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

| May 27, 2022

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

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 19, 2006

| Original Score: 2/5 | Apr 1, 2006

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Dec 6, 2005

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jun 7, 2005

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 | Original Score: 2/4 | Apr 18, 2005

| Original Score: 2/5 | Mar 27, 2005

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

| Mar 25, 2005

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 | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Mar 25, 2005

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

| Mar 4, 2005

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.

| Original Score: C | Feb 20, 2005

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

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Feb 18, 2005

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.

| Original Score: C+ | Feb 13, 2005

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

| Original Score: 2/4 | Feb 11, 2005

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

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Feb 4, 2005

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

| Original Score: A- | Feb 3, 2005

The film's portrait of the singer is indelible. The story as a whole, however, doesn't hold together, primarily because the imaginary characters and situations that surround her are so inadequately sketched.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 28, 2005

Callas may be forever, but Franco Zeffirelli's fictionalized tribute is not.

| Jan 3, 2005

Achieves some briskly intimate entertainment on its odd terms.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Dec 24, 2004

A film that forgets to bring its central character to life.

Full Review | Original Score: C | Dec 24, 2004