Although the film will hold little appeal for non-opera buffs, its warmth trumps its cliches, odd casting and overacting.
– Colin Covert,
Minneapolis Star Tribune,
9 Dec 2004
rotten:
For all the devotion Zeffirelli professes to Callas' legacy, the script reduces her to a cartoon.
– Terry Lawson,
Detroit Free Press,
23 Dec 2004
rotten:
A film that forgets to bring its central character to life.
– Tom Long,
Detroit News,
24 Dec 2004
fresh:
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.
– Eric Harrison,
Houston Chronicle,
28 Jan 2005
fresh:
For Callas fans, this is a winner. For others, it should at least be interesting.