The teaser trailer for Pablo Larraín’s Maria promised Angelina Jolie emoting, and the official trailer is now doing a really good job selling Angelina’s performance as Maria Callas in a true career-defining role.
The trailer is all about Angelina as Maria, she looks impossibly gorgeous and fragile and glamorous, I’m not sure what’s going on with that accent, but I am VERY into this. Granted, I am a big fan of Jackie—speaking of, I never understood Natalie Portman’s accent in that, but it worked for the film—and Spencer, so I am the target audience for Maria and I am willing to be pleased.
The trailer also shows off the film’s excellent costume design by Massimo Cantini Parrini, and the production design by Guy Hendrix Dyas, with set decoration by Sandro Piccarozzi and Nora Talmaier. I am still iffy on Maria’s Best Picture chances—Netflix is backing Emilia Pérez as their #1 Oscar best bet—but I think Maria could snag several craft nominations. And the cinematography! That perfect golden hour sequence at the top of the trailer is incredible. Edward Lachman lensed the film, he might be another name to highlight for your Oscar pool.
But really, it is all about Angelina, and she looks very keyed in. I honestly can’t remember the last time Angelina gave a performance that really felt like she was digging deep. It’s not that she gives bad performances, per se, but she is talented enough she can kind of skate on the basics (like Gwyneth Paltrow). Maybe By the Sea? I do not like that film, but I recall her performance was very good. Otherwise, I think you have to go back to Salt or Changeling. Her focus has been her family and filmmaking, I’m not sure choosing challenging acting roles was really the priority, but Maria looks like she might be challenging herself. I hope so, Jackie and Spencer are so good, I really want Larraín’s trilogy of films about difficult women to finish strong.
As for the Oscars, Angelina is very much in contention. She’s been a regular presence at the fall film festivals, and she’s going to be honored at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, a key stop on the trophy trail. The Best Actress is insanely competitive, so far, the most competitive race of Oscar season. Nothing is guaranteed. But if Maria even halfway delivers on its promise, Angelina should be in thick of award season for months to come.
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