As a seasoned movie critic with decades of film-watching under my belt, I must say that Angelina Jolie‘s transformation into Maria Callas for the biopic “Maria” is nothing short of astounding. Having seen countless performances throughout my life, it takes a true artist to immerse themselves in a role as deeply as Jolie has done here.
In the latest movie titled “Maria“, Angelina Jolie portrays the legendary opera figure Maria Callas. This role, however, came with a considerable amount of apprehension for the Academy Award-winning actress due to her need to sing. At a press conference held for “Maria” at the Venice International Film Festival, Jolie disclosed that she invested several months perfecting her voice for the musical aspect of the role. She admitted to being extremely anxious since she had never sung in front of an audience before, which only increased her tension while filming scenes at Paris’ La Scala theater.
“The first time I sang, I was incredibly anxious. Fortunately, my sons were present and they kindly secured the room to ensure privacy. Despite my trembling hands…”
Angelina Jolie commended director Pablo Larraín for providing ample space for her to develop further. In regards to collaborating with Larraín, Jolie notes that he doesn’t allow for mediocrity, stating, “with him, you can’t do anything halfway.” The filmmaker facilitated Jolie’s performance by starting in a modest room and then transitioning her to the grandeur of La Scala theater, an aspect she greatly appreciated. Regarding her thorough preparations, Jolie mentions:
“He insists, in a delightful manner, that you truly complete the tasks at hand, and genuinely educate and practice yourself.”
Larraín shared that he aimed for the project to be more about a woman who spent her life singing and caring for others, rather than a tragedy. This woman is now preparing to care for herself and determine her own fate. Regarding the growing talk of Oscars for her performance, Jolie stated she was dedicated to preserving Callas’ legacy, and would be thankful for any praise, but her main concern was avoiding misrepresenting Callas. Though Callas is known as the world’s greatest diva, Jolie discovered a fresh significance of the term through her portrayal.
“I really came to care for her, so I didn’t want to do a disservice to this woman.
Through my interactions with Maria, I’ve come to rediscover the meaning of that particular word and have developed a fresh perspective on it. It seems that many times, others’ opinions about women shape their identity and intentions.
Maria Has Now Been Picked up by Netflix
Maria is immersed in the dramatic tale of Maria Callas, an exceptional opera singer whose rise to fame was marked by both turmoil and elegance. The narrative, set during Callas’ last days in 1970s Paris, offers a poignant retelling and reinterpretation of her remarkable career and life. Joining Jolie in this cast are Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Stephen Ashfield, and Valeria Golino. Notably, this project marks Angelina Jolie’s return to acting since her role in Marvel’s Eternals in 2021.
Netflix has acquired the U.S. distribution rights for the film “Maria“, and director Larraín expressed his enthusiasm about working together with the streaming service, as indicated by his recent statement.
“I’m thrilled to collaborate once more with the Netflix team, who have a profound love for cinema. This movie represents my most intimate work thus far – an artistic exploration and psychological depiction of Maria Callas. Having spent her life captivating audiences worldwide through her performances, she ultimately embarks on a journey to discover her unique voice, her individual identity, and sing from the heart. I feel incredibly privileged to bring this narrative to life and share it globally, much like Maria shared her own story with the world.”
As a movie enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that my new film, Maria, had its grand premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival. However, Netflix hasn’t disclosed a wider release date as of now, so I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed and hoping it hits the screens soon!
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2024-08-30 15:01