Callas Forever

Franco Zeffirelli's fictional tribute to Maria Callas (Fanny Ardant, in a star turn), the great soprano whom he directed in several staged operas, co-stars Jeremy Irons as Larry Kelly, an impresario trying to lure Callas out of retirement to make films of her most famous roles in which the now-ravaged voice would be dubbed from recordings made when she was in her prime. The fact that no such films exist makes the outcome a foregone conclusion for opera buffs, but they may still find this offers a good deal of fun. Bitchy, insecure, living in regal isolation worthy of Norma Desmond, devastated at the thought of aging and casting lustful eyes on the handsome hunk chosen to play Don JosJ to her proposed Carmen, Ardant's Callas is an enjoyably larger-than-life figure, one whom devotees will appreciate. But Zeffirelli's setting, though affectionate, doesn't do Ardant justice: it looks and sounds like one of those multilingual international productions that are always slightly off-kilter technically. Too, the subplot about Irons' homosexual liaison with a handsome painter seems a rather crass nod to the singer's gay fan-base. Essentially a woozy woman's picture, as melodramatically over-the-top as anything Douglas Sirk ever made, Callas Forever is camp with a high C, but those who still adore the diva suprema should find it an amusing divertissement. Optional. (F. Swietek)[Blu-ray Review—Oct. 26, 2010—Image, 108 min., PG-13, $17.98—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2002's Callas Forever sports a nice transfer with DTS-HD 5.1 sound. Blu-ray extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette (4 min.), interview excerpts with director Franco Zeffirelli, producer Giovannella Zannoni, and costars Fanny Ardant, Jeremy Irons, and Joan Plowright (21 min. total), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid Blu-ray debut for an uneven film.]