Angelina Jolie is undoubtedly one of the most renowned actresses in cinematic history, but how impressive is her body of work?
After securing the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Girl, Interrupted” (1999), Jolie enjoyed significant success with films like “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” alongside a number of projects that received lukewarm responses. (Who can recall titles like “Taking Lives,” “Come Away,” or “Life or Something Like It”?) Her latest films, the moderately received “Those Who Wish Me Dead” and “Eternals,” were both released in 2021, and her only other Oscar nomination dates back to Clint Eastwood’s 2008 film “Changeling.”
Jolie has mentioned that she often steps away from acting to focus on her family, yet it has been some time since a film has truly showcased her talents. This may explain why journalists at the Venice Film Festival recently celebrated her potential career resurgence with “Maria,” where she portrays the legendary opera singer Maria Callas: finally, a project that fully capitalizes on her star power.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, "Maria" chronicles the life of soprano Maria Callas as she reflects on the challenges of fame, her tumultuous relationship with affluent shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis (Haluk Bilginer), and her declining singing career marked by a loss of confidence in her voice. This substantial role allows Jolie to navigate between moments of strength and delicate vulnerability, featuring several operatic performances where she sings directly to the audience, inviting them to appreciate her iconic movie-star visage. Musical biopics often attract the attention of Oscar voters, and during Thursday's press conference for "Maria," the first inquiry was whether Jolie believed she had a chance at an Academy Award for this role. The actress gracefully sidestepped the question, expressing that her primary concern was to satisfy the opera enthusiasts who admire Callas. "My greatest fear would be to let them down," Jolie remarked. "Naturally, I appreciate any positive feedback regarding my work in my own field." By centering on a renowned woman facing the intense scrutiny of fame, "Maria" complements Larraín's previous films, "Jackie" (2016), featuring Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy, and "Spencer" (2021), with Kristen Stewart portraying Princess Diana. The fact that Onassis had romantic ties to both Callas and Kennedy hints at an intriguing alternate narrative in Larraín's body of work, where the Greek shipping tycoon could appear in post-credit scenes, reminiscent of Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury, assembling a team of leading ladies for an awards season showdown. "When collaborating with Pablo, you must fully commit," Jolie stated. To prepare for her role, she dedicated several months to vocal training and learning Italian. Although Larraín requested that Jolie perform the arias live on set, the film features archival recordings of Callas, with some of Jolie's vocals seamlessly integrated through technology.
Musical biopics often attract the attention of Oscar voters, and during Thursday's press conference for "Maria," the first inquiry was whether Jolie believed she had a chance at an Academy Award for this role. The actress gracefully sidestepped the question, expressing that her primary concern was to satisfy the opera enthusiasts who admire Callas. "My greatest fear would be to let them down," Jolie remarked. "Naturally, I appreciate any positive feedback regarding my work in my own field." By centering on a renowned woman facing the intense scrutiny of fame, "Maria" complements Larraín's previous films, "Jackie" (2016), featuring Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy, and "Spencer" (2021), with Kristen Stewart portraying Princess Diana. The fact that Onassis had romantic ties to both Callas and Kennedy hints at an intriguing alternate narrative in Larraín's body of work, where the Greek shipping tycoon could appear in post-credit scenes, reminiscent of Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury, assembling a team of leading ladies for an awards season showdown. "When collaborating with Pablo, you must fully commit," Jolie stated. To prepare for her role, she dedicated several months to vocal training and learning Italian. Although Larraín requested that Jolie perform the arias live on set, the film features archival recordings of Callas, with some of Jolie's vocals seamlessly integrated through technology.
Jolie expressed that she felt "extremely anxious" when she was initially invited to sing, frequently apologizing to the crew for her performance. However, her extensive exposure to opera ultimately deepened her appreciation for this emotionally rich art form. She remarked, "When you have experienced a certain degree of despair or the anguish of love, there are only specific sounds that can truly convey that emotion." Recently, Jolie has been engaged in legal disputes with her former husband, Brad Pitt, who is set to attend the premiere of his new film, "Wolfs," in Venice in three days. The festival's artistic director, Alberto Barbera, has indicated that the scheduling of both films was intentionally arranged to prevent any encounters between Jolie and Pitt. During the press conference for "Maria," it occasionally seemed that Jolie was hinting at her ongoing issues with Pitt. When asked about her connection to Callas, who also faced significant romantic turmoil, Jolie chose her words with care. "There’s much I won’t disclose in this setting that you might already know or speculate," she stated to the media. "I relate to her vulnerability more than anything else."