Evita (film)

Evita (film). The film is a musical drama directed by Alan Parker and written by Alan Parker and Oliver Stone, based on the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical of the same name, which was inspired by the life of Eva Perón, the former First Lady of Argentina. The film stars Madonna as Eva Perón, Antonio Banderas as Ché, and Jonathan Pryce as Juan Perón. The film was released on December 25, 1996, by Hollywood Pictures and Cinergi Pictures, and was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $141 million worldwide, including United States, United Kingdom, Argentina, and Australia.

Production

The production of the film began in 1995, with Alan Parker and Robert Stigwood serving as producers, and Andrew G. Vajna as executive producer, in association with Hollywood Pictures, Cinergi Pictures, and RSO Records. The film was shot on location in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Hungary, with a budget of $55 million, and was supported by the Argentine government, Buenos Aires City Council, and Hungarian National Film Fund. The film's cinematography was handled by Darius Khondji, who had previously worked on films such as Seven and Delicatessen, and the editing was done by Gerry Hambling, who had worked on films such as Midnight Express and Fame, in collaboration with Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros..

Plot

The plot of the film follows the life of Eva Perón, from her humble beginnings as a young woman from Junín, Buenos Aires, to her rise as the First Lady of Argentina, and her eventual death from cancer at the age of 33, with the support of Juan Perón, Adolfo Bioy Casares, and Jorge Luis Borges. The film is narrated by Ché, a fictional character based on Che Guevara, who serves as a commentator and critic of Eva Perón's life and legacy, in the context of Argentine history, Latin American politics, and Cold War era, involving United States, Soviet Union, and Cuba. The film features a range of historical figures, including Juan Perón, Adolfo Bioy Casares, and Jorge Luis Borges, and explores themes such as peronism, feminism, and social justice, in relation to Human rights, Labor rights, and Women's rights, as promoted by United Nations, International Labor Organization, and Amnesty International.

Cast

The cast of the film includes Madonna as Eva Perón, Antonio Banderas as Ché, and Jonathan Pryce as Juan Perón, as well as Jimmy Nail as Agustín Magaldi, Julietta Ortiz as Juanita, and Victoria Sus as Eva's mother, with the participation of Argentine actors, Spanish actors, and British actors, such as Ricardo Darín, Eduardo Pavlovsky, and Tim Rice. The film also features a range of Argentine musicians, including Atahualpa Yupanqui and Mercedes Sosa, and Latin American musicians, such as Caetano Veloso and João Gilberto, in collaboration with Sony Music, EMI Records, and Warner Music Group.

Music

The music for the film was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice, and features a range of iconic songs, including Don't Cry for Me Argentina, Buenos Aires, and You Must Love Me, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1997, and was performed by Madonna at the 69th Academy Awards, with the participation of Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, London Symphony Orchestra, and Argentine National Symphony Orchestra. The film's soundtrack was released by Warner Bros. Records and Atlantic Records, and features performances by Madonna, Antonio Banderas, and Jonathan Pryce, as well as Argentine musicians, such as Leopoldo Federico and Horacio Salgán, and Latin American musicians, such as Astor Piazzolla and Osvaldo Pugliese.

Reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising Madonna's performance as Eva Perón, as well as the film's music, cinematography, and direction, in the context of Film criticism, Cultural studies, and Historical drama, involving The New York Times, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, and Variety. The film holds a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on reviews from Roger Ebert, Owen Gleiberman, and Todd McCarthy, among others, and has been recognized as one of the greatest film musicals of all time, by American Film Institute, British Film Institute, and Library of Congress.

Awards_and_nominations

The film won several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Original Song for You Must Love Me, as well as Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Madonna, in competition with The English Patient, Fargo, and Shine, and was nominated for several other awards, including BAFTA Awards and Screen Actors Guild Awards, with the participation of Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and British Academy of Film and Television Arts. The film's success can be attributed to the talents of its cast and crew, including Madonna, Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Pryce, Alan Parker, and Andrew Lloyd Webber, as well as the support of Hollywood Pictures, Cinergi Pictures, and RSO Records, in collaboration with Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros.. Category:1996 films