EVITA (DVD/DD 5.1/LTBX 2.35/SP-SUB/CHAPTER STOPS) DVD

Evita
Evita is based on the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Actually, the film is more of an opera, with only short moments devoted to dialogue. "Evita" is the friendly, family version of the proper name "Eva," and this film tells the story of Eva Peron (1921-52), a woman whose name evokes powerful feelings in her native Argentina. Throughout this film, as in the musical, the story is explained and commented on by a character known as "Che," played here by Antonio Banderas. The film begins with the news of Evita's death, and then turns to a much earlier scene at her father's funeral. Eva (Madonna) was an illegitimate child (one of many) of a rural landowner and her seamstress mother. Hers is not a wealthy childhood by any means, and she is constantly discriminated against because of her lowly birth. She is refused admission to her father's funeral for this reason. This scene is contrasted with her own funeral, a spectacular affair, not different from the funeral of a beloved head of state. Eva Peron leaves her village at age 15, in the arms her lover Agustin Magaldi (Jimmy Nail), a traveling singer. With his help, she goes to Buenos Aires and begins her campaign to become a performer, actress, and public figure. Many men help her during these years, and she is reported to have given her favors freely. That changes when she becomes involved with Juan Peron (Jonathan Pryce). In 1944, when they meet, Peron is an ambitious young army officer, serving in the right-wing government of the time. When he falls afoul of the government and is imprisoned, Eva uses her position as a celebrity and radio performer to get him released. Peron marries his feisty mistress when he is freed from prison. Eva is a formidable supporter, and her help is crucial to his later becoming head of state. Once Juan Peron becomes the President of Argentina, Eva expects better treatment from Argentina's high society, but they snub her brutally. She, in response, diverts government money from society-led charities, and starts the Eva Peron Foundation. As its president, she works tirelessly to directly better the lot of Argentina's poor. For this work, and for having risen from poor origins to glory, she is beloved by huge masses of her fellow citizens, if not by those in high society. She also arranges for the enfranchisement of women in Argentina. Thus, her death of uterine cancer at age 33, while she was at the height of her power and influence, strikes the whole world as tragic. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Cast Madonna as Eva Peron Antonio Banderas as Che Jonathan Pryce as Juan Peron Jimmy Nail as Magaldi,Agustin

Crew Jean-Michel Hugon - Art Director Richard Earl - Art Director Lisa Moran - Associate Producer Ros Hubbard - Casting John Hubbard - Casting Vincent Paterson - Choreography Penny Rose - Costume Designer Dennis Maguire - First Assistant Director Alan Parker - Director Gerry Hambling - Editor David Wimbury - Line Producer David Caddick - Musical Direction/Supervision Andrew Lloyd Webber - Songwriter Brian Morris - Production Designer Darius Khondji - Cinematographer Alan Parker - Producer Robert Stigwood - Producer Andrew G. Vajna - Producer Philippe Turlure - Set Designer Ken Weston - Sound/Sound Designer Alan Parker - Screenwriter Oliver Stone - Screenwriter Peter Childs - Draftsman

Evita
Madonna finally scores an onscreen triumph in Alan Parker's visually resplendent, slightly overlong but always entertaining adaptation of the hit Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice musical of the same name. A risky project with the potential to be disastrous, the film is illuminated by its key performers, especially Antonio Banderas, whose surprisingly robust singing voice and fierce sexual charisma give the movie a much-needed jolt of electricity. Evita illustrates a return to musical filmmaking for versatile director Parker (following Fame and The Commitments), who does a commendable job opening up the picture from its stage origins, and Darius Khondji's luminous widescreen photography captivates. This project was apparently on the shelf for decades, with performers like Meryl Streep and John Travolta attached along the way, not to mention several top filmmakers. In an act of sheer will, however, Madonna won the coveted lead role after writing a passionate letter to Parker explaining why she was the perfect woman to embody the charismatic and complicated Eva Peron. Additionally, the film's one original new song, "You Must Love Me", won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 1996 Oscars. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
 

Andrew Lloyd Webber: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Song (winner) Andy Nelson: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Sound (nominated) Anna Behlmer: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Sound (nominated) Brian Morris: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (nominated) Brian Morris: Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Best Production Design (winner) Darius Khondji: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Cinematography (nominated) Darius Khondji: American Society of Cinematographers, Best Cinematography (nominated) Gerry Hambling: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Editing (nominated) Ken Weston: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Sound (nominated) Madonna: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (winner) Philippe Turlure: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (nominated) Tim Rice: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Song (winner)

Golden Globe, Best Picture - Musical or Comedy (winner) National Board of Review, Best Picture (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English Subtitle Options: English, Spanish Sound Processing: 2: PCM stereo Additional Features: Spanish subtitles Chapter search DVD Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1: Cinemascope MPAA Rating: PG DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 135 min   DVD Chapters: Chapter Selection 0. Chapter Selection 1. Program Start [:14] 2. Opening Credits/"A Cinema In Buenos Aires, 26 July 1952" [1:59] 3. "Requiem For Evita" [:12] 4. "Oh, What A Circus" [2:27] 5. "On This Night Of A Thousand Stars" [:16] 6. "Eva And Magaldi"/Eva, Beware Of The City"|00:00:59||||| 7. "Buenos Aires" [2:25] 8. "Another Suitcase In Another Hall" [5:47] 9. "Goodnight And Thank You" [:35] 10. "The Lady's Got Potential" [:59] 11. "A Charity Concert"/"The Art Of The Possible" [1:59] 12. "I'd Be Surprisingly" [5:21] 13. "Hello And Goodbye" [4:36] 14. "Peron's Latest Flame" [4:19] 15. "A New Argentina" [4:45] 16. "On The Balcony Of The Casa Rosada 1" [4:23] 17. "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" [3:26] 18. "On The Balcony Of The Casa Rosada 2" [5:15] 19. "High Flying, Adored" [1:57] 20. "Rainbow High" [5:21] 21. "Rainbow Tour" [7:13] 22. "The Actress Hasn't Learned The Lines (You'd Like To Hear)" [4:42] 23. "And The Money Kept Rolling In (And Out)" [3:00] 24. "Partido Feminista" [:21] 25. "She Is A Diamond" [4:17] 26. "Santa Evita" [2:33] 27. "Waltz For Eva And Che" [:22] 28. "Your Little Body's Slowly Breaking Down" [3:20] 29. "You Must Love Me" [1:54] 30. "Eva's Final Broadcast" [:12] 31. "Latin Chant" [:22] 32. "Lament" [5:05] 33. Closing Credits [3:01]