MARIA - Movie Review

[@TheAnadrome]

Just saw it today. I couldn't help thinking, as I looked at Angelina Jolie's emaciated frame, that this was something that had much more to do with her than Maria Callas. Excellent review as always Maggie. Thanks.

[@classiclife7204]

Exactly

[@shaundudley4576]

I am the greatest Callas worshiper in the Universe and dread this movie. Your review was the best one yet. I have subjected myself to so many by now because of, well...Maria... Yours I found the most cogent and eloquent. Will watch it on Netflix of course but will need a few stiff drinks before and during and after...

[@ErnestGouws]

You know what I would do if i was an actor or director ? I would hire you to reflect on the script and dept of the story/plot !!!! I ❤ your analysis and how deep and genuine you give it thought. I find myself agreeing with you so much 😂 👍

[@thomasrandleman7057]

I just subscribed. If there is one word that resonates with your review is, “ perspicacity.” Everything I felt about the film you spoke of with intelligence and using film as a study and artform. Your comparison with Sunset Boulevard was a perfect example. One thing about Gloria Swanson in the film was her sense of irony that flowed through her performance. For me, Angelina Jolie so seems aware of her beauty. In her films she never gets lost in her charcter. She is always Angelina Jolie. Her beauty, her “diva persona, her not being a seasoned actress but a a “movie star.” Thank you being here! I look forward to your reviews. So refreshing. Well done you!

[@thewebstylist]

“I just needed more tread in the tire” 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@myra8354]

I just saw the Maria and it gave me different prospective when the singer or famous people lost thier capabilities to perform again , we should not critize or judge them as they already suffering from inside for thier life change from the pedestal to nothing , And mostly other not knowing what they going through as they like to keep thier toe back to pedestal And this movie is about after doctor talked to her 7days before she died remind me of other singers , lost thier capabilities to sing as they used to be , like Whitney, some still with us like Celine Mariah, and soon on,, we should appreciate them more even now they cannot sing as they used to be.. Angelina Maria film maybe not much but ,, hell !!! Angeling acting is superb,,, as how you delivered your dialog is struck our hearts .. congratulations Oscar deserve your acting and dialog

[@KingKali-m9b]

I enjoyed that aspect too, plus the relationship with Onassis and JFK, I liked the film , it was beautiful, Angelina was superb. Comparing it to Sunset Blvd is a bit of a stretch , everyone overacted back then Gloria Swanson was way over the top. Not a good comparison. Angelina was extraordinary the movie touched me.

[@N_Loco_Parenthesis]

Maria Callas 'Living & Dying for Art' (BBC 2003) - here on KZbin. Watch this instead.

[@darrylgreen5655]

A wise recommendation. One learns much more about the real person from a documentary.

[@Perrosiutico]

I felt like I stayed too long at the wax museum.

[@horsetoothcinema]

This man cannot stop making films about sad lonely women, can he?

[@PhilipMarcYT]

Is he trying to appease to incels or something..

[@mjaada]

It’s a trilogy

[@AverageJoe483]

@@PhilipMarcYTyes. I’m sure that’s it 🙄

[@martin43427]

He did make a black satiric comedy last year called El Conde, a satire that portrays Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet as a 250-year-old vampire seeking death. I thought that was pretty good and plays around with the gothic aesthetics of Dracula. It’s definitely different from his sad lonely women trilogy. It’s on Netflix if you’re curious.

[@tomasmaniago5832]

Watch his chilean movies, plenty of variety there.

[@minidriver9344]

Your film criticisms are always so spot-on and insightful. I've often found you (artfully) expressing my own thoughts and feelings about certain films. Similarly here, you somewhat touched on my feelings about Jolie's performance, which left me impressed with her commitment and physical beauty, but mostly unmoved. I've seen where Jolie did some (most? all?) of her own singing, and where it appears to be her singing, the voice alone impresses. Unfortunately, i found the opening black & white sequence, where she sings directly to camera, to be a fatal misstep, as i simply didn't FEEL the emotion coming from her. I think they call it "face acting". Every micro-expression is micromanaged, but the heart and soul are never engaged. I had a similar reaction to Cate Blanchet's overly mannered "interview" sequence in TÁR. She deftly mimicked the natural stammering one does, when they search for words in the moment, but every moment was planned and curated to emotional death. With regard to MARIA, I'm not sure i understand the heavy reliance on color filters or what that garish green light is intended to represent. But it's clearly a film into which all parties put their best work. Unfortunately, their best simply didn't do it for me.

[@nationalcoasternews5798]

Happy Thanksgiving Maggie!

[@henfarasubtitrare9764]

As soon as i saw the title, my brain went "...you gotta see her."

[@alnazzz]

I just saw Maria and I completely agree with your review. This film was beautiful but boring for me. I’m actually a fan of Angelina Jolie, but I don’t think she brought Maria Callas to life. I saw the 2018 documentary on Maria Callas and I got a real sense of Maria from watching that documentary. This film failed to move me on an emotional level. I agree with you that it felt like something out of Vogue or a fashion magazine. Beautiful shots, but I want to watch a movie, not a bunch of beautiful images with no meat. Cool analogy to Sunset Boulevard, which is one of my favorite movies. It should have won the Best Picture of 1950, although I like All About Eve but it’s less cinematic. I would love to see you review All About Eve vs. Sunset Boulevard. Love your reviews. Thanks for keeping it real and honest.

[@KingKali-m9b]

Wait till you see the brutalist, now that was boring, I liked Maria didn't find it boring, enjoyed the relationship with Onassis and JFK, Jackie was cheating too, no wonder she later married him, that relationship started when she was first lady, wow. Wasn't boring at all.

[@GizmoBeach]

The director did an outstanding job with Jackie and Spencer (Maria is the last of a trilogy) so let's see what Jolie does with such a demanding dramatic role once again. I always thought that if she was going to win an Oscar it should've been for Playing by Heart (she was magnetic and riveting in that charming role in a deeply layered film that's so much more than a rom-com) vs. Girl, Interrupted where he character was two-note and impossible to like or feel sympathy for in the end (Winona Ryder was excellent, though.) Happy Thanksgiving 🦃

[@obsessedwithhorror6047]

When will you be reviewing wicked?

[@PhilipMarcYT]

Weird they race-swapped the witch from White to Black, the witch of all. That's "normal" now.

[@gonzalosepulveda3306]

Have you seen Pablo Larraín’s El Club? His early work in Chile is truly remarkable. To be honest, I think his single-name famous rich women trilogy leaves much to be desired, especially considering the beauty and depth of his Chilean filmography. I’d recommend all of his Chilean films, except for El Conde and Ema. While both are visually stunning, they feel as empty and frustrating as his trilogy

[@iocomposer]

I had a hard time separating the character from the actor. Not sure why I didn't draw the parallel to Sunset Blvd, but when you point it out, that was a big duh. My main parallel was to Tar, which I felt is the film that Maria wishes it could be. The line that stuck with me was "get me a table where the waiters know me. I'm in the mood to be adored". Lol. Straight up Norma Desmond but she'd never actually say it.

[@azramandzuka7756]

Hello dear (first time watching - I'm sorry but I don't know your name)! This is THE BEST review I've watched - I love your eloquence, intelligence, attention to detail, and knowledge! I agree with your assessment of the movie "Maria." Although it was visually exquisite, it was disappointing. I didn't see Maria Callas in this film. Firstly, there is no resemblance to Callas in Jolie whatsoever: the height, the features, the hair, the shape of the body, Jolie gives a splendid performance but there is no essence or nuance of Maria Callas. I thought the same about Natalie Portman in "Jackie" although I must say Kristen Stewart made a good Princess Diana in "Spencer." As a fan of Maria Callas, I have been waiting so long for a movie about her but this one flopped in my opinion. Thank you for your review - I enjoyed it very much! You're beautiful! 😊

[@terencereyes696]

I can't keep repeating enough the parts where Maggie says "MOVIE" 02:36

[@TreySmith_27]

Have you ever done a review of American Fiction? Curious to get your thoughts on this movie?

[@Suite_annamite]

@1:31: "...we're chasing her perfume, but not her." 👌 🧐 🥂

[@ER1CwC]

The issue with comparing Maria Callas with Norma Desmond is that Callas wasn't delusional enough to warrant a dramatic treatment like Sunset Boulevard. Desmond thinks that she still has it, while Callas was acutely aware that had lost her voice. To my knowledge, she even quit singing (in her mind) multiple times, even though she would later try to work on her voice again. She also lost the man she loved, and she had built her entire sense of happiness on that relationship. So the film was pretty accurate in portraying her as withering away in an ocean of sadness. She was ready for her life to end. One of her accompanists said that he suspected that when her heart attack occurred, she probably just let it happen, without putting up a fight. I guess there was drama during her heyday, but things would have gotten pretty inside baseball-y, and I doubt non-opera people would care about those episodes. All in all, I think the director was aiming primarily to give her a tribute, and I think he did so with empathy. Just FYI, there is a Callas cult on KZbin. Nothing will ever satisfy them, and the Europeans among them reflexively (and preemptively) dismissed the film on the basis that Jolie is American.

[@KingKali-m9b]

Your take on the film is better than this reviewer, she's too analytical, sunset Blvd Norman Desmond over the top overacting compared to Maria, what? The artist Maria losing her voice, her decline was touching, really liked this movie, beautiful film

[@darrylgreen5655]

Sounds to be yet another Larrain flick where he fictionalizes the person who is supposedly being biographed into a reinvented figure from his own aberrant imagination.

[@syntheticsilkwood2206]

Diamanda galas should have played older maria Both are greek opera godesses

[@JJJJJVVVVVLLLLL]

❤

[@Good.Glacier]

Ha, I thought the exact same thing, but I don't think DiAmanda would be doing the Litany of Satan, have you ever heard her do that or sing it? I saw it live in San Fran in the 80's completely off the charts.... 🕊

[@syntheticsilkwood2206]

@@Good.Glacier I love diamanda galas I know her whole discography I don't remember what interview it was but I know she was talking about maria callas in it but yeah she probably won't do hollywood biopics

[@Good.Glacier]

@syntheticsilkwood2206 I remember the discussions of Maria....I'm half out of it tired and Holiday stuff in the later morning I have a wild story to tell ya, but it will have to wait till I wake up tomorrow or Friday...happy Holidays! 🕊

[@syntheticsilkwood2206]

@Good.Glacier well now you've made me curious I'll be waiting for your WILD story haha Happy holidays to you too :)

[@ManfromuncoolBlogspotstars]

So, accurately encapsulating your review, there's not enough car chases or explosions for you. Insightful.

[@KingKali-m9b]

She doesn't like subtlety, only over the top norma desmond😂

[@PhilipMarcYT]

"Maria" I didn't know anything about it and my first thought was Maria... The Mother of God. Good thing it isn't. It'd be hard to make a movie about Her.

[@Elephant2024]

Listening to your review made me think of 'Maestro' (Leonard Bernstein's story) from last year with Bradley Cooper. Wonder if this film is at all similar to that one.

[@johnpjones182]

Not an opera buff/expert, but I really liked Callas in Pasolini's "Medea" (her only movie?).

[@LowKeyTired-q7d]

I always feel as though I know exactly what you mean, without even seeing the film !!! 😂😂😂

[@katabirajonathan9909]

Chasing Maria's perfume. Ouch!

[@123rockfan]

I adored Spencer and even I thought Maria was insufferable. I thought Spencer was far more thematic and had something to say.

[@aldriel8274]

This one interests me, just because I'm curious to watch Angelina's evolution. Haven't seen her in ages. Sunset Boulevard is simply the best movie ever.

[@KingKali-m9b]

Angelina is amazing in Maria, good to see her up on the screen again, she's stunning, and she sang opera with her own voice.

[@pedrorocha9722]

People react to «an able person» doing a desable person, a «black mermaid» doing a white one, and so on...Doesn't anybody react to an actress defined by her looks, playing a woman with very unnususal features that also defined her? I mean, even Kidmann had to wear a fake nose to do Woolf. They decided to make a sort of biopic about an opera singer (good luck with that) and simplu shit about her unique features. And remembering the actresses that already played this artist, it's like they are peepetually saying she was ugly.

[@SCharlesDennicon]

You're a bit too confident to consider the idea that a film can go over your head, apparently. You didn't feel anything... I felt something. And Jackie, Spencer and Maria are three very, very distinct films... you just don't like the sensibility that unites them.

[@jimbeam2299]

Yeah we ain't getting that Terrifier 3 review lmao!

[@Ajay76541]

Where you from?

[@danzigvssartre]

Are you going to review "The Devil's Bath"???

[@barbarellaville]

So unfortunate that this director can't find a good script-writer who knows anything about drama or story structure. I thought Stewart was great as Diana, but she simply wandered a world with no story to it. His drawing a too-obvious parallel between Diana and Anne Boelyn (however you spell it) and the superfluous last-minute lesbian reveal were just his desperation to infuse significance into the proceedings. He wouldn't have had to do that if he's just had an intriguing story. The thing with Diana trying to gift the pearl necklace to the confused and reluctant maids could have been the premise for an excellent, solid story.

[@antonyreyn]

Stop Polishing in the Corner go fix that Leaky Pipe, that's where the Story is - Classic Analysis Bravo

[@dazzbo1]

Socially, you must be a super gem of a movie pal!

[@flowerchild6309]

It’s a gorgeous movie every frame is like a post card. Cinematography is on point but That’s about it. Unfortunately I don’t seem to care for any of the characters.. I feel like Angelina did her best what was given but my god the writing is almost boring. It’s so dull. Scenes seem to go on & on & on & on.. that’s it. I wasn’t moved by it. I went in being excited to see Jolie back on my screen but left feeling completely underwhelmed. It was a yawning experience.

[@KingKali-m9b]

Did you watch it in a theater or at home on Netflix? Theater is big more immersive

[@flowerchild6309]

@@KingKali-m9b I saw it in a early screening :)

[@JJJJJVVVVVLLLLL]

La Luna jill Clayburgh Bertolucci ❤

[@gianniclaud]

Way too much style, too much control - hardly any substance. And no actual singing....

[@eaglestrike1000]

Have any of you seen this movie?

[@geert574]

I'm just here to look at the hot chick I ain't watching any of these artsy fartsy films 😉

[@domwalker6526]

Honestly, I loved this movie I was just vibing with it. I know I'm in the minority

[@thomaslogan1624]

Angelina is Oscar worthy. Superb performance

[@ernestmendez5487]

Love you, Maggie. ❤

[@smoothgoth]

i was bored out of my mind watching Maria. And angelina didnt capture the FIRE in Maria. Angelina was just pretty pretending to sing. I hate it

[@johnsailorsgoat]

Genuinely curious, do you see yourself ever making movies?

[@MIKEXCER]

all movie reviews have a movie brewing in there head.

[@stevecatanio8532]

Whoa 😂❤

[@purefoldnz3070]

I hope Blondie did the theme song

[@Kraflyn]

you don't understand the movie yet.... wait 30 years pls and then review it

[@geovannymorajr.1065]

Happy late Thanksgiving

[@Daneiladams555]

I can’t watch Jolie anymore There is something pretentious for me there

[@angelthman1659]

Please see A Real Pain. It's one of the best movies of the year.

[@thebossman80s]

It insists upon itself

[@sagarsaxena6318]

you mean.. like "The Godfather"?

[@freddymack2646]

Have a Happy Thanksgiving

[@Cornfield09]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/maWYq2qfpNyVoNEsi=KGBwT79XipX3srmr