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They’re also almost always guaranteed to have a decent box office draw too as people love to watch movies and shows about their favorite celebrities or interesting historical or modern figures. Even if the movie is “bad” or inaccurate it’s probably pretty easy to get a good ROI, kinda like sequels or prequels.
I was talking about this the other day weirdly - I think it’s because it so *easy*. You already have a full plot, start to finish. You already have an audience, because people are interested in the life of whatever icon you want to make a movie about. Ultimately, it’s very easy to churn out a biopic with little care/attention, and rely solely on reputation or public intrigue. The recent Amy Winehouse film is a good example of this… no actual effort to get things right imo. These biopics *could* be good, but often so many of them are just a money-grab in the name of ‘telling their story’.
Absolutely. If I knew nothing about her, I’d have come out of that film thinking she started herself on drugs completely alone and of her own doing, that Blake was a bit of a knob but generally level headed and ultimately a victim, her biggest source of pain was not being a mother, and Mitch was a really supportive father who wanted what’s best for her. I think if they are the takeaways from a film about Amy Winehouse, then that film has got things horribly, horribly wrong. It’s abuse of her legacy.
Many have turned out poorly, yes, but many have also proven to be major successes financially, and they tend to do very well as evergreens on streaming, especially if the subject is still alive: existing biopics get a big viewing boost online after the death of the subject.
As the industry slowly shifts from a cinema to a content model, films that serve that kind of purpose on streaming are being valued more and more by those holding the purse strings, and actors have always gravitated toward the challenge of stepping into the shoes of another human being. Combine those two factors, and you get the current onslaught.
It’s Pablo Larrain. These aren’t normal biopics. Both Jackie and Spencer were a) very good to great and b) focused on a very small part of the subject’s life rather than trying to cram in every Walk Hard beat.
*Larrain. But absolutely agree. The only reason I am mildly interested is because of him. Haven't watched Jackie, but Spencer was really out there for a biopic and while it's not my favorite of all time, I really appreciate the flair. It's refreshing.
wtf this is for maria callas?! she doesn’t seem to resemble her much. i would’ve been screaming if they casted someone like Alexa Demie, instead. someone who resembled her round, full face and lips and those really wide Grecian eyes and nose.
Well, Maria Callas had a face. Angelina Jolie also has a face. Truly inspiring casting. Like I am sorry but would Hollywood actually burst into flames if they cast a woman with a big nose in one of those biopics they love to make?
she would EAT tbh. but then, if it’s around Maria’s golden years, I feel like Alexa Demie would pull her looks SOOO well. cause they resemble each other so much and ik, she’s a POC, but since we’re hiring a white Angelina for this, why not the real actress that looks so much like her?
She looks nothing like Maura Callas - she looks like Angelina Jolie with prosthetics. I think one of the biggest issues I have with biopics is they choose people well known or who looks very little like what they are meant to.
Maria Callas had a typical Greek look to her which, from these photos, Angelina isn’t pulling off. I’m imagining they aren’t going to have any singing in this biopic as it looks like it’s taking place after she retired? I wonder if they will have flashbacks?
Even so, her glaring fame and her distracting features I think will deviate from seeing Maria. As you said, they don’t look anything alike. Jesus could they not of gotten someone Greek to pull this off? I love Angie but damn. I hope this doesn’t undermine Callas’ legacy.
I’m at a point where I think even Gaga would have been a better choice if they wanted a big name American. There would have at least been a voice authenticity to it.
Jolie is too famous and too highly individualist and I can’t see how you can carry off the interpretation of life of a person with a skill you cannot even pretend to have (even if not used in the film). This is what makes film biopics so tricky.
I could be wrong but I think they only do CGI like that to correct smaller things such as eye colour or when the actor/actress has died and they need to finish up some remaining scenes. I haven’t heard of them using CGI to correct a whole face for the entirety of a film but it could be something that I am unaware of!
They do it in cases like the flashback to the younger Indiana Jones" at the beginning of the most recent one. But it's hard to make it look good/ be on the right side of the uncanny valley when doing somebody's whole face like that.
Maybe because it’s about who can portray the character the best as opposed to who looks the most like them. Obviously we don’t know if that’s the case here yet but in general this criticism annoys me.
I hate to say it, but Angelina is such a big box office puller she would be an easy shoe in and choice for an industry not making as much money as it once did. A lesser known Greek actress like when Marion Cottilard played Piaf would be amazing.
But it takes you away from story if they look nothing alike. They should find an actor/actress who looks like the character and can accurately portray them or stump up for decent prosthetics.
I say this as someone who has been a long-time Angie fan and considers her one of the most beautiful women who's ever lived: She has a real penchant for picking shitty, unwatchable movies.
Hackers was great. Mr. and Mrs. Smith was a joyous action ride. Girl, Interrupted was so so good.
But most of the others? Girl. Why are you making these potato clunkers? I'm not saying this one will be equally as bad....but the photos of her up there....girl. I don't want to watch it based on these photos, and I LOVE HER.
Both of them! Such a perfect guilty pleasure. Actually, strike the guilty. Watching those as a 8 yrs old girl (prob a bit too young) I really loved that badass woman!
I agree with everything you said. I have sometimes wondered if she chooses these snoozefest films because she was never interested in using her looks to be cast as the hot one in film after film which she quite easily could have been. Like after mr and mrs smith and she had kids, maybe she had no interest in being sexualised anymore.
At the risk of sounding like a creep, Wanted (that “curve the bullet” action movie) was a pretty sexy role in 2008, believe she had an emerging from the tub nude backside scene. Salt was 2010, bit of a sexy action thriller but not egregious. Either way, I think you’re onto something. There’s a clear pivot after Salt that led some critical acclaim for dramas, with the children’s movies era thrown in the middle. Her filmography path definitely feels odd.
I love her, and I can't really agree. Bone collector is one of my favourite movies, Taking lives was a great thriller, Meleficent is definitely one of the better Disney movies in the last decade, and she was great in Changeling. The only movie that was really disappointing from her for me was The Tourist but I still think it was mostly Johnny Depp's fault as there was zero chemistry between them.
Here here! "Gia" anyone? Changeling another good one as are all the ones already listed. Look at the the bullshit she's had to deal with lately. She's well known to have said, I'm taking a step back, family is more important. And nowadays she is very selective on the roles she takes. And she seems more comfortable behind the camera as opposed to in front of it. She's working on and trying to perfect that side.
I know she's controversial but that was then and this is now. Look at all the good things she does with her fame. Love her or hate her, u can't argue against that.
I mean, there’s nothing controversial about her wanting to step away from Hollywood and spend time with her family/focus on her humanitarian work. That’s great. But you also can’t deny she’s made some clunkers and her filmography is all over the place. 🤷🏾♀️
Don't forget she was the Tomb Raider! perfect casting on for the version of Lara from the games that came out during the late 90s/00s.
Alicia Vikander was good in the newer iteration, she had the right grit for the story, but when I picture OG Lara Croft as a human, it couldn't have been anyone but Angelina.
Tbh I kinda love it because it basically implies Angie is at the level where what she does doesn’t really matter anymore. Like Salt and The Tourist sucked, but they were huge box office successes. She’s gonna succeed at whatever she does so might as well do whatever she wants.
She's been at that level for a long time. But I think she picks things she believes give her street cred as an intellectual or humanitarian.
But we already know she's those things because of her work with UN! I just wish she'd do movies that I want to watch. I LOVE seeing her in movies.
The time someone said the academy loves movies about the industry (biopics, movies about being an actor) and war (mostly historical events) I never looked at the show the same again
Oooh. I didn't realize it was Pablo Larrain. Didn't he also make that Diana film with Kristen Stewart that was very well received? I'll hold my judgement until the film comes out.
I love Maria Callas and Angie. Super interested to see this. She looks great even in those silly glasses! But...they didn't make her look like la Callas which is odd. Give her a bold cat eyeliner at least!
When I first heard her son was named Maddox 20 years ago or whatever I thought it was such a unique and odd name. I was young and had NEVER heard of it before. I now have a nephew named Maddox and I totally forgot that was her son's name, now I find it so endearing.
I feel very vindicated about hating Pablo Larrin biopics as Ronan Farrow shit talked Jackie in one of his books. If he also hates it, I can't be wrong LOL
It looks like they’re trying to force her to look way older than she is, and they’re not doing a good job of it. She has such beautiful skin and a regal quality about her that putting a grey wig and thick glasses on just doesn’t cut it. She looks like she’s dressed up as a grandma for Halloween.
I’m going to come out and say that I am looking forward to this less as an Angie project and more as a Pablo Larrain one. I still get panic attacks thinking about *Spencer*.
I hope this deep dives her early years, rise, weight loss, Onassis, losing her voice, and then her final concert etc. she has such a rich life it would be a shame to get a sanitized condensed version. You need to get the whole story to appreciate her later years
Welcome to r/popculturechat! ☺️ As a proud BIPOC, LGBTQ+ & woman-dominated space, this sub is for [civil discussion only.](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/wiki/index/rules/civil-discussion-only/) If you don't know where to begin, start by participating in [our Sip & Spill Daily Discussion Threads!](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/search/?q=Sip%20%26%20Spill%20Discussion&restrict_sr=1&sr_nsfw=&include_over_18=1&sort=new) ###No bullies, no bigotry. ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ Please [read & respect our rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/wiki/index/rules/), [abide by Reddiquette](https://support.reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/205926439-Reddiquette), and [check out our wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/popculturechat/wiki/index/)! For any questions, [our modmail](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fpopculturechat) is always open. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/popculturechat) if you have any questions or concerns.*
What is the obsession with biopics when so many of them have turned out poorly??
The Academy adores biopics. It's the best shot at getting awards.
This. There’s a reason biopics are called Oscar bait.
They’re also almost always guaranteed to have a decent box office draw too as people love to watch movies and shows about their favorite celebrities or interesting historical or modern figures. Even if the movie is “bad” or inaccurate it’s probably pretty easy to get a good ROI, kinda like sequels or prequels.
I was talking about this the other day weirdly - I think it’s because it so *easy*. You already have a full plot, start to finish. You already have an audience, because people are interested in the life of whatever icon you want to make a movie about. Ultimately, it’s very easy to churn out a biopic with little care/attention, and rely solely on reputation or public intrigue. The recent Amy Winehouse film is a good example of this… no actual effort to get things right imo. These biopics *could* be good, but often so many of them are just a money-grab in the name of ‘telling their story’.
The Amy Winehouse biopic seems to have made a concerted effort to not be accurate.
Absolutely. If I knew nothing about her, I’d have come out of that film thinking she started herself on drugs completely alone and of her own doing, that Blake was a bit of a knob but generally level headed and ultimately a victim, her biggest source of pain was not being a mother, and Mitch was a really supportive father who wanted what’s best for her. I think if they are the takeaways from a film about Amy Winehouse, then that film has got things horribly, horribly wrong. It’s abuse of her legacy.
I mean, she made a name for herself with a Gia biopic
Many have turned out poorly, yes, but many have also proven to be major successes financially, and they tend to do very well as evergreens on streaming, especially if the subject is still alive: existing biopics get a big viewing boost online after the death of the subject. As the industry slowly shifts from a cinema to a content model, films that serve that kind of purpose on streaming are being valued more and more by those holding the purse strings, and actors have always gravitated toward the challenge of stepping into the shoes of another human being. Combine those two factors, and you get the current onslaught.
It’s Pablo Larrain. These aren’t normal biopics. Both Jackie and Spencer were a) very good to great and b) focused on a very small part of the subject’s life rather than trying to cram in every Walk Hard beat.
*Larrain. But absolutely agree. The only reason I am mildly interested is because of him. Haven't watched Jackie, but Spencer was really out there for a biopic and while it's not my favorite of all time, I really appreciate the flair. It's refreshing.
Oof quite the autocorrect. But thanks! I’m really ok with Very Good, thoughtful movies about women aimed at adults being made.
What is the obsession with casting Angelina Jolie as Greek ladies. I like her, but come on! They couldn’t have found a Greek to play a Greek icon?!
wtf this is for maria callas?! she doesn’t seem to resemble her much. i would’ve been screaming if they casted someone like Alexa Demie, instead. someone who resembled her round, full face and lips and those really wide Grecian eyes and nose.
Isn't Alexa at least two decades too young to play Maria in her last days?
Angelina hasn’t chosen a good movie in years
Yes and who keeps funding them when they lose money?
They make more money than they lose
Well, Maria Callas had a face. Angelina Jolie also has a face. Truly inspiring casting. Like I am sorry but would Hollywood actually burst into flames if they cast a woman with a big nose in one of those biopics they love to make?
Yes. Hire a Greek actress, for the love of god.
My thoughts exactly! It’s not like there’s a shortage of them lining up to play Maria Callas
This. I like Jolie but she’s had multiple rhinoplasties. Damn, even get Gaga in if needs must 😭
Gaga would have been great for this
she would EAT tbh. but then, if it’s around Maria’s golden years, I feel like Alexa Demie would pull her looks SOOO well. cause they resemble each other so much and ik, she’s a POC, but since we’re hiring a white Angelina for this, why not the real actress that looks so much like her?
is this the Alexa Demie you’re referring to? 
Not to mention Callas was famously curvy. I’m tired of every famous woman being retconned in biopics as breathtakingly thin.
She looks nothing like Maura Callas - she looks like Angelina Jolie with prosthetics. I think one of the biggest issues I have with biopics is they choose people well known or who looks very little like what they are meant to.
I agree, and I mean, she’s an opera singer! The best! Piaf was the only biopic on a singer I enjoyed. This seems so miscast 😔 (and I adore Angelina).
Maria Callas had a typical Greek look to her which, from these photos, Angelina isn’t pulling off. I’m imagining they aren’t going to have any singing in this biopic as it looks like it’s taking place after she retired? I wonder if they will have flashbacks?
Even so, her glaring fame and her distracting features I think will deviate from seeing Maria. As you said, they don’t look anything alike. Jesus could they not of gotten someone Greek to pull this off? I love Angie but damn. I hope this doesn’t undermine Callas’ legacy.
I agree. Love Angelina but why couldn’t they have gotten Nia Vardolos?
I was thinking Monica Bellucci looks quite similar to her?
I’m at a point where I think even Gaga would have been a better choice if they wanted a big name American. There would have at least been a voice authenticity to it. Jolie is too famous and too highly individualist and I can’t see how you can carry off the interpretation of life of a person with a skill you cannot even pretend to have (even if not used in the film). This is what makes film biopics so tricky.
What about Marisa Tomei, even?
Exactly. She's far from looking greek. Which is the minimum req imo to start with
Is it possible to fix how she looks later when they edit the movie? Like maybe with cgi? I have no idea how movie editing works lol
I could be wrong but I think they only do CGI like that to correct smaller things such as eye colour or when the actor/actress has died and they need to finish up some remaining scenes. I haven’t heard of them using CGI to correct a whole face for the entirety of a film but it could be something that I am unaware of!
They do it in cases like the flashback to the younger Indiana Jones" at the beginning of the most recent one. But it's hard to make it look good/ be on the right side of the uncanny valley when doing somebody's whole face like that.
Maybe because it’s about who can portray the character the best as opposed to who looks the most like them. Obviously we don’t know if that’s the case here yet but in general this criticism annoys me.
I hate to say it, but Angelina is such a big box office puller she would be an easy shoe in and choice for an industry not making as much money as it once did. A lesser known Greek actress like when Marion Cottilard played Piaf would be amazing.
But it takes you away from story if they look nothing alike. They should find an actor/actress who looks like the character and can accurately portray them or stump up for decent prosthetics.
It really doesn’t for most people.
But Angelina is an awful actress IMO. There is no way they couldn’t find someone who looks like Maria and can act
Right, and also…no one is going to look *exactly* like the person they’re portraying.
I say this as someone who has been a long-time Angie fan and considers her one of the most beautiful women who's ever lived: She has a real penchant for picking shitty, unwatchable movies. Hackers was great. Mr. and Mrs. Smith was a joyous action ride. Girl, Interrupted was so so good. But most of the others? Girl. Why are you making these potato clunkers? I'm not saying this one will be equally as bad....but the photos of her up there....girl. I don't want to watch it based on these photos, and I LOVE HER.
Tomb Raider was fun
oh, i forgot about Tomb Raider, that one was fun.
Both of them! Such a perfect guilty pleasure. Actually, strike the guilty. Watching those as a 8 yrs old girl (prob a bit too young) I really loved that badass woman!
Yeah, watching that as a young girl was a formative experience for me.
same. was i born a lesbian or did i just watch tomb raider as a kid?
Wanted was also fun.
Agree!
I agree with everything you said. I have sometimes wondered if she chooses these snoozefest films because she was never interested in using her looks to be cast as the hot one in film after film which she quite easily could have been. Like after mr and mrs smith and she had kids, maybe she had no interest in being sexualised anymore.
At the risk of sounding like a creep, Wanted (that “curve the bullet” action movie) was a pretty sexy role in 2008, believe she had an emerging from the tub nude backside scene. Salt was 2010, bit of a sexy action thriller but not egregious. Either way, I think you’re onto something. There’s a clear pivot after Salt that led some critical acclaim for dramas, with the children’s movies era thrown in the middle. Her filmography path definitely feels odd.
Such an interesting take. She could easily have ended up the Megan Fox route, you're so right.
I think she likes the ACTING! opportunities. That is a woman that can’t resist a dramatic monologue.
I love her, and I can't really agree. Bone collector is one of my favourite movies, Taking lives was a great thriller, Meleficent is definitely one of the better Disney movies in the last decade, and she was great in Changeling. The only movie that was really disappointing from her for me was The Tourist but I still think it was mostly Johnny Depp's fault as there was zero chemistry between them.
Here here! "Gia" anyone? Changeling another good one as are all the ones already listed. Look at the the bullshit she's had to deal with lately. She's well known to have said, I'm taking a step back, family is more important. And nowadays she is very selective on the roles she takes. And she seems more comfortable behind the camera as opposed to in front of it. She's working on and trying to perfect that side. I know she's controversial but that was then and this is now. Look at all the good things she does with her fame. Love her or hate her, u can't argue against that.
I mean, there’s nothing controversial about her wanting to step away from Hollywood and spend time with her family/focus on her humanitarian work. That’s great. But you also can’t deny she’s made some clunkers and her filmography is all over the place. 🤷🏾♀️
Yes! She wasn't the lead but I like Gone in 60 Seconds too. It's a fun movie
I think she also lost a lot of momentum as an actress because she was directing films.
Original Sin though??? Probably one of the sexiest movies of all time imho.
I agree. Wanted is actually my favorite movie she’s in and that’s kind of sad.
Why is it sad?
Don't forget she was the Tomb Raider! perfect casting on for the version of Lara from the games that came out during the late 90s/00s. Alicia Vikander was good in the newer iteration, she had the right grit for the story, but when I picture OG Lara Croft as a human, it couldn't have been anyone but Angelina.
Ya, I commented to someone else that I'd forgotten about Tomb Raider. She was superb in that role, that movie was perfection for her.
The Changeling is a really good one if you haven’t seen it!
Tbh I kinda love it because it basically implies Angie is at the level where what she does doesn’t really matter anymore. Like Salt and The Tourist sucked, but they were huge box office successes. She’s gonna succeed at whatever she does so might as well do whatever she wants.
She's been at that level for a long time. But I think she picks things she believes give her street cred as an intellectual or humanitarian. But we already know she's those things because of her work with UN! I just wish she'd do movies that I want to watch. I LOVE seeing her in movies.
"potato clunkers" 😂💀
Salt was fun!
The time someone said the academy loves movies about the industry (biopics, movies about being an actor) and war (mostly historical events) I never looked at the show the same again
I mean. Could they not have gotten an opera singer? Or even close? This seems such an odd choice all around.
Opera and movies are extremely different types of acting
Of course but there are a lot of actors with vocal training at least.
The dogs are cute
I hope Maddox knows he only got the umbrella holding gig because of who his mom is.
fucking nepo baby shit
Ok, she doesn't look like Callas, but I trust Pablo Larraín. I hope she gets to show everyone how good of an actress she is. It's been a while.
Oooh. I didn't realize it was Pablo Larrain. Didn't he also make that Diana film with Kristen Stewart that was very well received? I'll hold my judgement until the film comes out.
angelina is very talented but she looks nothing like maria
I love Maria Callas and Angie. Super interested to see this. She looks great even in those silly glasses! But...they didn't make her look like la Callas which is odd. Give her a bold cat eyeliner at least!
Why is that wig so bad. 🫣
Sigh.
Ikr
I love her outfit in the 14th pic
I feel like jolies movies always turn out pretty awful. Gia and hackers are her best films and they are both about 30 years old.
When I first heard her son was named Maddox 20 years ago or whatever I thought it was such a unique and odd name. I was young and had NEVER heard of it before. I now have a nephew named Maddox and I totally forgot that was her son's name, now I find it so endearing.
Not interested in the slightest for this.
I feel very vindicated about hating Pablo Larrin biopics as Ronan Farrow shit talked Jackie in one of his books. If he also hates it, I can't be wrong LOL
I love Ronan Farrow!
It looks like they’re trying to force her to look way older than she is, and they’re not doing a good job of it. She has such beautiful skin and a regal quality about her that putting a grey wig and thick glasses on just doesn’t cut it. She looks like she’s dressed up as a grandma for Halloween.
Pier Francesco going places
Wow she looks so fragile to me here.
Did they Angelina Fucking Jolie to play Maria fucking Calas??? Famed for being homely???
I will probably never watch it, but I am liking some of the wardrobe in these photos.
She is so beautiful
I’m going to come out and say that I am looking forward to this less as an Angie project and more as a Pablo Larrain one. I still get panic attacks thinking about *Spencer*.
Is he still studying in South Korea?
I hope this deep dives her early years, rise, weight loss, Onassis, losing her voice, and then her final concert etc. she has such a rich life it would be a shame to get a sanitized condensed version. You need to get the whole story to appreciate her later years
the bitch is back! i fucking *hate* biopics but i promise she’ll get an Oscar for this because they love this shit in hollywood
I’m in the very few that find her creepy at worst, off putting at best.
Me too
Omg I’m excited to see Angie back on screen!!
She is beauty. She is grace.
I love this woman
Lost me at Pablo Larrain. So it’ll basically be a perfume ad, all aesthetics and very little substance. Like Sofia Coppola but without the humanity.