Maria review – Angelina Jolie excels as tragic Callas
Jolie goes full-blown diva in Pablo Larraín’s reverential portrait of the great soprano – a thoroughly operatic affair steeped in hauteur and grief
The final film in Chilean director Pablo Larraín’s triptych of portraits of wealthy, influential, melancholy women, Maria stars a magnetic Angelina Jolie as autocratic, temperamental soprano Maria Callas. Like Jackie and Spencer it’s a film about grief. But what Callas mourns, in the week leading up to her death in September 1977, is not a husband, as with Jackie Kennedy, or a marriage, as with Diana, Princess of Wales, but the loss of her younger self: the celebrated prima donna whose career broke records and whose voice broke hearts.
Naturally, Maria is steeped in opera. It’s present in the mise-en-scène, which turns the streets of 70s Paris into a grand stage, complete with full orchestra and chorus. La Divina, Jolie-style, is as much a performance as a person – a diva who never encountered a rococo staircase she couldn’t imperiously sweep down. There are operatic levels of drama, too, in the costume choices: fur, brocade and anything that can be swished are favoured.
In UK and Irish cinemas
Continue reading...
Read more at The Guardian
-
Venezuela’s Opposition Leader, Maria Corina Machado, Is Freed After Being Detained
During her detention, an aide said, Maria Corina Machado “was forced to record several videos.” She has garnered enormous support for her opposition to Nicolás Maduro.The New York Times - 3d -
Venezuela’s Opposition Leader, Maria Corina Machado, Detained at Protest
Ms. Machado has garnered enormous support for her opposition to the country’s autocrat, Nicolás Maduro.The New York Times - 3d -
Wicked leads acting awards race but Jolie snubbed
Jonathan Bailey, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are all recognised at the Oscars precursor.BBC News - 4d -
Maria review – Angelina Jolie’s Callas commands the screen as a great diva in decline
Pablo Larraín’s strange and mordant drama portrays Callas’s haughty struggle as her voice begins to fail but her stardom remains undimmed. Angelina Jolie declaims an imperious performance as opera ...The Guardian - 5d -
See Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman and More at W Magazine’s Golden Globes Party
Celebrities packed into a suite at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles for the W Magazine party on Saturday night.The New York Times - Jan. 5 -
“Peaky Blinders” creator talks about his new project, “Maria”
Screenwriter Steven Knight brought the final days of late opera singer Maria Callas to the screen in the new film "Maria," starring Angelina Jolie. Knight, who is also a producer and director, is ...CBS News - Jan. 4 -
'Excellent place': RB Jones wants to stay a Viking
As he nears the end of one of his most productive seasons, Vikings RB Aaron Jones made it clear this week: He has found a new home and hopes to re-sign with the team when his contract expires this ...ESPN - Jan. 2 -
Our Favorite Fitness Apps for 2025, Tested and Reviewed
These fitness apps will help you turn New Year's resolutions into real results.Wired - Jan. 1
More from The Guardian
-
LA fires live: Firefighters braced for ‘explosive fire growth’ amid red flag weather warning and new forecast of strong winds
Firefighters warn of ‘critical fire weather’ until Wednesday with risk of significant and rapid spread of fire. Californians: how have you been affected by the wildfires? Weather forecasters ...The Guardian - 7m -
Israeli foreign minister reports progress in Gaza ceasefire and hostage talks
Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy attends Qatar talks amid reports of breakthrough in negotiations. Israel’s foreign minister has described progress in talks for a Gaza ceasefire and the release of ...The Guardian - 35m -
Vance says Trump supporters who ‘committed violence’ during Capitol attack shouldn’t be pardoned
Incoming vice-president makes comments on Fox News, but later says pardons still remain a possibility for some people. Donald Trump supporters who carried out violence during the US Capitol ...The Guardian - 39m -
Just Stop Oil activists spray-paint ‘1.5 is dead’ on Charles Darwin’s grave
Two women arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after protest at Westminster Abbey in London. Just Stop Oil (JSO) supporters have spray-painted “1.5 is dead” on Charles Darwin’s grave after ...The Guardian - 1h -
South Korea's impeached president gets a pay rise while still resisting arrest
Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed coup attempt in December plunged country into worst political crisis in decades. The impeached South Korean president, Yoon Suk Yeol, will receive a pay rise, official ...The Guardian - 2h
More in World
-
LA fires live: Firefighters braced for ‘explosive fire growth’ amid red flag weather warning and new forecast of strong winds
Firefighters warn of ‘critical fire weather’ until Wednesday with risk of significant and rapid spread of fire. Californians: how have you been affected by the wildfires? Weather forecasters ...The Guardian - 7m -
Britain's PM unveils AI strategy, vows to rip up red tape hindering AI projects
The British government has pledged to rip up the red tape hindering construction of data centers that underpin artificial intelligence while promoting its “pro-innovation” approach to regulating ...ABC News - 19m -
EU's executive branch denies cover up over health of President Ursula von der Leyen
The European Commission is denying that it tried to cover up the state of health of its president, Ursula von der Leyen, who was hospitalized with severe pneumoniaABC News - 23m -
The Breakthrough: this tense true-crime thriller is the best Scandi noir in years
The highly emotional new crime drama about the horrific murder case in Sweden that went unsolved for 16 years is a cracking and courageous watch. No wonder it’s raced up the Netflix charts …. Time ...The Guardian - 23m -
Apple asks investors to block proposal to scrap diversity programmes
Conservative thinktank wants firm to end its DEI efforts because they create ‘litigation, reputational and financial risks’. Business live – latest updates Apple has asked shareholders to vote ...The Guardian - 32m