Evita (1996)

More music video than musical, EVITA is a rock opera that doesn't 
rock.  Three, maybe four songs crackle with the kind of energy that 
threatens to send the audience into the aisles dancing.  The rest 
of the songs-- all of which sound canned, another problem-- are 
slower, softer, and often sleep-inducing.  Lady Madonna is picture-
perfect and, at times, vocally impressive as the died-young-after-
sleeping-her-way-to-the-top Argentinean First Lady.  Rarely does 
she sing with the gusto, though, that wandering narrator Antonio 
Banderas does; he has a set of pipes that you won't believe!  The 
other singer/star is Jonathan Pryce (CARRINGTON) and he barely 
registers as Juan Peron, partially due to his having the least-
interesting singing voice.  (And where are the profound basses?  
Andrew Lloyd Weber's score sorely lacks a bruising bottom-end.)  
EVITA isn't exactly a fun movie to watch, nor is it particularly 
powerful.  Director Alan Parker (THE COMMITTMENTS, MISSISSIPPI 
BURNING), who also co-wrote the script with Oliver Stone, provides, 
at best, bombastic sketches of a certain someone's life.  Little to 
nothing is revealed about Eva Peron's character, but, oh, doesn't 
she look pretty and sing well?  (Rated "PG"/136 min.)

Grade: B-

Copyright 1997 by Michael J. Legeros

Originally posted to triangle.movies in MOVIE HELL: January 12, 1997.