Evita (1996)

Evita: Directed by Alan Parker. With Madonna, Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Pryce, Jimmy Nail. The hit musical based on the life of Eva Perón (Evita Duarte), a B-picture Argentinian actress who eventually became the wife of Argentinian president Juan Domingo Perón, and the most beloved and hated woman in Argentina.

“I liked this movie. I thought it kept itu0026#39;s edge and that was largely because of Madonna. I didnu0026#39;t want to like Madonna in the part…she seemed too flighty, too self-involved. I didnu0026#39;t hold out too much hope for her acting.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eShe 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.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI 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.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eShe actually made the movie for me to the point where I couldnu0026#39;t envision anyone else in the role.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAntonio Banderas was also a bit of a surprise for me. I didnu0026#39;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. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eJonathan Price was good at portraying a Juan Peron. He could be gentle and kind to his friends, but also showed no remorse for u0026quot;removingu0026quot; anyone who opposes him. I read in another review of this movie that Price wasnu0026#39;t barbaric enough for the part. Juan Peron WAS very charismatic…he had to be, or else he would NEVER had been elected president.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOne 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.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe cinematography is splendid, and itu0026#39;s hard to beat the soundtrack.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eItu0026#39;s an 8/10 for me.”