Jack Smart, a seasoned entertainment journalist with a decade of experience, currently serves as the Movies Staff Writer at PEOPLE. Prior to this role, he honed his skills at The A.V. Club and Backstage.

The film community is abuzz with early reactions to Angelina Jolie’s latest cinematic endeavor, suggesting a stellar comeback for the actress. Jolie stars in Maria, a biopic directed by Pablo Larraín that delves into the life of iconic opera singer Maria Callas. The film made its grand debut at the Venice International Film Festival on Thursday, August 29.

Stephanie Bunbury, a film critic for Deadline, praised Jolie’s portrayal of Callas, describing the 49-year-old actress as “an almost magical match for the real diva.” Bunbury emphasized Jolie’s dedication to embodying Callas, noting that she learned to sing for the role. The voice heard in the film is a blend of both Callas and Jolie’s own. Bunbury highlighted how Jolie’s physical and emotional commitment to singing manifests visibly, as her chest rises and veins swell during performances.

The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey echoed these sentiments, commending Jolie’s performance as one of her finest. Loughrey pointed out that Jolie’s work is marked by a meticulous control over posture and tone, which adds depth to her portrayal of Callas. According to Loughrey, this role represents a career-defining moment for Jolie.

To stay updated on the latest celebrity news and human interest stories, sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter.

Variety’s Owen Gleiberman also lauded Jolie’s performance, describing her as captivating and portraying Maria Callas with a blend of genius diva energy and femme fatale allure. Gleiberman remarked that this role reminds audiences of Jolie’s capability as a serious and powerful actor, despite having some reservations about the film overall.

Hannah Strong from Little White Lies compared Jolie’s role in Maria to Natalie Portman’s portrayal of Jackie Kennedy in Larraín’s 2016 film Jackie. Strong noted the challenge of playing a well-known figure without relying heavily on prosthetics, praising Jolie for her European accent and graceful movement that brought an enchanting quality to her performance.

Screen Daily’s Fionnuala Halligan appreciated the film’s ability to blend familiarity with unexpected elements. Halligan highlighted how Larraín used scenes and memories occurring only in Callas’ mind to enhance Jolie’s portrayal, creating a dreamlike atmosphere with orchestras that appear across Paris.

Maria, penned by Steven Knight, continues Pablo Larraín’s streak of biographical films. His previous works, Spencer and Jackie, featured Oscar-nominated performances by Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana and Natalie Portman as the former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

In a statement when the project was announced in 2022, Jolie expressed her dedication to honoring Maria Callas’ life and legacy. Callas, renowned for her three-octave vocal range, became an international sensation before passing away in Paris in 1977 due to a heart attack.

Maria is also set to be showcased at the Telluride Film Festival this weekend. Although Netflix has acquired distribution rights for the film, an official release date has not yet been announced.