EVITA
A film review by Eric Robinette
Copyright 1997 Eric Robinette
A-
Starring: Madonna, Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Pryce Written and directed by Alan Parker; original treatment by Oliver Stone; based on the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice
"Have I said too much? There's nothing more I can think of to say to you But all you have to do is look at me to know that every word Is True"
And all I had to do was look at this visually stunning, engrossing rendition of "Evita" to know that it lived up to its advance hype. In fact, about the only problem with the movie is that its a little too aware it lives up to its advance hype.
Many people had reason to doubt that it would work, not least of which was that Hollywood had not made a suuccessful musical picture in years, much less one where almost the entire film is sung. What these naysayers failed to take into account were two names: Alan Parker, and yes, Madonna.
Parker has been publicly quoted as saying he wants to make a movie in every genre before he days. If Iwere him, I would stick to musicals, because it is in them that he most proves that he is a master of visual storytelling. In "Pink Floyd: The Wall" he took a ponderous script and breathed life into it with scores of memorable images. In "The Commitments," he took a thin story and strengthened it by letting the old soul songs tell paert of the story.
Now, with "Evita", Parker has pulled out all the stops and let the songs completely take over, and it greatly helps that he has some great performances to work from, not the least of which is Madonna's. I, for one, had no doubt she would be able to pull this off. As derided as her acting ability has been, even her detractors may admit she delivers the goods in a musical forum, and she certainly does here. Not only is her vocal range improved, but so is her emotional range. She effectively expresses both theconniving manipulation and emotional vulnerability of Eva Peron, which helps keep the character appropriately enigmatic.
For all Madonna's success, though, the most vital performance in the film is the one given by Antonio Banderas, who appears as Che', the film's sardonic, omniscent narrator. What surprised me was not Banderas' vocal ability (I remember "The Mambo Kings"), but the confidence and ease with with which he delivers Tim Rice's cynical lyrics. He effectively cuts the proceedings down to size when they threaten to become overbearing.
Unfortunatley that overstuffing is the picture's biggest detriment, especially in Webber's score. While his melodies are more often than not affecting, too often they're undermined by dated arrangements featuring synthesizers and guitars that sound like they're stuck in 1979.
Unfortunately, Jonathan Pryce's performance as Juan Peron is stifled, too. While he provides a solid center as Juan Peron ,he tends to be overshadowed by all the showy proceedings surrounding him.
Even Parker's normally assured direction gets caught up in the pomp and circumstance. Early on,Parker's staging is too self-conscious, too aware that its creating a big spectacle.. It's only after Banderas gets going that Parker relaxes and lets the material speak for itself.
In the end, after Evita has "entetered mortality," Che contemplates her memory, fully aware that Eva was not all she seemed, but admiring all the same her gift for putting on a show. I found myself agreeing with him about "Evita," the movie.
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