How Pablo Larraín Got Angelina Jolie to Play Diva Maria Callas

Pablo Larraín joins Keep It to chat with Ira and Louis about his new movie "Maria" starring Angelina Jolie, his unique approach to making biopics, being inspired by German cinema and which part of Madonna's life he would most want to make a movie from.
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[@leilani319]

I watched the film twice back to back yesterday and again for a third time this morning. Jolie's performance was absolutely extraordinary! I dare to say that this film showcases her greatest work to date! No other actress in contention for an Academy Award nomination in the lead actress category comes close to the brilliance of Jolie's flawless performance! 💯🎭🏆

[@MariBella-76]

She truly deserves both an OSCAR and a GOLDEN GLOBE award. Her talent and brilliance are unmatched! I've literally rewinded (on PRIME) the last part of her singing and she had me in tears.

[@melbamaloney4572]

Rooting for AJ to win the Oscars she immersed herself in the role of Maria Callas and won several awards already for this role ! Pablo Larraine followed his instinct that it was AJ who can portray the enigma that Callas was !!! Alas I don’t have any Indie theatre close by showing Maria so will have to wait for Netflix but if any theatre close by shows it I would like to see it on the big screen !❤❤❤

[@kubrick5560]

Thank you for this wonderful review, please keep supporting MARIA & Angelina Jolie ❤

[@jaxv2823]

Watched it twice… beautiful movie. Angelina was amazing.

[@maryeastham]

Don't forget Richard Gere's character whisking Julia Robert's off to the opera in San Francisco in 'Pretty Woman'. I'm a writer and singer. I've been watching videos all afternoon about 'Maria'. I can't WAIT to see it December 11th on Netflix. Bravo Pablo Larrain for taking this enormous project on and for listening to Angelina giving you insight into how much more Maria was than tragic. I've been through some terrible things in the last few years that align with Angelina's life. We both stayed strong and carried on. She is my hero for taking on this film and for training to sing operatically. Wow...

[@xaroraxaro]

Her performance was incredibly subtle and deep. 👏🏻

[@MARÏLYN-0h]

The reason why opera isn’t filmed generally is because opera is a THREE dimensional experience that you need to experience actually IN the theatre, and film is a two dimensional medium!! It’s virtually impossible to capture opera on film, precisely for that reason alone!! I am so eager to see this film because I have loved Maria Callas for decades now, and love both Maria the woman and Callas the legendary La Divina…prima Donna asolutta!! I can’t wait to experience this!! And I’m so grateful that they seem to have afforded Maria the respect that she more than absolutely deserves!! Brava!! 🌟

[@leeraewi]

I just watched this film, OMG!!!

[@gerardomoreno6704]

I watched the movie and I loved it. I hold my tears as much as I could until the end of the scene where she is looking at a staircase and she thinks of madam butterfly. The orchestra, the umbrella, the rain and her sadness. I just couldn’t.

[@beqamarsagishvili6988]

Loved the interview ❤ my #1 favorite film of this year and Angelina is brilliant ❤

[@moonstone1159]

The film was sumptuous and Angelina was fantastic in the role! I need to see it in a theater, tho. The cinematography and chosen opera pieces were amazing -- as well as Angelina's singing! I had more questions about Maria after the film then I had going in. I'd like to know more about her life and rise to super stardom! (Yes, Pablo, please do a Madonna biobic!)

[@silvanaperez2202]

Thank you for this review❤

[@Bluebox87]

There's a few opera centric films. Phantom of the OPERA, for example. Or something like Meeting Venus, with Glennn Close.

[@slc2466]

I was thinking "Ray of Light" era for Madonna as when she really started to be acknowledged as a great musical force/artist, via both her past successes and her current work. She was one of the biggest stars in the world after "Virgin" took off, but I think it took a while for her to build regarding gaining respect for the creativity and quality surrounding her music (unless Pablo is simply addressing when she did break through initially- in that case, I want to see her around the time "Borderline" hit the top ten, and the buzz started to grow at an alarming rate, and did not abate for years).

[@grantc61]

Love Louis. He's such a fanboy, but he asks great questions.

[@grantc61]

Callas was a genius. I hope the movie recognises this, and how her life became a tragedy.

[@ManfredHebelt]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@shadebug]

So back in, I think it must have been 2008 if I’ve got my timelines right, Madonna headlines the Radio 1 Big Weekend here in England. I remember listening to it on the radio and she was only playing her most recent songs but then she says “I’m gonna do an oldie now” or words to that effect and she does Music. I want a film of the thought process that leads her, when headlining a festival, to play that as her only fan favourite

[@marcosmadeiros9553]

I didn’t know he was the director of NO. That film is SO underrated.

[@michaelwoolcock5600]

Not gonna lie, Jackie was awesome and I thought Natalie would have got her second Oscar for that.

[@shadebug]

How we gonna ignore the opera in Pretty Woman?

[@dianad1968]

Because Pretty Woman wasn't a movie about opera.

[@shadebug]

@ wasn’t it though?

[@aclem8246]

I heard the movie comes off as some sort of fashion show with Jolie showcasing various outfits from costumes for the stage to designer couture. The singing is Callas with Jollie lip syncing for the most part.

[@carljcreighton]

Amadeus, Topsy Turvy, The Magic Flute by Ingmar Bergman are all better films about opera than Maria is. Also, biopic is the words bio and epic put together, it's not a bio pic as in picture.

[@ohslytherin94]

The movie is beautiful but it's flat and boring. Especially compared to others like Jackie or Spencer. It only portrayed Maria Callas in her late life. I mean what the hell? It's disrespectful of her great career and achievements. Besides, I really can't look similarities between Angelina Jolie and Maria Callas. All I see is Angelina. That's why I think, this movie even doesn't get any nomination in Golden Globe or Oscar. It lost to Emilia Perez. 😂

[@matsudaseiko]

totally underwhelming compare to the piaf and diana (spencer) casting.........SIGH