Telluride: For a Towering Turn in ‘Maria,’ Angelina Jolie Is in the Hunt for a Second Oscar

As a seasoned gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the cinematic universe, I can confidently say that Angelina Jolie‘s performance in ‘Maria’ is nothing short of a game-changer. Her portrayal of the legendary Maria Callas is not just another role; it’s a testament to her versatility and dedication as an artist.

Earlier this year at the Academy Awards ceremony, Emma Stone received her second Best Actress Oscar – a remarkable feat achieved just seven years after claiming her first. It might seem uncommon to think that multiple acting Oscars could be won by a single performer, but you would be mistaken. Stone joined the ranks of only the 45th artist to have received more than one such honor.

I’d like to mention something here. If someone believes that Angelina Jolie might not win the Best Actress Oscar at the upcoming Academy Awards, given she has won before – specifically in the Best Supporting Actress category for ‘Girl, Interrupted’, which was released 25 years ago, let me clarify: you may want to reconsider your thoughts.

Jolie delivers an impressive portrayal of the iconic yet troubled opera singer Maria Callas in the last film of Chilean director Pablo Larraín’s unofficial trilogy about exceptional women of the 20th century who passed away prematurely. The movies preceding this one are Jackie from 2016 and Spencer from 2021. This movie had its North American debut at the Telluride Film Festival on Saturday afternoon, a day following its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Initially, let’s tackle the most apparent query: Callas was known for one of the finest voices ever heard. Jolie portrays her. Given that, as far as I know, Jolie hasn’t done much singing before – unlike actresses who played Callas in ‘Master Class’, such as Patti LuPone and Zoe Caldwell – how could they make Jolie sound like “La Divina”? The solution seems to be that Jolie spent months learning the music featured in the movie, which was then combined digitally with Callas’ own voice.

Regardless of the criticisms, Jolie’s on-screen performance was nothing short of impressive. While I acknowledge that her vocal prowess may not rival Callas, on the big screen, there seems to be a perfect sync between her lip movements and the melodious voice emanating from the speakers. If any discrepancies were found, this movie would’ve been scrapped, but instead, it marks the start of an exciting cinematic journey. Good luck finding any flaws!

Angelina Jolie portrays Maria Callas, a woman who was once globally recognized and relentlessly pursued by the media, an experience similar to Jolie’s own, as a woman in her mid-fifties grappling with the echo of her stronger voice that haunts her. She scarcely steps out from her luxurious Parisian apartment unless she craves approval from her fans. For the most part, defying the entreaties of her devoted butler (Pierfrancesco Favino, resembling Alfred Molina) and housemaid (Alba Rohrwacher, bearing a likeness to Andrea Riseborough), she consumes an abundance of medication that erodes her physical and mental well-being. One such drug induces the hallucination of being interviewed about her life by a journalist who isn’t actually present (Oscar nominee Kodi Smit-McPhee from “The Power of the Dog”). This fictional interview device offers insight into the highs and lows of Callas’ tumultuous existence.

The movie’s pace might be debated, as it can seem a bit aimless at times. However, there’s no room for argument when it comes to Jolie’s performance or that of the lesser-known actors who share the screen with her, such as Valeria Golino, portraying her sister Yakinthi Callas, and Haluk Bilginer, embodying Aristotle Onassis. Both actors make excellent use of their limited on-screen moments.

Regarding Academy recognition, it’s quite likely that Angelina Jolie will secure a Best Actress nomination, following in the footsteps of Natalie Portman’s nod for Jackie and Kristen Stewart’s nomination for Spencer. Notably, Jackie was also nominated for Best Costume Design and Original Score. While Maria lacks an original score, it boasts stunning outfits and jewelry by Massimo Cantini Parrini, potentially earning another costume nomination. Ed Lachman, the renowned cinematographer, previously earned a Best Cinematography nomination this year for a relatively unknown film, El Conde. Given Netflix’s acquisition of the U.S. distribution rights to Maria and their promotional efforts, it’s possible that Lachman could secure another nomination for this film. Additionally, due to the open nature of this season, a Directing nomination for Larraín or a Best Original Screenplay nomination for Steven Knight cannot be ruled out.

2024-09-01 04:55

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