As a long-time fan of Angelina Jolie’s captivating performances and unparalleled elegance, I must say that her recent role in “Maria” has truly solidified her status as a versatile actress who continuously pushes herself beyond boundaries. Having followed her career since the early days of “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” it’s incredible to witness the transformation she undergoes for each role, especially when it comes to immersing herself in the world of opera singing for this biographical drama.
Angelina Jolie has been relatively low-key when it comes to acting recently, yet she’s been anything but idle. Recently, Jolie received a Tony for her work as a producer on “The Outsiders,” and she seems to have gone above and beyond for her role in the 2024 film “Maria.” The hard work appears to have been worth it, as the actress is receiving praise following the premiere of this biographical drama at the Venice Film Festival. Whether or not she’ll win acclaim for portraying opera singer Maria Callas remains to be seen, but in my opinion, she’s already won with her stunning red carpet appearance at the premiere.
Angelina Jolie Walks The Red Carpet In Ravishing Gold Gown
The upcoming music biopic has generated talks about possible Oscar nominations. At the premiere of Maria in Venice on August 29, Angelina Jolie received an astounding 8-minute standing ovation. However, let me take you back a couple of hours before that, as the actress, just one award away from achieving EGOT status, was a picture of Hollywood elegance in her gold custom Tamara Ralph gown.
From her shoulders cascaded a faux fur stole, adorning the Maleficent dress, and I’m utterly captivated by the bold dark red lipstick that perfectly accentuates the stunningly single-toned appearance. Fortunately for her, this exceptional outfit was met with exceptional acclaim, as Maria received applause after its unveiling during the screening.
Critics Call Angelina Jolie’s Performance In Maria ‘Career-Defining’
For the role of Maria Callas, a renowned Greek opera singer who passed away in 1970s Paris during her final week, Angelina Jolie apparently spent seven months studying opera singing. Critic Owen Gleiberman from Variety describes Jolie’s performance as “powerful,” although he suggests the movie itself could have been less heavy-handed with its depiction of fate. In his review, he comments that Jolie’s portrayal is captivating, while the film might lean too much towards a bleak and pessimistic outlook on life.
Jolie’s acting is remarkably captivating throughout the film. Right from her initial appearance, she draws us in, portraying Maria as a woman of cunning and enigma, blending the energetic charisma of a brilliant diva with the somber emotional intensity of a seductive siren. For the first time in years, Jolie demonstrates her ability to be a profoundly serious actor, exuding commanding subtlety and power. However, I felt that director Pablo Larraín and screenwriter Steven Knight could have delved deeper into Maria’s vulnerability towards the end, when she seems to be at her breaking point.
Stephanie Bunbury from Deadline also commends the actress, pointing out that her background in opera singing adds authenticity to the portrayal, as it’s evident that the actress’s training in opera singing is reflected in her depiction of Marie Callas’ artistry. Bunbury further adds:
Angelina Jolie perfectly embodies the near-mythical likeness of a true stage legend: slender yet stunning, aristocratic in demeanor, capriciously generous or self-centered, teetering on the brink of insanity. The actress’s dedication to this character is evident at every corner. Given that Callas found joy solely on stage, Jolie mastered singing for the role; the voice you hear is a harmonious fusion of Callas and Jolie’s unique tones. What stands out more significantly, though, is witnessing her chest heave and veins bulge as she is swallowed up, heart and soul, by the arduous physical and emotional demands of singing.
According to Clarisse Loughrey from The Independent, Angelina Jolie delivers a 4-star performance that could be a turning point in her career. In her review, she draws comparisons between Jolie’s portrayal of the singer and the stellar performances in Pablo Lorrain’s biographical dramas, such as Jackie, featuring Natalie Portman, and Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart. To put it simply, Loughrey finds Jolie’s embodiment of the character to be on par with those acclaimed actresses from Lorrain’s previous films.
Stewart and Portman seemed to infuse a piece of themselves into their characters, but Jolie and Callas appear to be spiritually connected. This remarkable alignment, amplified by one of Jolie’s outstanding performances, is a pivotal moment in her career. Her artistry has always been characterized by an impeccable mastery over body language and voice modulation – this precision transformed into manipulation when she portrayed a sociopath in Girl, Interrupted, and began to unravel intentionally in the 1998 film Gia, where she embodied the troubled supermodel Gia Carangi. Similarly, Callas meticulously controlled every breath and syllable to evoke the despair of Lady Macbeth, Medea, or Cio-Cio San from Madama Butterfly.
It’s quite intriguing to find out if Maria could potentially secure another Academy Award nomination for Angelina Jolie. Fingers crossed, and not just because I eagerly anticipate her stunning red carpet appearances.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-08-30 23:37