Netflixhas announced the release schedule for Pablo Larraín’s upcoming psychological drama, Maria, starring Angelina Jolie in the title role of the legendary opera singer Maria Callas. The movie, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and competed for the Golden Lion, will get a limited two-week theatrical run starting November 27, before hitting the streaming service on December 11, per Variety. Maria delves deep into the later life of renowned opera singer Maria Callas. After having a tumultuous life, where her rise to fame and illustrious career was accompanied by personal struggles, the singer retreated to a quieter life in Paris during the 1970s. The movie captures her as she recalls her relationships, the pressures of being in the public eye, and coming to terms with her identity and legacy.
Maria’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival, held at the Sala Grande Theatre, was met with an 8-minute standing ovation, leaving Jolie visibly moved. Currently, the movie holds a 75% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 44 reviews.
Early reviews have heaped praise on Jolie’s performance; she has delivered a mesmerizing turn by embodying Callas’s passion, vulnerability, and resilience. The star-studded cast also includes Valeria Golino, who plays the title character’s sister, Yakinthi Callas, Haluk Bilginer, Alba Rohrwacher, Pierfrancesco Favino, and Kodi Smit-McPhee. As for Larraín, Maria marks the third and final film in his trilogy of 20th century “iconic women,” following 2016’s Jackie, which starred Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy, and 2021’s Spencer, featuring Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana.
Maria Is Already Poised To Be A Crowd-Puller… And An Award-Puller
Maria has received an overwhelmingly positive response from critics so far and the trend is likely to continue when audiences flood in to experience it on the big screen or immerse themselves in the glory of the 1970s from the comfort of their homes. With biopics usually striking a chord with award bodies, Maria seems poised for recognition at the Academy Awards as well. The movie’s detailed examination of Callas’s life, combined with its incredible production values, sets it up as a strong contender.
Jolie’s portrayal of Maria Callas marks her return to movies after the critically panned MCU movie, Eternals. However, Jolie has past pedigree with the Academy Awards. She won a Best Actress nomination for Changeling (2008) and a trophy for Best Supporting Actress in Girl, Interrupted. Her performance in Maria is already being hailed as one of her best, which is a stark reminder of Jolie’s ability to crawl into and inhabit complex characters.
The entire team of Maria, from the director to the production team, is equally worthy of mention when it comes to the Academy Awards. Larraín’s previous films, Jackie and Spencer, both got nods at the Oscars for their lead actresses. Additionally, two-time Oscar-nominated prosthetics designer Arjen Tuiten transformed Jolie into Callas. This attention to detail in Larraín’s work is not only contributing to the movie’s early buzz, but also establishing Maria as a major player for the Oscars.
Maria
will debut on Netflix on December 11, 2024.
