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Evita (1996 film)

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Evita
File:Evita poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAlan Parker
Written byAlan Parker
Oliver Stone
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Tim Rice
Produced byAlan Parker
Robert Stigwood
StarringMadonna
Antonio Banderas
Jonathan Pryce
Jimmy Nail
Narrated byAntonio Banderas
CinematographyDarius Khondji
Edited byGerry Hambling
Music byAndrew Lloyd Webber (music)
Tim Rice (lyrics)
Production
company
Distributed byHollywood Pictures
Release date
December 25, 1996 (1996-12-25)
Running time
134 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguagesEnglish
Spanish
Budget$55 million
Box office$141,047,179

Evita is the 1996 American film adaptation of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical of the same name based on the life of Eva Perón. It was directed by Alan Parker and starred Madonna, Antonio Banderas, and Jonathan Pryce. It was released on December 25, 1996 by Hollywood Pictures and Cinergi Pictures.

World record

The film earned Madonna a Guinness World Record title, "Most costume changes in a film". The record was previously held by Elizabeth Taylor for the 1963 film Cleopatra (65 costume changes). In Evita, Madonna changed costumes 85 times (which included 39 hats, 45 pairs of shoes and 56 pairs of earrings).

Plot

Evita traces the life of Eva Duarte (later Eva Duarte de Perón) (Madonna) from a child from the lower class to becoming the first lady and spiritual leader of Argentina.

The film, which consists entirely of singing, begins with the announcement of Eva's death and public funeral as the audience is introduced to the film's narrator, Che (Antonio Banderas), an everyman who tells the story of Eva's rise to power and subsequent illness and death, appearing in many different guises and serving as Eva's conscience and critic. The film flashes back to Eva's childhood, and she is seen as a young girl attempting to attend her father's funeral in the town of Junín with her mother and siblings. But her father's wife and other family (who are middle class) ban Eva's family from entering and carry Eva out screaming and claiming that he's her "papa" after she runs in on her own and pays her last respect regardless of the Spanish-language argument.

At age 15, Eva decides to leave Junín to seek a better life and hitches a ride to Buenos Aires with a tango singer, Augustin Magaldi (Jimmy Nail), with whom she's having an affair. After Magaldi leaves her, she progresses through several relationships with increasingly influential men, becoming a model, actress and radio personality, until her fateful meeting with Colonel Juan Perón (Jonathan Pryce) at a fundraiser. Perón's connection with Eva lends him a populist air, since she is from the working class (as is Perón himself). Eva has a radio show during Perón's rise and uses all her skills to promote Perón, even when the controlling administration has him jailed in an attempt to stunt his political momentum. The groundswell of support Eva generates forces the government to release Perón, and he finds the people enamored of him and Eva. Perón wins election to the presidency and Eva promises the new government will serve the "descamisados" (literally, "those without shirts"—i.e., the working poor).

Eva establishes a foundation and distributes aid while the Perónists otherwise plunder the public treasury. Argentine society is very class-based, and the military officer corps and social elites despise Eva's common roots and affinity for the poor. During a world tour Evita becomes ill and is rushed home. Towards the end of her life, she understands that she is terminally ill but rationalizes that her life was short because she shone like the "brightest fire" and helps Perón prepare to go on without her. A large crowd surrounds the Casa Rosada in a candlelight vigil praying for her recovery when the light of her room goes out, signifying her death. Eva's funeral is shown again. Che is seen at her coffin, and he kisses it.

Cast

Production and casting

Discussion of the film production began soon after the original 1978 London production was staged. Several actresses were considered the role of Eva Perón. At one point, Lloyd Webber favoured an actress of Spanish descent to play the lead role and suggested Charo. Then Meryl Streep was offered the role, but production was delayed. Meanwhile, Madonna had been campaigning for the part, but when Parker was ready for filming, several people[who?] objected to Madonna playing the part. Cher, Barbra Streisand, Glenn Close, Olivia Newton-John, and Michelle Pfeiffer were rumored to have been involved. Pfeiffer, who recorded a number of demo tracks, was almost cast, but Parker wanted to shoot the picture on location, not in Pfeiffer's preferred Hollywood sound studio. Patti LuPone was not offered to reprise her Broadway role as Evita. As an actress in her forties she was deemed too old to play the part of Eva Peron. When the lead of Eva was announced, Madonna, Patti LuPone was asked to play the role of Eva's mother, but she declined.[1] English singer/actress Billie Piper and Irish singer Andrea Corr had minor parts in the film at what was the start of both their careers.

Filming began on February 1996 and it finished in May.[2] Midway through production, Madonna discovered she was pregnant with daughter Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon, who was born on October 14, 1996. [3]

Soundtrack and musical numbers

Main article: Evita (soundtrack)
Disc 1
  1. "A Cinema in Buenos Aires, 26 July 1952" - John Mauceri
  2. "Requiem for Evita" - Mauceri
  3. "Oh, What a Circus" - Eva, Che
  4. "On This Night of a Thousand Stars" - Agustín
  5. "Eva and Magaldi / Eva, Beware of the City" - Eva, Agustín, Che
  6. "Buenos Aires" (released as single, promo only) - Eva
  7. "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" (released as single) - Eva
  8. "Goodnight and Thank You" - Eva, Che
  9. "The Lady's Got Potential" - Che
  10. "Charity Concert / The Art of the Possible" - Agustín, Juan, Che
  11. "I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You" - Eva, Juan
  12. "Hello and Goodbye" - Eva, Mistress, Juan
  13. "Peron's Latest Flame" - Eva, Che
  14. "Dice Are Rolling / A New Argentina" - Eva, Juan
Disc 2
  1. "On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada" (1) - Juan
  2. "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" (released as single) - Eva
  3. "On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada" (2) - Eva
  4. "High Flying, Adored" - Eva, Che
  5. "Rainbow High" - Eva
  6. "Rainbow Tour" - Che, Bramuglia, Mercante
  7. "The Actress Hasn't Learned the Lines (You'd Like to Hear)" - Eva, Che
  8. "And the Money Kept Rolling In (and Out)" - Che
  9. "Pardito Feminista" - Eva
  10. "She Is a Diamond" - Juan
  11. "Santa Evita" - Mauceri
  12. "Waltz for Eva and Che" - Eva, Che
  13. "Your Little Body's Slowly Breaking Down" - Eva, Juan
  14. "You Must Love Me" (released as single) - Eva
  15. "Eva's Final Broadcast" - Eva
  16. "Latin Chant" - Mauceri
  17. "Lament" - Eva, Che

Awards and nominations

Academy Awards

  • Best Original Song ("You Must Love Me") (WON)
  • Best Art Direction (Nomination)
  • Best Cinematography (Nomination)
  • Best Film Editing (Nomination)
  • Best Sound (Nomination)

Golden Globe Awards

  • Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy (WON)
  • Best Actress - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy - Madonna (WON)
  • Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (Nomination)
  • Best Director - Motion Picture (Nomination)
  • Best Original Song ("You Must Love Me") (WON)

BAFTA Awards

  • Best Cinematography (Nomination)
  • Best Costume Design (Nomination)
  • Best Editing (Nomination)
  • Best Makeup and Hair (Nominationa)
  • Best Production Design (Nomination)
  • Best Adapted Screenplay (Nomination)
  • Best Sound (Nomination)
  • Best Film Music (Nomination)

Other awards

Release

Critical reception

The film received a warm reception from many critics. It was nominated for five Academy Awards and won the award for "Best Original Song" - "You Must Love Me", which Lloyd Weber and Rice re-teamed to write especially for the film after a gap of twenty years. Evita had five Golden Globe nominations and three wins (Best Picture - Comedy or Musical; Best Original Song, "You Must Love Me"; and Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical, Madonna) and was one of the National Board of Review's Top Ten Films of the Year.

Following the success of the film, the government of Argentina released its own film biography of Peron, entitled Eva Perón, to correct alleged distortions in the Lloyd Webber account.[4]

Box office

On a budget of $55 million, Evita opened at #2 with $8.4 million in its wide opening weekend against The Relic. The film made $50,047,179 in the United States and an additional $91 million making $141,047,179 worldwide.[5]

References

  1. ^ Meryl Streep Interview, Devil Wears Prada Movie, By Tim Nasson
  2. ^ Mad-Eyes - Madonna movies - Evita
  3. ^ Roni Sarig mentions "singing lessons on the Evita set". Retrieved March 7, 2007
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ Box Office Mojo
Awards
Preceded by Golden Globe: Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
1996 		Succeeded by
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