Evita (1996) User Reviews (231)

Best role for Madonna

[FilmOtaku · 6/10 · 8 August 2005]

I used to think that there were a couple of absolutes in this world other than the standard issue ones. One is that I will always hate Andrew Lloyd Webber and another is that Madonna will never be a good actress. After seeing Alan Parker's 1996 musical "Evita" however, starring Madonna and featuring the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, I have had to amend those two statements slightly.

"Evita" tells the true story of Eva Peron, the wife of Argentina's former president (and dictator) Juan Peron. In a story that was ready-made for Hollywood, she started out as the illegitimate and poor daughter of a man who dies when she is very young, sleeps with a mediocre nightclub singer at the age of 15 in order to gain passage to Buenos Aires, and from there begins her struggle to reach whatever achievements her ambitions require (which is a lot). Using her body to gain important friends (because, frankly, she didn't have any acting talent) she becomes an actress and radio star before she meets Juan Peron, at the time, an up and coming politician. They get married and the two work to get him elected as the president of Argentina on the platform that "they are workers too". When he is elected, Evita's popularity grows even more, to the point where her dreams of becoming the vice president of the country could be realized, until she is stricken with cancer and dies, essentially with the image of a saint, at the age of 32.

"Evita" is a gorgeous, lush film, full of thousands of extras, great location scenes and features a very talented cast. It acts almost as an incredibly big budgeted and elaborate music video, mainly because it features almost constant singing, and well, it stars one of the most visible music video stars of all time. Madonna finally found her part in this film, and no, it wasn't just easier because she didn't have a lot of speaking lines. It is clear that not only did she take voice lessons (which actually is true) because her voice quality was better than "normal", and has stayed that way since the making of this film, but she was able to knock off some decent dramatic moments. Banderas, though he spent a lot of the film looking pretty furious with the camera, doesn't have to prove any acting mettle (anyone who has seen him in an Almodovar film can attest to this) but did come up with a surprisingly good singing voice. Jonathan Pryce, who was curiously cast as Peron also did a good job, though his part was fairly minor, and even at that he was relegated to giving Evita a lot of loving looks. All in all, however, the slick production, some catchy music (I cannot believe I am actually saying that I actually really like a film featuring the music of the insipid, mainstream, gnome-like Webber) that is good enough to listen to extra-curricularly and performances that weren't bad made for a pretty good and very entertaining viewing.

Don't get me wrong – there are more than a few eye-rolling moments in "Evita", but the good definitely outweighs the bad, exponentially. The story, while coherent, was pretty mediocre, and I found that I felt that there were some things that were glossed over or trivialized with a cute musical number. Admittedly, however, this IS a musical and you don't sign up for a hard-hitting knowledge fest when you watch one. This wasn't the first time I had seen this film, and yet I still end up getting so wrapped up in the action that I end up bawling a couple of times, and this viewing was no exception. More importantly, though, I didn't feel like a doofus when I recommended it as a movie that three guys and I should watch together, because while it's slick and a musical, (and therefore, traditionally, a chick film) there's enough compelling elements to the film that will keep some guys happy as well. Good job, Parker and thanks a lot for blowing two of the absolutes I normally stand by. 6/10 --Shelly

Very Good! Know the story before you watch it though

[Harrypotternerd-2 · 7/10 · 19 September 2009]

When I first saw this movie, I initially thought it was alright, but not to par. . I thought Madonna was just PERFECT for the role, but I felt it was just missing something.It was confusing at times, and some parts are unexplained What it did however do, is get me wondering about Eva Peron. So, I watched a documentary on her and was blown away. Not by the documentary of course. But Alan Parker. As the documentary showed the real Eva Peron, I noticed how amazing accurate Alan Parker wanted to make his film.

I then watched the film again having higher hopes and was completely taken out of seat. Every outfit, every word, every event. every picture, has historical reference or the way the people perceived her. Every single of one of Madonna's outfit's is a replica of an outfit that Eva Peron wore. Alan Parker clearly had spent YEARS researching Eva Peron. And it shows, The news (If you know Spanish and look in the background) is what was going on at the time. Everything is spot-on. I think my favorite thing is tho, is that certain melodies, constantly show up in another song. "Don't Cry for me Argentina" if you listen to the beats and melodies, constantly shows up in many of the songs. These and many other small details make this movie one of my favorites. The music is fun, the cast in one word, is brilliant and the sets perfectly fit the time-frame. Although, I do feel like it missed the energy of the on-stage version by an inch. So, all-in-all, good movie. Not a 'must see'. Good, if you're not familiar with the story. But downright brilliant if you're either willing to sit down and learn about Eva Peron, or already know about her

For Tulane class, Zach Schurkman

[deebater · 7/10 · 5 May 2005]

The movie Evita, starring Madonna, Antonio Banderas and Johnathan Pryce is a musical account of the life of Eva Peron. An adaptation of the original rock opera by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, the film is told as a flash back with the narrator, Antonio Banderas as Che, recounting the events that have lead to the opening scene: the announcement of Evita's death.

Evita, played by Madonna, was born into poverty in rural Argentina. She was able to climb the social ladder through her numerous male relationships and acting career. Eventually she marries Juan Peron, played by Jonathan Price, who is an up and coming Colonel in the Argentine military. Evita then becomes the first lady when a military lead coup makes Peron President. As first lady, Evita is extremely popular with the general Argentinean population because she is considered to understand the needs of the lower class, as she came from a poor background herself. Peron exploits his wife's popularity by having Evita tour the world and run charitable foundations. As the story develops the narrator portrays Evita as increasingly more negative and aloof to her husband's repressive actions and policies.

From a historical standpoint Evita has many inconsistencies, however, the general storyline is factual and based on Mary Main's biography of Eva Peron. Unfortunately, Mary Main's biography has been criticized as biased because much of her evidence was attained from anti-Peron sources. As a result the movie also shares this historical criticism, and many of the events and portrayals in the film have been disputed. The films' suggestion that Evita was a terrible actress who slept her way to the top has been disproved by historians. Likewise, the film's portrayal of Evita's arrival in Buenos Aires as mistress of a married man has also been proved false. Nonetheless, the core historical events portrayed in the film are on the whole extremely accurate. The movie does a particularly good job of illustrating the social unrest and governmental corruption rampant in Argentina during the 1940's and 1950's. The film also correctly addresses the large gap between the rich and poor during the time period and its relative implications on society. All the dates, events and characters are based on historical fact, except for Che the narrator. This gives the movie a pseudo-realism that is unique from other musicals. As an educational film, Evita could be very helpful in depicting the events surrounding Peron's rise to power, as long as one notes the biases and alleged inconsistencies ahead of time.

From an entertainment perspective, Evita is thoroughly enjoyable. Antonio Banderas in particular, does a fabulous job in his role of Che. Madonna, in the role she was "born to play", is spotty at times, but on the whole is very commendable. The music, already famous from the play, is well incorporated into the movie and generally well sang by the cast. The simple cinematography allows the movie to progress very smoothly and incorporate Che in scenes the play never could. The story is widely held as a classic and is quite entertaining. Evita's realism allows viewers to associate themselves with aspects of Evita or any of the other characters lives, while the music makes the movie easy to follow and family friendly.

Clearly Evita is worth watching as it is both entertaining and educational, a rare combination. Although, one must be preemptively warned that the movie has been criticized from a historical viewpoint as being unfairly negative toward Evita. The movie also portrays the many charitable and positive actions lead by Evita. The movie makes no claims to be entirely historically accurate, and subsequently must be understood as entertainment first, and history second. Still, the movie provides a strong background in Argentine history and politics that are relevant even today. On a scale of one to ten I would rate the movie a nine for entertainment and a seven for historical accuracy.

Wonderful adaptation of the play

[wnterstar · 11 December 2004]

I liked this movie. I thought it kept it's edge and that was largely because of Madonna. I didn't want to like Madonna in the part...she seemed too flighty, too self-involved. I didn't hold out too much hope for her acting.

She really surprised me. Not only did she do a wonderful job with the script as given, she also went so far as to watch footage of Eva Peron and got the hand gestures and facial expressions down.

I also heard that she is credited in obtaining permission from the Argentine government to film at the Casa Rosada. Eva Peron is STILL considered a saint, and they were worried the movie would show her in a bad light. Madonna proved to them (and then followed through on film) that she was going to give the role dignity...to show Eva Peron in a balanced way as a person with flaws, not an evil woman bent on destroying Argentina.

She actually made the movie for me to the point where I couldn't envision anyone else in the role.

Antonio Banderas was also a bit of a surprise for me. I didn't know anything about him and kinda considered him eye candy instead of a serious actor. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out he can sing as well as act.

Jonathan Price was good at portraying a Juan Peron. He could be gentle and kind to his friends, but also showed no remorse for "removing" anyone who opposes him. I read in another review of this movie that Price wasn't barbaric enough for the part. Juan Peron WAS very charismatic...he had to be, or else he would NEVER had been elected president.

One of the things I liked most about this movie was that all the people in it seemed real. The extras were neither overly good looking or freakishly ugly. They looked like anyone you would see walking down any given street.

The cinematography is splendid, and it's hard to beat the soundtrack.

It's an 8/10 for me.

A THRILLING FILM --for the simple minded

[Mr_Spiffy · 6/10 · 3 May 2002]

What dreck! What excrement! I have never been so bored by a musical in my life. And this wasn't really a musical. It was, ironically, a CIRCUS. "I can out diva you!" "NO NO.. I'm better!" Let me be positive first, though. Madonna did this role as well as she could. I could see her working her butt off to perform up to the other prima donas who have done their spotlight bits in this pile or rubbish. (Like Patti LuPooPoo.. PLEASE.) Antonio Banderas.. well he did all right. His singing didn't astound me, but it was acceptable. Musical talent is no longer required, anyway. Look at the boy bands. And the shower scene.. yum!

The musical isn't the "amazing" thing people claim it to be. They only say so because they're too ignorant to know better. The MTV generation will love this film for it's cinematography. Personally, I felt like I was on a roller coaster and wanted to retch (and not just from the images!). But the music will appeal to the mindless, I'm sure. With a score by the endlessly self-imitating ALW, how can you go right? But the mindless masses will constantly go out and buy his "art."

But no matter what I say, people will still flood like herded sheep and shell out the dough. People will continue to think CATS is the greatest musical ever. Forget Sondheim .. that requires you to THINK. Egads! Not that! Forget Rogers and Hammerstein, Shwartz, Herman, and so many others. Go out and see this trash, because you won't have to pop one neuron into action. Be my guest. But I will warn you: if your reading level is beyond that of an eigth grader, do better things with your money. Rent the PBS recording of "Into the Woods" and see good theatre.

Overlong Musical That Portrays Icon Rather Than Woman

[ASuiGeneris · 7/10 · 21 June 2018]

Evita (1996) Director: Alan Parker Watched: 6/20/18 Rating: 7/10

{Clue: "Don't Cry for Me ____"}

At more than two hours definitely needs some extra work in the cutting room, Ranges too much in mood and tone- from tragic to comedic to romantic to melodramatic, Gorgeous costumes and set design accompanied by naggingly catchy but lovable songs, Enthusiastically sung "everyman" Greek chorus by a comical-cynical-combative Antonio Banderas, Narrative style ingeniously allows for dual political views in a fun and melodious manner (though unfairly slanted towards the anti-Peronist), Takes Evita's negative personality traits and disproportionately magnifies them- we see an icon rather than the woman, Impersonal performance by a convincing looking Madonna- but was that not Eva María Duarte de Perón in real life: powerfully inaccessible? Not historically accurate in its details- but further research reveals only more mystery and myth, And now most of the world has learned about a woman it would not have otherwise! ---- Acrostic is a form of poetry where the first letters in each line, paragraph, or word are doubly used to spell a name, phrase, or word. The word "acrostic" comes from the Greek words "akros" (outermost) and "stichos" (line of verse). Read the appropriate letters in the poem vertically to reveal the extra message, called the "acrostich"! #Acrostic #PoemReview #Controversy #GoldenGlobesBestPicture #Musical #StageToScreen

Some Musicals Just Don't Translate Very Well Into Films

[marlyly · 7/10 · 4 October 2008]

I've never seen Evita on stage, but from watching this film it becomes very obvious that that is where this story belongs, and although certain musicals have translated very well into films ('the Phantom of the Opera' and 'Hairspray' being two that spring immediately to mind), this is one of those that I feel should have been left on stage. Saying that however, watching this film has made me very keen to see the musical in it's original format one day, and it is just a shame that it is no longer being shown in the West End.

Whenever Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice get together for a musical, you know you're going to be in for a treat, and no matter what other reservations I have about this film, there is no doubting that musically, it is a masterpiece. There are many, very, very good songs, ('Oh, What a Circus' and 'I'd be Surprisingly Good for You', being two examples), which are only improved by casting Madonna as Eva (no matter what anyone may say about her acting, you cannot deny that her voice is sublime). On the topic of acting, although I feel that Madonna did look much too old for the role, her acting did vastly improve as the film went on, and if it wasn't for her age I would have said she made the perfect Eva Peron for her acting near the end was very powerful and conveyed a lot of emotion. I also really loved Antonio Banderas' casting as Che, but I have never seen a single performance by Banderas which I have disapproved of.

I think the major issue with this film is that, being based off the musical, it's story is therefore somewhat limited (especially seeing as the musical was based off a real life event), and, rather than a climactic ending most movie-goers are used to seeing, the film never reaches a huge peak, but rather, fizzles out slowly. Although this is often acceptable whilst watching a musical in theatre, it doesn't translate very well on film.

I did like this film, and am glad I watched it purely because it has now convinced me that I have to go see the musical on theatre next time it is close to me, but it wasn't a piece of filming masterpiece, even if it was genius on stage. I enjoyed i t while watching, but it's not one that I will watch again in a hurry.

When Argentina Cries

[sol- · 4/10 · 4 August 2017]

Opening with her premature death, this musical about Argentinean first lady Eva Péron flashes back in time to show her rise to fame before becoming embroiled in politics when her husband assumed control of the country. The standout aspects here are the music and memorable songs, however, they are a mixed blessing. There is a hardly any spoken dialogue with the characters singing over 90% of the time, which renders it hard to get under anyone's skin. By the end, one gets the sense that Eva was loved by many and hated by some, but the reasons why are never clear with the music/songs always at the forefront; it is not clear either how Eva ticked as an individual and how her mind worked, and Madonna is hardly spectacular, vocals aside. Antonio Bandares gets the film's best moments as a narrator of sorts, slyly winking at the camera and exuding lots of charisma, but he is not on screen anywhere near often enough to carry the project. Those with some knowledge of the actual Eva Péron and Argentina's political history may well get more out of the film. For those uneducated in such areas though, this is not a great place to start. Accurate sets and costumes ensure that the film looks good and with all that amazing music it sounds good too, but if as important as the film makes out her life to be, a non- musical narrative may have done better justice to the legacy of Eva Péron.

I loved the movie!

[blackberrybabe · 10/10 · 21 February 2004]

As a Lloyd Webber fan, I was thrilled to hear 'Evita' being made into a major motion picture. But I had my doubts that Madonna could play Eva Peron. Then I saw the movie and realized Webber's genius in casting her to play the lead. Madonna shines as Evita and proves her vocal talent on 'Don't Cry For Me' and 'Buenos Aires.' Another pleasant surprise was Antonio Banderas playing Che. I had no idea he could sing! And sing he does! He was the showstopper in an excellent role. And Jonathan Pryce...what can I say about the Engineer from 'Miss Saigon'? As Juan Peron, he holds his own against the powerhouse playing his wife. And he has some of the best facial expressions I've ever seen on an actor. 'You Must Love Me,' written specifically for the movie, was the Oscar-winning song for the talented composer; a tribute long overdue, if you ask me. Excellent casting! Excellent effects! Excellent movie!

To quote TIME magazine, "You must see 'Evita.'" Yes, you must. Some of you will love it, some will hate it. But I hope that you all agree that Lloyd Webber is a genius. He is the true star of the film. 10/10

A decent musical but that's about it

[saraccan · 6/10 · 29 October 2019]

Not being a really big fan of musicals, I was mostly just curious about the life of this interesting woman and how she obtained the power she had. I can't say it was extremely informative as it was focused more on the production and the musical side. It was probably Madonna's best acting performance though.

Evita is the true story of Eva Peron, who was a small town girl that first became a singer/actress, then the wife of an Argentinian president. She was a divisive person as most people apparently either love or hate her.

Opera? Not even close

[Spleen · 4/10 · 30 November 2000]

Has anyone read Leonard Bernstein's account of how he discovered that "West Side Story" wasn't an opera? He'd written countless different musical interpretations of Maria's final speech, in a variety of styles and musical forms, and none of them had come close to working. The scene was a dramatic climax, and in an opera any such scene would have to be a musical climax as well. But Bernstein realised that for the scene to work dramatically in "West Side Story" the characters would have to stop singing and talk to one another; therefore, "West Side Story" couldn't be an opera.

It's a pity that Andrew Lloyd Webber didn't have a similar epiphany. "Evita" clearly thinks of itself as a grand and serious opera, but it's considerably further from being one than "West Side Story" - despite the fact that there's not a line of spoken dialogue. And spoken dialogue would certainly help. Partly because no character can break OUT of speech INTO song - there's not even an undercurrent of recitative - no song feels like the expression of anyone's point of view but Tim Rice's. Almost all songs are sung by nobody in particular.

I suspect the transfer to the screen has made things worse. The photography is gorgeous - I never saw it on the big screen, where, I'm sure, it was ten times as gorgeous - but it's all wasted: it simply serves to turn "Evita" into one big, long music video. All the spectacular images are in the form of seconds-long illustrations, vignettes, and flashbacks. If only Alan Parker had had the courage to just ONCE give us a single unblinking shot of ANYTHING, even if it was just of a character simply singing... As it is, this is the coldest musical drama you're likely to see. The characters are so remote I'm not sure they're there. I can't see any larger epic structure, either: it takes more than an army of extras to give a movie one of those.

And let's face it: musically, Lloyd Webber isn't up to the task he's set himself. His instrumental music is curiously dead - which, I presume, is why there's so little of it - and even the songs arouse my suspicion. So much artificial respiration: drum machines, modulations, juxtaposition, unmotivated changes of rhythm, choral intervention ... truly memorable material ought to be able to breathe on its own. A film that's going to be ALL score requires a stronger score than this.

I agree with those who praise the cast, though.

This movie was phenomenal!!!

[Para8Dice · 10/10 · 14 July 2003]

I cannot imagine ANYONE seeing this movie and not being completely blown away by it. It is one of the most beautifully done pieces of work I've ever seen. I have never seen anyone act and sing and dance their heart out the way Madonna does in this movie, and she deserved an Oscar as much as anyone EVER has. She portrayed Eva amazingly, and they made her look so much like Evita you buy it's her. Madonna stretches her vocal cords incredibly to sing this part, her voice is as gorgeous and strong as ever in this movie, and she sings it fabulously. She dances...well, like Madonna, with talent and grace and style. She acts it perfectly, every facial expression, every tear, every line. After this movie was made, I didn't hear ANYONE ever say Madonna couldn't act ever again.

Taking the movie from the stage to the screen was hard to do, but the directors and producers succeeded in having it still blow your mind, even on screen. The scenes are dashing, the way all the pieces are put together is genius. You love and hate Evita, you sympathize and despise her. You're fascinated by her though, whatever emotional feelings you may have towards her.

But don't think Evita's the only thing incredible about this film. Who knew Antonio Banderas could sing??? I didn't! He sang great for how hard Che's parts were, and for it being his first time singing. He also acted the part of Che fantastically. His chemistry with Madonna is there and he uses it to the fullest to bring out the magic between Che and Evita. He had an even bigger role to fulfill than Madonna in the transition from stage to film. Madonna is in real life much like Evita so this part was like home for her, but Antonio's stretch to become Che was right on key, and you just love him.

And Jonathan Price! Dear God, he was beautiful too, and did again, genius work. He is a stage actor, so of course he played Juan's intensity just right. All three of these actors deserved AT LEAST Golden Globes, and Madonna deserved an Oscar, along with the director who blew your mind with the movie, making you laugh and cry. This movie is in one word...phenomenal.

Don't Cry for Madonna -- She Didn't Need That Academy Award

[evanston_dad · 7/10 · 17 June 2009]

Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera about one-time Argentinian first lady Eva Peron gets the big screen treatment, and turns out to be about as good as any movie based on this material was ever going to be.

Director Alan Parker doesn't create a movie so much as an extended music video -- the star of the film is the film editor, who works overtime to assemble a non-stop assortment of songs into a narrative that works cinematically. The movie looks extraordinary, a feast for the eyes, and the music sounds great too.

People slobbered over Madonna and Antonio Banderas at the time, and there was actually the sense that Madonna was robbed when she wasn't nominated for an Academy Award. But in retrospect, the Academy made a wise decision. Neither of them really acts so much as strike poses -- Madonna looks beseeching and Banderas lowers his head and glowers. But the two of them have tremendous chemistry, and the first time they appear on the screen together created an almost physical jolt of electricity that I could feel in my seat.

This is a diorama, not a movie, and it shouldn't be mistaken for history, but it's entertaining for what it is.

Grade: B+

Pretty much what I expected (Warning! Some Spoilers)

[JadeEagle224 · 2/10 · 24 November 2002]

As a musical theater fan, I've had the pleasure of seeing Evita several times on stage. I've watched the "Queen of Argentina" portrayed by beautiful, talented ladies with powerful soprano voices and engaging stage presences. On each of these occasions, I've left the theater in tears at the end.

I knew that would change when I found out Madonna had been cast to play Evita Peron. Madonna just isn't a dramatic actress, nor is she a broadway-quality vocalist. She is a *pop* singer. I cringed when I noticed that certain notes had been lowered because they were too high for her, while others were raised or spoken because they were too low. And, as she lay dying at the end, for the first time, I wasn't even nearly moved to tears.

Jonathan Pryce (as Juan Peron) and Antonio Banderas (as Che) do their best to charm the audience, but without a strong leading lady, this movie is hopeless. My advice: skip the movie and see it on stage.

It is a musical worth seeing!

[Shree · 6 June 2001]

As a person who is not a big fan of movie musicals, I was thoroughly impressed by the magnificent performance of Madonna playing the title role and singing the immortal hit "Don't cry for me Argentina." Jonathan Pryce and Antonio Banderas were also spectacular in their respective roles.(p)

Andrew Lloyd Weber's musical genius is captured in this touching and historic portrayal of the life of Argentine First Lady Eva Peron. A peasant girl who used her charms and elegance as an aspiring entertainer and rises to become the wife of Argentina's most powerful politician is sequentially presented with song and dance that only a masterful musical producer such as Weber could create.(p)

I highly recommend this movie to anyone interested in learning about the life of an important poltical figure of the twentieth century and being delightfully entertained at the same.

big, flashy, intermittently good and bad

[cherold · 7/10 · 29 August 2019]

I almost gave up on Evita early on. It begins with a long, bombastic number that throws a bunch of melodic scraps in the mix while never resolving into a song. It is very melodramatic and is followed by some equally pretentious musical numbers.

And then, just as I was about to ask my girlfriend if we should just give up on it, there was an actual song. This was about a half hour in, but there was a song, and it was pretty good. And it was followed by another.

Meanwhile, the story became more engrossing as Eva Peron crawled her way out of the gutter and became a cultural icon.

Towards the end, the music declined and the drama became almost painfully maudlin. The movie also portrays Eva as unredeemable cynical for an hour and then asks you to feel for her. It's as though they wanted to portray a complex character of dark and light but the dark and light just separated like oil and vinegar and pooled in different parts of the movie.

Antonio Banderas is terrific as the everyman Che, and Madonna is very solid as Eva; she worked so hard on her singing for the film that afterward she put out the first really good albums of her pop career (the first time I heard Ray of Light I thought, "who is this startling new singer?).

I'm only familiar with three Andrew Lloyd Weber musicals. Musically this is weaker than Jesus Christ Superstar but far better than Phantom of the Opera.

A day after watching this I watched Passing Strange, a filmed performance of a Broadway play that was minimalist and electrifying. If you would like to see an amazing minimalist rock opera in which the set is basically actors on chairs and the band is a quartet, I'd highly recommend it. But if you want sturm und drang, Evita is definitely the musical for you.

tremendous portrayal of this ambitious and misunderstood woman...

[dwpollar · 7/10 · 15 March 2001]

1st watched 12/27/1999 - (Dir-Alan Parker): Although at first, the thought came to mind --- can I stand watching an entire movie sung and understand this complex of a historical subject? -- you forget about this as you become enthralled with Madonna's character and her tremendous portrayal of this ambitious and misunderstood woman. The narrator (and singer in Banderas) provides a more critical look at her life which makes for an interesting movie to follow.

Madonna's Finest Moment

[jaddison383 · 7/10 · 19 September 2007]

Evita was probably the most snubbed film of it's year even for all the recognition it got. The film is a beautiful and moving tribute to a truly remarkable woman who rose above her scandalous and poor past to become one of the most beloved people in Argentina- because she never forgot where she came from.

Madonna sparkles on screen as Evita, and her performance is marvelous. This film will forever go down as the greatest thing she ever did. She was robbed of a Best Actress nomination. Her voice is gorgeous as well. Supporting actors Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Pryce are good as well, but they can never steal the light from our lovely leading lady.

The film's only downfall is that the lyrics can be hard to understand at times for first time listeners. I'm sure some people would be turned off as well by that it is only singing and barely any talking. It does take a little getting used to the first time you see it; it's unlike any movie musical ever made before. It's also a classic. 8/10 stars!

Jay Addison

Before Its Time

[JackCerf · 5/10 · 24 December 2019]

This movie plays much better now than it did when it was made 22 years ago. The character of Evita is a Kardashian who went into politics, offering the poor content-free populism combined with vicarious luxury and impulsive, haphazard charity. Her message to the adoring masses is, "I am just like you, only more so, so live through me." It worked in Argentina then. It works in the US of A today.

Aside from the fact that snobby upper class people don't like Evita, we don't get any sense of political context. You need to know a little Argentine history to know that Peron gained his popularity by being the pro-union Minister of Labor under a revolving door military junta. Only then do the brief packing house scenes make any sense. And the movie gives no idea of what Peron thought he was trying to accomplish economically or why he failed. Webber and Parker aren't interested in anything except the dynamics of Evita's celebrity.

Unfortunately, Madonna is the hole in the center of the movie. Her performance as the title character "sleeping" her way to the top in a patriarchy where men control everything is wooden, her voice thin, and her sufferings at the end completely uninvolving.

Two things make the movie worth watching. First, the ensemble numbers and crowd scenes -- Good Night and Thank You, The Government We Deserve, Peron's Newest Flame and The New Argentina have great vitality. Second, Banderas is wonderful as Che. That's a common Argentine nickname, and Parker wrote the character as an Argentine everyman instead of Castro's bearded sidekick. It works. Whether he's a janitor, a worker, a demonstrator, a newspaper reporter or one of the rich, Banderas brings off the role of running commentator with great panache, powerful singing, and just enough of an accent (those rolling Rs in Casa Rrrrrrosada).

And there's one good line. As she's pushing past a crowd of leftist demonstrators in Italy, Evita angrily asks the Argentine ambassador, "Did you hear that? They called me a whore" He replies calmly, "It's an easy mistake. They still call me Admiral even though I left the sea long ago."

A Great Film, Better With Each Viewing

[adagio2 · 10/10 · 12 September 2004]

Saw this film just after release in Jan '97. Not much impressed. Wife bought the CD and began playing it on car trips. Music grew on me to the point where I found myself taking spins in the car alone, just to play the CD and totally absorb the experience.

One evening in '99, caught the film on TV and enjoyed a perfect ecstasy in relating the music to the scenes, which I had forgotten. Played the CD less frequently over the next few years. Then, this spring (2004), HBO began showing Evita repeatedly. Watched it night after night, becoming transfixed by the music, the dancing, the cinematography, the nuances of Pryce's portrayal of Peron.

Lately, I've been watching the DVD once a week, using the NEXT button to bypass the violence and the army/high society chants. What comes across is a softer, gentler story of "poor girl makes good, marries famous man." It's a story rich in melody -- the Latin beat of "Buenos Aires", the soft sax of "Another Suitcase" and "I'd be Good For You", the touching strings of "Don't Cry For Me" and "You Must Love Me.". And the film is framed in moody, unforgettable backdrops. To name just one, the all-pervading afternoon sun -- hot on the dusty plain, glowing hazily upon the bustling Buenos Aires streets, aslant along the long corridor and stairs, as Peron carries the dying Evita to her bed, and finally, an eery spotlight upon the draped casket lying in state.

Madonna is superb, both in voice and screen presence. Pryce's performance is a triumph of the actor's craft. Banderos is a perfect Che, although, in my view, he shines as a tertiary star behind Madonna and Pryce.

See Evita, if you haven't already. If you've seen it ten times, see it again. There is still more pleasure to take from this wonderful film with each viewing.

It's good for a while then you just want it to stop

[jakethesnake-42007 · 6/10 · 7 June 2022]

I loved the start of the film and then as the film kept going it lost it's energy and excitement maybe because the songs got more lacklustre or maybe because it was too long. Madonna does her best is she amazing in the role no but she's not bad in it. Either you love this movie cause of Madonna or you hate it because of her which I find is unfair she did her best she's not the best actress in the world she is bad but in this film she's good. It's an ok film and ok musical overall it's nothing special but it's not a bad film it's just an ok film.

Evita Velveeta

[gftbiloxi · 3/10 · 30 July 2005]

It sounded like a good idea. One of the century's most widely admired and successful modern operas; a reunion of the composer and lyricist to personally adapt the material for the screen; a huge budget; and the very problematic Madonna at last cast in a role seemingly made for her: the manipulative, power-hungry, blonde bombshell role of Eva Peron.

How could it go wrong? Very easily. In order to get permission to film in Argentina the producers had to remove virtually everything from the stage show that actually made it memorable--and to cover the gaps Rice and Webber added fluff. Madonna never had the opportunity to play the cut-throat Evita; she was instead given a poor little pitiful me Evita--a role that even the greatest actresses of the day would have difficulty putting across. And as for that mammoth budget... well, let's just say that the entire film has the look of an expensively made videotape.

Madonna does the best she can with it, but there aren't any fireworks in the reworked material. Both Banderas and Price seem more than a little miscast in their roles of Che and Juan Peron. And the action drags and drags drags. Extremely, extremely disappointing.

Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Superb realization of the Broadway musical

[bilahn · 9/10 · 14 August 1998]

This was a simply stupendous movie. The visuals and costumes were stunning, the new realization of the musical score excellent. Madonna deserves more credit than she has gotten for this. Although her voice is perhaps a bit thin for the role, she really stretched herself for this, and did a fine job. Banderas was simply fantastic. Most of the naysayers (and there are many), clearly don't care for Weber, or for musicals in general. Of course it isn't "deep", it's a musical! The question is how well was the original play transformed to the screen, and I would be hard pressed to imagine anything more successful than this.

Hollywood Adaptation Of Webber's Musical Evita

[FloatingOpera7 · 7/10 · 21 October 2006]

Evita (1996): Starring Madonna, Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Pryce, Jimmy Nail, Julian Littman, Victoria Sus, Olga Merediz, Laura Pallas, Julia Worsley, Maria Lujan Hidalgo, Servando Villamil, Andrea Corr, Peter Polycarpou, Gabriel Kraisman, Martin Drogo, Venesa Weis, Veronica Ferrari Risler, Aldana Garcia Soler, Domingo Chiofalo, Nick Holder, Eva Vari, Denis Lill, Ana Justo, Sergio Lerer, Marcelo Alejandro Auchelli, Fernando Agustin Henin, Brian Cobby, Victor Satchwell....Director Alan Parker. Based On The Musical By Andrew Lloyd Webber With Lyrics By Tim Rice, Screenplay By Oliver Stone.

Hollywood had long desired to adapt the riveting story of Argentina's First Lady Eva Peron into a movie but the major Broadway composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Sunset Boulevard) had previously made it into a hit stage musical sometime in the late 70's. This is the film version of that same musical, though some of the original songs and certain scenes were cut out and edited due to time. When it was released in 1996, it was not a big success, despite attempts to make it a grand affair- the casting of pop singing legend Madonna, Spanish-born actor Antonio Banderas, a script partly written by Oliver Stone and a lavish, big-budget production. Madonna has long been regarded by some as a lousy actress who promotes her pop singing career even through film but ought to stick to singing ONLY. In the past, she attempted to have a joint career as both actress and singer but it's in the role of singer/entertainer she is most comfortable with. As an actress, she tends to appear strangely awkward and very stiff. She does not have the "Broadway" voice so necessary for Evita as audiences saw in performances by singers such as Patti Lupone and indeed her voice is lighter than most Broadway divas. Yet, her version of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" the most beautiful song in the musical, was made famous through this film and played constantly on the radio in 1996 and the soundtrack as well as single sold millions. Because this is one particular musical where dialog is not included, Madonna's acting is terribly weak and the few times she seems to be acting she makes Evita appear very vulnerable and too "American" when she ought to be poised, regal and very Latin. It's a pity they didn't cast a Hispanic woman with similar features to the real life Eva Peron. Dark, sexy and charismatic Latin actor Antonio Banderas has a great, expressive, singing voice (who knew ?)but looks oddly out of place in this film. He appears to be a brief visitor to the film like Madonna herself. As usual, fans of the Lloyd Webber musical were displeased. Webber's musicals are generally not well received on film, such as the recent December 2004/January 2005 film version of Phantom of the Opera attested. The story of Evita Peron is told through various scenes and ensemble/solo songs in this lush cinematic work. Set in Argentina in the 40's, we follow the rise of Eva Peron to power. From her humble beginnings as a poor country girl, to her social climbing days as an actress to her marriage to President Juan Peron. But being on top had its share of problems. In Argentina, workers are on strike and protesting social injustice, World War II rages on and Eva is privately struggling with cancer. She becomes a larger than life figure, like a sort of Latin Eleanor Roosevelt and far outshines her own husband. She goes on the famous and highly publicized Rainbow Tour of Europe where she meets with the Pope, Spain's dictator Franco and the French President. She finds keeping power is difficult and feels she is still the same girl she left behind in her acting days. Ahead of her time, she prefigured such star-turned-politicians as Ronald Reagan and Schwartznegger. Eva Peron's life is not accurately portrayed in this musical as this is mostly a form of theater and entertainment. It's very operatic and emotional but not entirely truthful. Great costumes and cinematography which beautifully depict a long ago time and place. This is a beautiful film, despite the fact that many film critics and even the Oscars snubbed it. It's a musical with a powerful emotional scope and if you're familiar with the life of Evita Peron, this film is sure to be a delight.

An Unfortunately Empty Spectacle

[axsmashcrushallthree · 4/10 · 9 August 2005]

"Evita" is my favorite Lloyd-Weber/Rice collaboration, a great rags-to-riches story filled with many memorable songs and scenes. I remember my anticipation when I heard of plans a decade ago to film the musical with Alan Parker, an accomplished director, at the helm. I was intrigued with the casting of Madonna as Eva Peron, in some ways a real-life analogue. Despite my interest at that time, I only recently saw the film for the first time.

This review is written from the above standpoint. For those not familiar with the show, this movie may offer a better experience. But, while not dreadful, the film is quite a disappointment to me. Production values are very high, with wonderful cinematography, great ensemble scenes, and polished direction. However, the proceedings are brought down by the weakness of the three leads and the musical arrangement changes and cuts that result from the inability of the leads to drive the material into the stratosphere where it belongs.

Madonna's performance integrally weakens the film. Despite her pre-eminence as a pop diva, she just can't sing and act well. She is particularly out of her element here, lacking the emotional depth and vocal prowess to fill the role of Eva Peron. The subtlety and canniness in phrasing and voice required to pull off a torch song like "Good For You" and an anthem like "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" are replaced by a blandness that decapitates the songs - at the high point of "Don't Cry", Madonna, lacking the vocal power to carry it, starts to "belt" the lyrics like Ethel Merman! Visually, she's adequate and maintains interest, but this is more Parker's doing than through her own charisma.

Antonio Banderas flounders in the role of Che, the guardian spirit of the people. While possessing a great physical presence, his countenance is almost always of repressed anger, and he is unable to provide the wittily sarcastic counterpoint required to follow and comment on Eva's rise and downfall. The chemistry between Eva and Che is lackluster, with the exception of their final dance number, which is dynamite. Like the others, he simply can't sing, and certain sections are cut or are spoken to maintain the integrity of the script. In the process, a number of songs are brought down, particularly "Let's Hear It For the Rainbow Tour".

Jonathan Pryce is unable to provide the physicality and oily menace of Juan Peron. He doesn't command the speech scenes and his chemistry with Eva is as weak as that of Che. Singing is not as important in this role, but Pryce, an excellent actor, is simply miscast in a role that doesn't justice to his silky, erudite qualities as a villain.

The trouble with the leads seems to carry down to the chorus scenes, which almost resemble sprechstimme, and in the arrangements, which tend to be over the top (with loud rock guitar) as if to compensate for what is lacking. The cutting of "What Happens Now?" is a great disappointment, the song being a sensitive examination of a character tossed aside by Evita in her upward climb. The humor is drained from "Let's Hear It..." without Che's mocking commentary and impersonations of foreign dignitaries.

Aside from the dynamite dance number near the end (referred to above) which provides self-examination for Che and Evita, this movie is best left on the shelf for lovers of this musical. I'd be generous to give it a 4.