As a gamer with a deep appreciation for biopics, I can confidently say that Angelina Jolie’s upcoming Netflix movie “Maria” has me absolutely thrilled! Having been captivated by her previous roles such as Lisa Rowe in “Girl, Interrupted” and Christine Collins in “Changeling,” it’s not hard to imagine Jolie immersing herself into the life of opera singer Maria Callas.
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but admire Angelina Jolie’s uncanny ability to breathe life into real-life characters. Movies like “Girl, Interrupted,” “Gia,” and “Changeling” have captivated both critics and viewers, earning numerous nominations and accolades. With director Barry Jenkins comparing her upcoming 2024 Netflix film “Maria” to Denzel Washington’s iconic performance in “Malcolm X,” I find myself growing more excited by the minute. This promising biopic is definitely making its way onto my must-watch list.
There’s just something about watching a Netflix biopic that’s so epic. Whether it’s the catchy musical biopic Tick, Tick…Boom! or the Barack and Michelle Obama-produced film Rustin, the streaming service honors these real-life individuals by showcasing the extraordinary lives they lived. Angelina Jolie’s Maria doesn’t seem too far off from Netflix’s excellent biopic streak portraying the final years of opera singer Maria Callas’ life.
Following a post-screening discussion at AFI Fest, moderated by Barry Jenkins (via IndieWire), the renowned American filmmaker expressed his immense appreciation for Jolie’s movie, likening it to a Denzel Washington classic. This comparison has sparked my curiosity and heightened my anticipation for the upcoming music biopic even further.
The performance is so striking. It’s almost like, to me, Jesse Eisenberg is Mark Zuckerberg. Denzel Washington is Malcolm X, in a certain way. And I think you are Maria Callas in the same way. In this movie, in so many moments, you are performing with your whole body.
Barry Jenkins effectively highlights that true talent in acting lies in the ability for an actor to immerse themselves so deeply into their roles that the audience forgets they’re watching a performance, and perceives instead the genuine individual being depicted.
Experiencing such a movie as Malcolm X, starring Denzel Washington, was like standing face-to-face with Malcolm X himself, due to Washington’s powerful portrayal that encompassed both strength and emotion. It reminded me of watching David Oyelowo in Selma, where Martin Luther King Jr. seemed to leap off the screen. If Angelina Jolie can capture Maria Callas’ essence with the same level of justice, I am eagerly anticipating learning more about her later years as the renowned opera singer.
Angelina Jolie has skillfully taken on the real-life personas of Lisa Rowe in “Girl, Interrupted,” earning her first Academy Award, and Christine Collins in “Changeling” while searching for her lost son. It appears that for Jolie’s upcoming biopic, she put considerable effort into her latest character transformation, revealing her method to deeply embody Maria Callas: the secret behind her performance.
In simpler terms, Maria was a teacher of acting, opera, and voice. She had a unique teaching method she called “straitjacketing.” This involved learning a piece exactly as the composer intended, without adding personal emotions or thoughts. Instead, one should focus on the sound, pitch, breath, language, and words with great discipline. Only in the final hour would an artist add their emotional self, by which point they were technically proficient, allowing for a harmonious blend of technical skill and emotional expression. It wasn’t until I learned from her that I truly grasped this concept as an artist.
Drawing inspiration from Maria Callas’ teachings, Angelina Jolie as an artist breathes life into her character, making it a captivating spectacle to witness one iconic performer embody another. It’s not far-fetched to expect Angelina Jolie to earn another Oscar nomination for the film “Maria“. So far, critics have been raving about her performance, describing it as “career-defining” and praising her attention to detail, saying she was “meticulous in every breath and syllable”. With Angelina Jolie openly discussing the intricate steps she took to embody the Greek soprano singer, I’m optimistic that her name will appear among the nominees.
Following Barry Jenkins’ praise that Angelina Jolie’s acting was equally powerful as Denzel Washington in Malcolm X, I can’t wait to witness firsthand the exceptional talent she brings to her new biopic. Mark your calendars, as on November 27th, Jolie will shine brightly on the grand opera stage and illuminate your Netflix streaming schedule.
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2024-11-23 17:08