Callas Forever

PG-13

Released Nov 5, 2004

1h 48m

Biography

Drama

LGBTQ+

List

41%

59 Reviews

Tomatometer

54%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Aging opera singer Maria Callas (Fanny Ardant) tries to make a comeback by performing in a production of Bizet's "Carmen."

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Critics Consensus

An uneven biopic that struggles to convey what made its subject special, Callas Forever is far from a definitive look at the life of this brilliant opera diva.

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Empire Magazine

Rated: 2/5

Apr 1, 2006

Full Review

Steve Davis

Austin Chronicle

Rated: 2/5

Mar 27, 2005

Full Review

Olin Chism

Dallas Morning News

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

Rated: A-

Feb 3, 2005

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Stephen Rebello

The Advocate

Callas deserves, at the very least, a film the equal of Amadeus. This isn't it.

May 27, 2022

Full Review

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

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

Rated: 4/5

Apr 19, 2006

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Film Threat

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 6, 2005

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Audience Member

Love Zeffirelli, but this was bad. Save your time and don't watch this.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

last costume period bio-pic

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

This film is directed by legendary Italian director Franco Zeffirelli but doesn't really finds it's own pace. Partly fiction, partly homage to the greatest singer of all time, the film is a mix of hit & misses but ends up feeling more like a cheap TV drama than an actual theatrical release. too bad the material was interesting and the film could have been better, probably the fault to a small budget.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great movie for a great Diva!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

Fanny Ardant is phenomenal as the legendary sensation, Maria Callas. Ardant captures Callas' passion and larger then life personality beautifully. Bravo!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Zeffirelli, who had worked with Callas on numerous occasions, makes this work out of love for his muse. The film is based around a what if situation: what if a filmmaker had asked her to film a version of her own version of the Carmen using audio from a previously recorded performance. The film however does not rank among the filmmaker's best, his personal feelings do not really translate so well to an audience, though the photography is still masterful and the art direction a treat.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

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Franco Zeffirelli

Director

Fanny Ardant

Maria Callas

Jeremy Irons

Larry Kelly

Joan Plowright

Sarah Keller

Jay Rodan

Michael

Gabriel Garko

Marco

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Synopsis

Aging opera singer Maria Callas (Fanny Ardant) tries to make a comeback by performing in a production of Bizet's "Carmen."

Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Producer: Marco Chimenz, Giovanni Stabilini
Screenwriter: Martin Sherman, Franco Zeffirelli
Distributor: Regent Releasing
Production Co: Cattleya, RAI Cinema
Rating: PG-13 (Sexual Content|Strong Language)
Genre: Biography, Drama, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 5, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $446.0K
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)