Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Don't Cry For Me... I'll be alright.
Evita has had a very bumpy ride from stage to screen. For twenty years the film version of the highly successful stage musical (which has its own rocky history) has been booted around from studio to studio with long stays at Paramount studios until finally figuratively settling with Disney. The film version of Evita was now coined "The Most Famous Movie Never Made." Finally, Alan Parker (Mississippi Burning, Fame) was signed and would bring the film to fruition. But who to play Evita? Patti LuPone? Elaine Paige? Well, by the time the film went into production they were both more than 20 years older than Eva Duarte. Still, that did not stop the stage/Patti LuPone/Elaine Page fanatics from complaining when they were not cast. In my opinion, they could easily have portrayed the part but would have to have been digitally manipulated to look the correct age (Think Jar Jar Binks.) At various stops in the journey, many actresses were rumored to be attached: Meryl Streep, Michelle Pfeiffer and even Barbra Streisand (See Jar Jar Binks joke). But, in the meantime Madonna began a backdoor campaign to win herself the coveted role. Upon casting, she spent much time working on her vocal abilities and while she may be just an 'also ran' during the more difficult portions of the score, her work paid off. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (film works include "Jesus Christ Superstar", the scores to "The Odessa File" and "Gumshoe") and lyricist Tim Rice (film works "Jesus Christ Superstar","Aladdin" and "The Lion King") were to get together and compose a new song or two. They pulled it together just long enough to compose "You Must Love Me" which would go on to win the Oscar for best new song. The film finally made it's way to the screen and enjoyed good success. Madonna was overlooked(?) for an Oscar even though she did receive many other acting awards. But the film itself did take home the best song Oscar.
Rating: - EXCELLENT Adaption of the broadway show - have an open mind.
Boy do people miss the point on this movie. You can't present a movie like a broadway show. Everytime this has been attemped, historically, the results are bad, most adaptions of famous shows are only OK at best, some are awful. The medium is totally different, the demands are different, the singing is different, the acting style is different. Yes, the shows usually are "better", in a sense, that's how it was originally written, as a stage play. You have got to really change things to make a successful movie. So how good an ADAPTION is this? Very good indeed. The story was changed to very effectively fit the medium. Madonna stretched herself unbelievably to do this role, and I think she did very well. You may quite validly prefer the stage version of Evita (I like both), but its almost like apples and oranges. As good as Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin were, they would, if they played it the same way anyway, come off mannered and absurd in a movie context. All the conventions of the stage would be laughable. (unless it was simply, of course, an actual filmed stage production). On the other hand, Madonna and Banderas are not nearly strong and polished enough for a stage. Most of the changes (a few I don't understand), make a lot of sense, when you consider how a movie has to flow. As for this movie not being deep or historical, its a musical for Pete's sake, not "Saving Private Ryan." I don't know enough about Eva Peron to really say, but I don't see how you could present a real historical drama in a musical context. I think the problem is people don't like or understand opera, which this essentially is. Most of the great operas have ludicrous story lines! Also if you are going to go in knowing you "hate" musicals, "hate" Madonna, then fine, this is not to your taste. Banderas is not a polished singer, but his rough edged singing is very appealing and effective in this context. The cinematography, costumes are outstanding, and serve the story well. Only as the dying Evita, do I find Madonna not very believable. I think Evita is thrilling, its one of my favorite movies of recent years. I love the show Evita, and I love this too, but in a very different way.
Rating:  - Grand, Sweeping, and IT WORKS
Who knew Madonna could pull this off? To be sure, this is an either love-it-or-hate-it film, but if you allow yourself to get swept up in the first few moments, and accept the fact that there is no dialogue, only song, you are guaranteed an almost singular theatrical experience. I was prepared to dismiss this film as another "event movie" and unexpectedly found myself enjoying every frame. Madonna proves she is more than simply capable as an actress - here, she gives a career-definining performance that few of her contemporaries could have ever delivered. Banderas is equally superb as Che, and JOnathan Pryce shines as Peron. Part history lesson, all glorious music, Alan Parker's definitive screen classic sprawls before you in an epic that cannot be dismissed. Vocally, the singing is pitch perfect, far superior to the stage version with Patti Lupone. And, far from being an excuse for Madonna to put her "Like a Virgin" days behind her, "Evita" is pure cinematic magic. It's a shame people didn't give this movie alot more credit when it was released - sure, it won the Golden Globe for best Film and Madonna was named Best Actress (deservedly.) But Oscars were denied to all but the Best Song "You Must Love Me" a plea for forgiveness that is painful to listen to, but grand nonetheless. Truly a special, idiosyncractic film that takes the breath away from anyone who allows themselves to be taken. Be taken! This is why film exists in the first place - it nutures and comforts, horrifies and excites all at once! If you give it a chance, you'll be glad you experienced it. A Winner!
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