I’ve always
found it interesting how some movies can make a big impact for a certain
decade, and are then quietly forgotten about in the decades to follow. Case in
point for today is the theatrical musical simply titled “Evita”, which
was much discussed and praised upon its release in 1996, and somehow slipped
from the public continence in the years to follow. This movie was adapted by
the stage musical of the same name by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice … who’s
resumes in the musical industry are so big, they can be the focus of a
different post. More to the point, weather it be the stage show, or the movie …
“Evita” is one of my all-time favorite musicals, and one that always
seems to have some kind of baring on my family. For my parents, going to see the
play was one of their first dates … for me, it was one of the very first musicals
I ever identified by name, and became a fan of. In fact, I can recall being a
six-year-old boy, my parents would frequently have this musicals soundtrack
playing throughout the house, and I’ll never forget how much the music excited
me. It was very different from the music I was used to, but something kept
drawing me to it at such a young and impressionable age.
In this fact-based musical, we see the life
of one Eva Peron, who for seven years was the first lady of Argentina, and we
see how she became one of the most adored and accomplished spokes-woman to ever
live … all leading up to her untimely death in 1952. It makes for a potent look
at one of the darkest chapters in the history of Argentina, and highlights the
economic collapse of the time, along with Eva’s political career. We see at the
start how Eva leaves her lower-class family, sets off to make a life for
herself, and how she takes a number of men under her wing in an effort to gradually
build on her success. In the aftermath of the 1944 San Juan Earthquake, she
meets Colonel Juan Peron, who likewise comes from the working class. The two
initially aim to use one another as a valuable image in progressing their
individual careers, and yet, the two begin to form a genuine connection.
Observing all these events is Ché, an omnipotent story teller, who seems the
represent the voice of the Argentina people.
Something I love about this musical is that
it’s all told through song, and has zero scenes of straight-forward dialog
between characters. There are still quiet pauses and transitions between songs,
in which story is conveyed through visuals, and this is the style that
characterizes the film. The movie was directed by Alan Parker, who brought a
similar style to one of his earlier films … 1982’s “Pink Floyd – The Wall”.
You can feel his finger prints all over both films, as both convey a similar
atmosphere, and the smooth transitions between songs without any dialog interludes
are equally spot on.
Also, Alan Parker has proven very gifted in helming movies
that draw on real-life tragedies, as seen in his 1988 picture “Mississippi
Burning”. As such, he certainly brings a dignified look and feel to the
events on display. However, … If you go into this movie looking for an
educational piece on Argentina history, you’ll certainly be viewing a lot of great
material … through the lens of a key hole. This is the double edge sword of “Evita”,
as most of the historical beats, and even character arc’s fly by through these rapid-fire montages, and while what we see on screen is great, it may also
leave you wanting to know a little more about what’s happening on-screen.
While the movie admittedly struggles as a narrative peace, it never the less
thrives as a rock-solid musical, with high energy song numbers, and it’s
through this soundtrack that the film achieves both the epic size and emotional
grandeur which it aspires to achieve.
Before I get lost in the songs, lets first
talk about the cast, as they too play a big part in the appeal of this film. There
was admittedly some controversy revolving around the casting of Madonna as one
of Argentina’s most decorative political figures … but the honest truth is …
she actually played the part with great respect. She delivers a solid, rich
performance, and even though I’ve never called myself a fan of her music … she
can certainly carry a tune. Her performance even won her the Golden Globe Award
for best female lead performance. The wickedly talented Antonio Banderas is
also utilized brilliantly as the story teller, and still to this day, I think
it’s one of his most charismatic performances. He was just coming off the high
of a hit action year, as he stared alongside Sylvester Stallone in 1995’s “Assassins”,
as well as stared in that years “Desperado” … which is still one of my favorite action
movies, and the one that really spot-lighted his wit and charm. Rounding up the
big three actors is Jonathan Pryce as Juan Perón, who shines in the role, and
honestly conveys a presence of a public figure ... one who’s success stems from
the lady on his right.
Let’s finally get to the meet and potatoes
of this movie … the songs are outstanding! Seriously, this is one of my
all-time favorite soundtracks to any musical, as they fill me with the energy
to get up and dance, and for me … there isn’t a single bad song on this track. Some
of the highlights include the Academy Award Winning original song “You Must Love Me”, as well as "Rainbow Tour", "A New Argentina", "Oh What a Circus", “High Flying, Adored", "And the Money Kept Rolling In (and Out)",
and "Rainbow High".
My
favorite individual scene is "Waltz for Eva
and Che", in which Eva is on her death bead, and has an inner
dream, in which she has a duet with our mysterious story-teller … still representing
Argentina’s voice. This scene is awesome, as the setting changes throughout the
duet, and it’s the only time that Madonna and Antonio Banderas really shine together on screen. Yet,
the big show-stealing song remains “Don't Cry
for Me Argentina". In this song, our titular heroine conveys
hope and promise to her country through her passion and undying love. It’s a
breathtaking song number, one that highlights a single person’s selfless
devotion for the greater good, but isn’t asking for fame or attention in
return. It’s actually quiet inspiring, and just an all-around beautiful song …
even when it’s sung by Madonna ... and yes, she sings it great. With its memorable
lyrics, and humble message at the center, “Don't Cry for Me Argentina"
remains the most iconic song from the musical, and is still a personal favorite.
In the end, “Evita” may not be as
well known a title as other hit musicals adapted from the stage, but I hope
more people discover it, and maybe over time it’ll reignite that same fire it
had back in the 90’s. Like I said, this was one of the most talked about movie
musicals of it’s decade, as it was the subject of controversy, and certainly
received some back-lash, but it was also praised by many as a musical
sensation. The late legends Siskel & Ebert both cited “Evita” as one of
their favorite movies of 1996, it won three Golden Globe Awards … including
Best Picture, and along with winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song,
it also received four additional Oscar nods for Best Art Direction, Best Sound
Mixing, Best Film Editing, and Best Cinematography. For all it’s short-comings,
the film hits it where it counts, and may even peak some interest in the
historical events at the forefront of all the songs. All around, it was a smashing
decade musical, and one that’s stuck with me as a personal favorite through the
years. It had the size, ambition, style, charismatic performances, and one hell
of an energizing soundtrack.
Thanks for reading my review of the
1996 musical “Evita” … and continue to enjoy the movies you love.
The End
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