Evita (1996)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Alan Parker

Writers (WGA):

Tim Rice (book)
Alan Parker (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

10 January 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Musical

Tagline:

The Most Anticipated Motion Picture Event of The Year

Plot:

The hit musical based on the life of Evita Duarte, a B-picture Argentinian actress who eventually became the wife of Argentinian president and dictator Juan Perón, and the most beloved and hated woman in Argentina.

Plot Keywords:

Argentina | Actress | Broadway Musical | Political | Poverty

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 8 wins & 24 nominations

Cast

Madonna	...	Eva Perón
Antonio Banderas	...	Ché
Jonathan Pryce	...	Juan Perón
Jimmy Nail	...	Agustín Magaldi
Victoria Sus	...	Doña Juana
Julian Littman	...	Brother Juan
Olga Merediz	...	Blanca
Laura Pallas	...	Elisa
Julia Worsley	...	Erminda
María Luján Hidalgo	...	Young Eva (as Maria Lujan Hidalgo)
Servando Villamil	...	Cipriano Reyes
Andrea Corr	...	Perón's Mistress
Peter Polycarpou	...	Domingo Mercante
Gary Brooker	...	Juan Bramuglia
Maite Yerro	...	Julieta (as Mayte Yerro)

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements, images of violence and some mild language.

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG (certificate #34775) | Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Netherlands:6 (re-rating) | Sweden:11 | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Germany:12 (bw) | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Spain:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Argentina

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

Meryl Streep, Pia Zadora, Charo and Maria Conchita Alonso were considered for the role of Evita.

Goofs:

Continuity: Madonna's pregnancy shows during early interior scenes in Evita's home town and the bar in Buenos Aires, but disappears in exterior scenes, which were shot earlier.

Quotes:

Juan Perón: But, on the other hand - she's all they have. She's a diamond in their dull gray lives - and that's the hardest kind of stone - it usually survives. And when you think about it, can you recall the last time they loved anyone at all? She's not a bauble you can brush aside...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Showbiz Today: (1996-07-31)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

You Must Love Me

Wonderful adaptation of the play

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.