Maria

Perhaps in Jolie and Larraín’s portrayal, the art of Callas lives on, but in all the veneration, so too did the pain.

[Angelina Jolie's] performance – and the script and opulent camerawork (American cinematographer Edward Lachman) – are the strengths of this film.

Jolie’s is a wholly convincing performance... Whether she’s playing grand dames or action heroes, “don’t mess with me” is her default position, so Callas’ flair for melodrama is well served.

Larraín and screenwriter Steven Knight feel equal parts too comfortable and too distracted, fixating on film stock fascinations and screenwriting tricks about miscarriages and ex-lover’s deaths that answer questions we didn’t have.