Is the movie Evita good?- Page 2

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 6:44pm

I thoroughly enjoy it, although I don't think it's a well-done film. I'm in the minority, but I think that given the poor direction, Madonna gives a fine performance and does a good job with the songs. It is also one of my favorite Antonio Banderas performances, he steals the show. Of course I can't see the film without thinking that Meryl wanted the role and almost had it at one point

[nealb1]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 6:58pm

Meryl did have the role in the late 80's.........contracts were all signed, Oliver Stone was going to direct, she started to record the soundtrack and it just fizzled out.

I always look at it from all sides when it comes to Madonna in this film. The movie is beautiful to look at.......art direction, costumes, cinematography, etc..... Jonathan Pryce and Antonia are wonderful.

Given her limitations......she's no actress and she can't sing.......she was good...for what she is capable of doing. She was far too old in the younger sequences and those colored contact lenses that she wore, were so distracting.....you couldn't look into her eyes.

Was she good.......hell no!

Updated On: 10/26/08 at 06:58 PM

[BroadwayBenny]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 7:08pm

Even though vocally she wouldn't have been any better than Madonna, I wish they had just kept Michelle Pheiffer for the role. She would have given a stronger acting performance at least.

That being said, Madonna did exceed my expectations of her in the role. I was expecting to see far worse than she delivered. It still wasn't on par with what I wanted, but still.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 7:36pm

In all fairness to Alan Parker, he based his adaptation of EVITA on the original 1976 concept album and not the Harold Prince staging. This explains the inclusion of the "The Lady's Got Potential".

As a fellow Argentine (my family roots are in Argentina and both my parents have their own experiences as children during the Peron regime), I can't express how proud I was (and still am) about Alan Parker's adaptation of EVITA.

I was exposed to the original concept album upon its release in 1976 and loved it enormously. I experienced the original Broadway production in 1980 when I was 15, and though it resonated well with me, I wasn't pleased with Patti LuPone screaming and angry Eva. She recorded the score differently than how she performed it 'live'.

Anyway, for all the obvious reasons... I followed all things EVITA related for years, including all the hopeful film versions that never happened. I remember vividly when Oliver Stone was set to direct it, with Meryl Streep set for Eva and Paula Abdul onboard to choreograph. Stone couldn't get permission to shoot on location in Argentina (which he was dead-set on), so the film was shelved. He went on to direct THE DOORS, which Abdul provided the choreography for since she was on contract with him.

Jump a few years later and Alan Parker is now directing the film. Michelle Pfeiffer is set for Eva. Parker first planned on shooting the film on sound stages in Los Angeles, visits Argentina and meets with government people, get permission to shoot in Argentina, Pfeiffer not wanting to travel bowes out. Madonna heavily campaigns and gets the role.

Without covering the film's progress in production I'll say why I love the film so much.

The sharp detail Alan Parker showcased in the film is phenomenal, especially for anyone familiar with the real Eva Peron and the history of Argentina. All the months of preparation the production spent in Argentina shows, from the look of Buenos Aires in the 1930's and 40's, to the detail of Eva Peron. The Argentinean government even gave the production access to Eva's wardrobe, still preserved in vaults. It was intended for Madonna to wear a few of Eva's actual dresses, but due to their different body structures, replicas were done. The House of Ferragamo also recreated several of Eva's shoes for the film, along with other design houses (Dior, Chanel, etc.). Madonna also sports in the film a replica of a small pin Eva always wore. The addition of adding Eva's family to her entourage (especially Eva's brother, Juancito) added visual accuracy to the film as Eva was always with her family around her. Juancito is the thin-mustached balding man always next to Eva in the film... just like the archival photos of the real Eva Peron. No words can describe Parker's recreation of Eva's funeral at the film's beginning. The detail is so exact that anyone who has seen archival footage of the real thing will know how precise a recreation it is. Chilling.

I was not only impressed but pleased with the actors selected for the film. Though Banderas had sung briefly in his American film debut THE MAMBO KINGS, this was his first full score... and I loved it. He was in his element singing his songs. Same thing was hearing Madonna sing those songs. Yes, some keys were adjusted... but this was the first time we were hearing her sing 'legitimately'. All her work with voice coach Joan Lader (LuPone's voice coach, too) showed and it was impressive. Her resemblance to the real Eva Peron helped enormously. Jonathan Pryce's Juan Peron was believable, even though he physically didn't resemble the real man... you accepted him as Peron instantly.

Even after all these years, I still look at the film proudly, regardless what people say today about it. It holds a dear place in my life and my family's, for all the good and the bad. If anything... its a visual postcard of the Argentina that once was and of a time in its history. There are many different interpretations of who Eva Peron was (I have my own take on that), and this was one person's. Alan Parker's.

Viva Peron!

[BRDWYrobb]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 8:04pm

LOVEEE IT!

but i dont know how it compares to the show since ive never heard patti or anyone else do it

but yeah d def watch it!

[geaj]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 8:19pm

"The movie is beautiful to look at.......art direction, costumes, cinematography, etc....." NealB1, you perfectly stated what I was thinking. With a better lead, it could have been much more. I'm not ragging on Madonna, I just think someone else could have brought some spark to the screen.

[laura is broadway]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 8:42pm

Brody- I agree, the accuracy in appearance is great.


I would definitely spend money on the film. I enjoy both film and the stage show a lot, but has separate pieces of work, and i don't compare the two.

[Bwayidiot]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 10:42pm

A really BIG mistake was giving "Another Suitcase In Another Hall" to Madonna. It was for Paron's mistress and to give her some sympathy for being tossed out because of Evita. Giving it to Madonna just softened her character which is entirely wrong.

[winston89]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 11:05pm

Yeah, I didn't like Another Suitcase In Another Hall going to the character of Evita. I felt like that by giving that song to Evita we were supposed to feel sorry for her for not getting another acting job. Yet, she goes on to do great things later on.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 11:18pm

Over the years, several actresses were rumored for the project: Barbra Streisand, Bernadette Peters, Cher, Meryl Streep.

IMO, they should have waited until they had an actress better than Madonna. A New Argentina really loses its punch because Madonna doesn't go for the high notes, nor does she stir up the passion and energy for the song. And with Madonna's interpretation, you never really understand why "they actually called me a whore".

I always wonder if Catherine Zeta-Jones could have pulled it off?

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 11:40pm

I thought it was dumb that Magaldi left her and not vice-versa.

[laura is broadway]

Posted: 10/26/08 at 11:49pm

" A really BIG mistake was giving "Another Suitcase In Another Hall" to Madonna. It was for Paron's mistress and to give her some sympathy for being tossed out because of Evita. Giving it to Madonna just softened her character which is entirely wrong"

I think that choice was made to make it kind of ironic when Eva kicks out the mistress who then reprises the song. It shows that Eva was once in that same position, but yet is still not sympathetic and has no problem inflicting that same feeling of pain upon somebody else. I kind of like the idea, though I wish Evita would sing the cut reprise version and have the mistress still have her full part by singing the whole song.

[Muhlethaler]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 12:26am

Updated On: 6/18/20 at 12:26 AM

[perfectliar]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 12:50am

I love the movie, especially Madonna's performance. She's basically a reincarnation of Eva Peron as it is... a poor girl who slept her way to the top and captivated a nation into either completely worshipping or hating her. And I can understand how some people may not be convinced that Madonna inhabited the role, since Madonna herself is such an overbearing presence, but there is a moment in "A New Argentina" when she is preaching to the crowd and one of her men grabs her shoulder in a way of saying "Good job, you did it!"... and the look she gives him, a combination of confidence and conniving, was one of the most brilliant things I've seen on film.

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 2:06am

I love the Broadway show, and just liked the movie. As other people stated on this board, it's not fair to compare the two. I do agree with anyone that said it was not a vehicle for Madonna- not an actress at all. Also, am I the only one that couldn't understand one word that Antonio Banderas was saying or singing? Thank God I saw the show on Broadway so I already knew what was going on....

[jo]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 4:46am

I enjoyed the movie, although I don't want to compare with it with the only stage production I've seen (here in Manila). I think the movie casting turned out to be alright and I had no problem with Madonna's acting or Antonio's accent. In the movie, there is also the bonus of hearing a new song composed for the movie, You Must Love Me, which eventually won the Oscar for Best Song that year.

Posted: 10/27/08 at 9:22am

first...if people don;t understand Alan Parker's narratives and directorial styles...(Fame, The Wall) which also have 'long drawn out scenes...or long form music video....then they won't understand Evita. with that said,...Maonna's performance was better than expected to all....she did WIN a golden globe for her performance.
Madonna was the perfect choice and i think Eva Peron would agree that if anyone could do it...it would be Madonna.
They both shared the same kinds of stories in their lives. rags to riches...working their way by any means..etc etc.

there is still film screenings from time to time in NYC with this movie...and it is a great cinematographic masterpiece.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 9:57am

Yes it is... IF you like the score and Madonna.

Personally, I enjoyed it, Antonio and Jonathan most of all, really.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 10:28am

I think the film is ok. Parker's visuals are stunning, but I did feel his flair for visual accuracy forced the acting to the back burner. Madonna was certainly better than anyone expected, but that's not really saying much. Banderas pretty much ran away with the entire film. The biggest disappointment for me was the utter blandness and even amateur stylings of some of the production numbers. Peron's Latest Flame is a prime example. The number was so devoid of any creativity, it came off as amateurish and dull. Due to Parker's obsession with accuracy, I often felt he forgot it was a musical and the film, while often visually appealing in its costuming and art direction, lacked much creativity, style and flair. I was hoping for more fluidity and motion, but what I saw resembled more of a photo album. A beautiful photo album mind you, but far too static for a film composed almost entirely of music.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 10/27/08 at 3:20pm

Even though I can see how others may think this movie dragged on and on you can place me in the camp that really enjoyed it.
I agree on the point that Another Suitcase should have gone to Peron's mistress. Giving it to Evita made her too soft.
However I disagree at the notion that the score should have stayed in their original key. I think that the original score works well for the stage, when Evita yells (or hits the high notes) the person in the back of the theater needs to feel her rage or emotion. However for the movie everything is so upclose (and loud) that I think it would have been annoying and distracting if Evita was sung in the original key.