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Movies / On DVD / Callas Forever
Callas Forever

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Callas Forever (2004)

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Reviews Counted:58

Fresh:24

Rotten:34

Average Rating:5.4/10

Runtime: 1 hr 52 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: At the beginning of this engrossing story, Larry Kelly (the delectable Jeremy Irons) has become a manager of rock bands – much easier to handle, he asserts, than a temperamental opera star. ... At the beginning of this engrossing story, Larry Kelly (the delectable Jeremy Irons) has become a manager of rock bands – much easier to handle, he asserts, than a temperamental opera star. Managing Maria Callas's late career has left him scorched by the star's brilliant fire. Visiting her palatial Paris apartment, Kelly is shocked to find a broken and reclusive Callas, humiliated by the deterioration of her voice. Determined to re-ignite her passion and restore her legacy, he convinces her to take on an important project: a film of the opera Carmen, in which she will lip-sync her own, glorious recording of many years previous. Thus begins a reawakening of their former relationship, mixing creative passion, genius, and drive in an incendiary cocktail. The stars are ably supported by a feisty Joan Plowright as their mutually supportive journalist friend, newcomer Jay Rodan as Larry's handsome artist boyfriend, and a wonderfully steamy performance from sexy Gabriel Garko as the tenor who worships Callas and yearns for his own opportunity for greatness. The special relationship between Callas (a luminous Fanny Ardant, reprising her stage portrayal) and her former manager forms the heart of this compelling fictional imagining of the diva's swan song, written and directed by the late Callas's friend and colleague, Franco Zeffirelli (ROMEO AND JULIET), in a worthy tribute to his legendary friend. -- © Regent Releasing [More]

Starring: Fanny Ardant, Jeremy Irons, Joan Plowright, Jay Rodan

Starring: Fanny Ardant, Jeremy Irons, Joan Plowright, Jay Rodan, Justino Diaz, Stephen Billington

Director: Franco Zeffirelli

Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Screenwriter: Franco Zeffirelli
Story: Martin Sherman
Producer: Riccardo Tozzi
Studio: Regent Releasing

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Reviews for Callas Forever

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

An enjoyably risible biopic about the final days of the opera singer that's full of foot-stamping tantrums and high-pitched hissy fits.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
11/16/04
Jamie Russell
Jamie Russell
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

So appealing and ingratiating that it's hard not to be taken in by Zeffirelli's fantasy.

Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) | comment Comment
04/19/06
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
09/26/05
AV Club
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Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
06/07/05
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

In his Ode to his colleague, Zeffirelli reminds us all how fragile egos can be and the lengths artists (and their producers) will go to remain in the limelight.

Full Review Source: JWR | comment Comment
05/22/05
S. James Wegg
S. James Wegg
JWR

Zeffirelli's 'Carmen' looks more PBS than MGM, and this relative poverty helps explain why this sincere but bloodless film has taken three years to limp into theaters.

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
04/18/05
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/27/05
Steve Davis
Steve Davis
Austin Chronicle

The film rises and falls on Ardant's performance and, boy, does she deliver, chewing up scenery and making it look like delicate surgery.

Full Review Source: Kansas City Star | comment Comment
03/25/05
Robert W. Butler
Robert W. Butler
Kansas City Star

It's an odd little film with tremendous appeal. It's almost as if Zeffirelli ... has dug up a late-'70s time capsule to share with the world.

Full Review Source: San Antonio Express-News | comment Comment
03/25/05
Larry Ratliff
Larry Ratliff
San Antonio Express-News

Justifies its dismissal of factual truth in favor of a deeper sort.

Full Review Source: Oregonian | comment Comment
03/04/05
Marc Mohan
Marc Mohan
Oregonian

Nothing more than Zeffirelli's wish-fulfillment, pretending to stage a production of 'Carmen' with Fanny Ardant acting as proxy for his late, great star.

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
02/20/05
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

Zeffirelli is in his element celebrating Callas' glory and lushly staging Carmen. Alas, the rest of the movie... falls flat.

Full Review Source: Salt Lake Tribune | comment Comment
02/18/05
Sean Means
Sean Means
Salt Lake Tribune

Though for opera buffs the result may well be fun, it's also camp with a high C....Douglas Sirk and Ross Hunter, eat your hearts out.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
02/13/05
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

Little of it works, and frankly, the film alternates between being dull and being almost campy fun.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
02/11/05
Jeff Vice
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
02/06/05
Mia Jankowicz
Mia Jankowicz
PopMatters

Bravura performances by all. Fanny Ardant shines as the woman in desperate need of a spotlight.

Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com | comment Comment
02/04/05
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com

For Callas fans, this is a winner. For others, it should at least be interesting.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
02/03/05
Olin Chism
Olin Chism
Dallas Morning News
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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