Evita cover art

Evita Details

1996 Certificate PG
  • Rated:
  • 60
  • from 5144 members

Madonna tackles the title role in Alan Parker's ambitious recounting of the brief, amazing life of former Argentine first lady Eva Peron. Presented almost entirely in song and narrated by Antonio Banderas as a fictional everyman, the film charts the alternately revered and reviled Evita's rise from poverty to become a film and .. Read more

Starring Madonna, Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Pryce, Jimmy Nail
Director Alan Parker
Genres Music/Musical

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Evita

Madonna tackles the title role in Alan Parker's ambitious recounting of the brief, amazing life of former Argentine first lady Eva Peron. Presented almost entirely in song and narrated by Antonio Banderas as a fictional everyman, the film charts the alternately revered and reviled Evita's rise from poverty to become a film and radio actress; her relationship with President Juan Peron (Jonathan Pryce); and her tragic death from cancer at age 33.
Banderas, a surprisingly moving singer, and the inimitable Madonna, who took voice lessons before filming commenced to expand her vocal range, provide the emotional bedrock for the eminently enjoyable film with their charismatic screen presences. The music, including the Oscar-winning song "You Must Love Me," weaves an entrancing web, and the sets and costumes are awe inspiring. Parker does a fine job of adapting Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical for the big screen. The director's vision shines clearly here: Like PINK FLOYD: THE WALL, EVITA is an enchanting mixture of epic fairy tale and sociopolitical psychodrama.

Starring Madonna, Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Pryce, Jimmy Nail
Director Alan Parker
Studio ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO
Run time DVD: 2 hrs 9 mins
Certificate Certificate PG
Genres Music/Musical
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 21 May 1999
Production year: 1996
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (4) of Evita

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    In one of her better forays into movies, Madonna plays the poor rural girl who became mother figure to Argentina through marriage to President Juan Perón (Jonathan Pryce) in this musical biography based on the long-running stage success. Director Alan Parker eschews explanatory dialogue to link the music, resulting in a curiously airless and enigmatic piece that never involves us in the traumas of Evita or Argentina. Antonio Banderas, meanwhile, co-stars as the everyman revolutionary whose appearance and reappearance in Evita's life is never fully explained. It's probably better to have seen the original first; then you'll know why Evita sings Don't Cry for Me Argentina.

    • Radio Times
  • 1 stars out of 4

    Epic version of the stage musical with a star performance in the title role, and providing some sweep and power, while still retaining the clumsy narrative and uninteresting music of the original.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful member's review of Evita

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  • 10 out of 11 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 2 stars

    depressing

    didnt watch it all turned it off after half an hour

      • Siobhan from derry, northern Ireland
  • Most recent members' review of Evita

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  • 5 out of 7 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    if you want to sleep

    its very very bad one i don't advice any to watch it i wish if i can rate it less than one star even if madona and antonio .. :(

      • Kelly from UK
  • News and features

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    Filth and Wisdom

    Madonna eyes more movies

    • 02 Oct 2009

    Madonna is devoting herself to her film career - she has penned a new script and is planning to direct a movie next year (10). The Material Girl has starred in a number of films, including musical Evita and ex-husband Guy Ritchie's Swept Away, and made her directional debut in 2008 with Filth and Wisdom. She put her film career on hold to embark on her mammoth Sticky & Sweet world tour, which became the highest-grossing roadshow ever for a solo artist. But Madonna is determined to head back to Read more

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Rating breakdown

5,144 Member ratings
  • 100
621
  • 90
394
  • 80
829
  • 70
754
  • 60
933
  • 50
492
  • 40
438
  • 30
269
  • 20
278
  • 10
136

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    • Madonna tackles the title role in Alan Parker's ambitious recounting of the brief, amazing life of former Argentine first lady Eva Peron. Presented almost entirely in song and narrated by Antonio ...