Evita

Plot

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

Release Year: 1996

Rating: 6.1/10 (19,346 voted)

Critic's Score: 45/100

Director:
Alan Parker

Stars: Madonna, Jonathan Pryce, Antonio Banderas

Storyline
High-flying, adored! The film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical depicting the infamous real-life story of Eva "Evita" Duarte de Peron, the wife of President Juan Peron, who rose from poverty to become the most famous Argentine woman in history. Her huge political influence and constant charity works earned her scorn and fear from the military and upper classes but adoration and love from the workers and descamisados. Evita's legendary life is displayed before your eyes as the most hated and most beloved woman in Argentina.

Writers: Tim Rice, Alan Parker

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)

Taglines:
The Most Anticipated Motion Picture Event of The Year

Release Date: 10 January 1997

Filming Locations: Argentina

Box Office Details

Budget: $55,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $195,085
(USA)
(29 December 1996)
(2 Screens)

Gross: $141,047,179
(Worldwide)
(1997)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

Oliver Stone was planning to make a film about Eva Perón, but after several disagreements with Argentinian President Carlos Menem he abandoned the project. Stone receives a token credit as a writer for this film, despite having made no input to the script.

Goofs:

Anachronisms:
When receiving Holy Communion Evita partakes of wine, a practice not permitted until the Second Vatican Council (1962-1964).

Quotes:

Eva Perón:
Tell me, before you get onto your high horse, just what do you expect me to do?

User Review

Wonderful adaptation of the play

Rating:


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.