EVITA
As created by director Alan Parker, the movie Evita explodes visually, using the editing and looks-like-reality powers of cinema to overwhelm the senses as it never could on stage. It so thoroughly transcends mere acting or performance that it hardly matters that Madonna plays the title role, or that Antonio Banderas is Che and Jonathan Pryce is Juan Perón.
All are adequate foreground presences in Parker’s dazzling megashow. This is, of course, nothing like a regular movie musical. It’s entirely sung, and much of the singing is narrative rather than dialogue. Fans of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice realize it’s much in the style of their Jesus Christ Superstar.
It’s not so much an acted story as a pageant, an encyclopedia entry with music (and fabulous illustrations). Eva Perón, who rose to power in 1940’s Argentina, is alternately considered harlot or saint. Che’s best line from Rice sums up the heroine: “She had her moment, she had some style.”
Evita is destined to be remembered as the show with one incredibly great song (“Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina”). The movie feels like an epic because of all its cinematic glitz. A genuine extravaganza, with solid contributions by all; a melodic take on one of the century’s major pop political stars; satisfactory for youth and adults.
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