prominent nose to have an important role.

You have an in depth knowledge of Callas' life. Thanks for sharing it.

[quote]This was a unique opportunity for a Greek actress with a prominent nose to have an important role.

Please tell us you're joking.