In the past, movie musicals were big business. Films like "My Fair Lady," "Mary Poppins," and "The Sound of Music" enjoyed immense popularity. Musicals today are still quite successful, but exist primarily as animated Disney productions.
"Evita" attempts to revive the live action movie musical. It is an expansive, entertaining, though vacuous $60 million update of Andrew Lloyd Webber's popular stage musical of the '70s.
In essence, "Evita" is an extended and expensive music video starring the pop icon Madonna. There is very little dialogue, and music and song are omnipresent. Alan Parker's direction owes most of its influence to modern music video directors with his quick cuts and lush cinematography.
Originally produced as a concept album, "Evita" was so popular that it was quickly staged as a musical. It relates the true story of Eva Peron (Madonna), wife of Argentinean dictator Juan Peron (Jonathan Pryce). She was so revered by the people of Argentina, that the film opens with this announcement of her death: "the spiritual leader of our country has died."
Eva is given a huge state funeral to the accompaniment of the collective lamentation of her countrymen. Evita began life as a poor, fatherless child, and the film documents her stunning rise to the top.
Narrating her story is Che (Antonio Banderas). He is the somewhat cynical observer of her life who questions the motives and the methods by which Evita becomes the most powerful woman in Argentina.
Eva's method consist of sleeping her way to the top. Her bed hopping is chronicled with humor and pizzazz in one of the film's best numbers.
As Evita works her way to the top, so does the quiet and reserved Juan. The depiction of Argentinean politics, and Juan's gradual accumulation of power is yet another showstopper.
Soon, Eva and Juan meet and fall in love. Their combined popularity with the people worries the current government, which promptly has Juan arrested.
Eva, with characteristic gusto, rallies the people to Juan's cause. Her constant and devoted work forces the government to release Juan, and he is quickly elected president. Eva's acceptance speech is the show's most well-known song, "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina."
The film then picks up the pace. We are shown an all-too-short glimpse of Eva and Juan's life at home before Eva makes a political trip to Europe.
The trip, however, takes its toll on Eva, and she returns home after collapsing in France. Yet, Eva presses on, setting up a foundation to help the poor, and even runs for vice president.
Her bid, however, is aborted when she is diagnosed with cancer. Eva claims that she would rather have lived wonderfully than have lived long, and in a final, tearful scene, she dies. The film ends where it began, with her funeral.
The question that is, unfortunately, never answered is what was it about Eva that made her so revered? What is it about this particular woman that enabled her to accomplish so much? If anyone would have an insight into this question, it would be Madonna, who has similarly been able to become an extremely powerful and influential woman.
Madonna and the film in general seem to see her as an extremely sympathetic person. Despite the questions of Che, we are expected to cry along with Argentina over her death.
Her life is chronicled, but rarely commented upon. By the end of the movie, it is difficult to say what kind of person either she or Juan was. Both of them are successful, but we never learn why. In fact, it is difficult even to say what kind of relationship they shared.
Overall, the film lacks substance. Alan Parker, who has directed the musicals "Fame," "The Commitments," and "Pink Floyd's The Wall," gives us magnificent scenery, packed with multitudes of extras in gorgeous costumes. But he never lets us into the minds of the characters.
Despite these flaws, however, "Evita" is fabulously entertaining. Although Madonna's singing is at times doubtful, she fits the part perfectly, as she is, above all, an entertainer. Pryce is acceptable as Juan, although he is often too aloof.
It is Banderas, however, who holds the film together. He is charismatic, fascinating, and even sings quite well. When the film begins to fall apart, he inevitably returns with an infusion of energy.
Although "Evita" fails to address our most pressing questions, it never fails to entertain. The music is enjoyable, and the story is interesting. Perhaps "Evita" will not signal a resurgence of live action musicals, but it is eminently enjoyable, and will undoubtedly be a success.
