I'm With Geek
  • Home
  • Geekery
    • TGH
    • Creative
    • IWGCast
  • Film
    • The Essentials
    • Hit Play/Hit Stop
    • Trailer Parks
  • TV
  • Games
  • Comics
  • Books
  • About
  • Our Team
  • Contact
  • Editors Blog

Hit Play: Evita 

2/25/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
by Laura W

Don’t cry for me, fellow geeks. If you are – please stop. 


It’s one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most famous musicals, and the film version truly showed Madonna could act. Evita also happens to be one of the best film adaptations of a musical to date. Originating, as a stage show, in the West End of London in June, 1978, it starred Elaine Paige, David Essex and Joss Ackland. In 1996, Alan Parker directed the film adaptation starring Madonna as the title character, Antonia Banderas as Che and Jonathan Pryce as Peron, the film was a hit at the box office, despite having a mixed critical reception.

Picture
The film, following much of the musical, follows Eva’s (her birth name) early life, her rise to power, along with her charity work and her eventual death at the age of 33, narrated by the sardonic Che. The prologue of the film announces the death of Buenos Aires’ beloved Evita. The viewer is then taken back to a 15 year-old Eva, living in a provincial town, convincing a tango singer to take her to the city of Buenos Aires. He grants her this wish. Eva proceeds through several relationships with wealthy men eventually meeting the Colonel Juan Peron and becoming the famed First Lady. 

Andrew Lloyd Webber has said he has never been fully satisfied with any of the adaptations of his works, and  rightfully so (here’s looking at you, Phantom). However, if any adaptation is close to the original material, it’s Evita. Madonna successfully campaigned for the title role, and more than lived up to expectations. The amount of effort that Madonna put into her character is apparent. Her voice, while a bit (and only a bit) off at times, is perfect for the role. The amount of work that went into making her look like Eva is astonishing – the costumers even set a world record for the most amount of costume changes in one film.

Picture
Madonna looks almost identical to the real life Eva. In the end, Madonna did Elaine Paige a beautiful justice and would go on to win a Golden Globe for her role.. Banderes plays a perfect Che, allowing the audience to forget that this is the same person who played Zorro. He brings a quiet grace to Che, which is needed.  His Golden Globe nod was more than deserved. Jonathan Pryce also does a brilliant Peron.

The costumes, the cinematography, the script, the scenery are beautiful. The film managed to snag several Oscar nominations, including Best Cinematography. Andrew and Tim Rice wrote a new song, “You Must Love Me”, for the film, which won Best Song at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars. The song is gorgeous and has since been worked into future stage productions of Evita.

Evita is one of those rare stage to film adaptations that works. The roles were cast perfectly. The music is beautiful, things from the costumes to the sets are vivid, stunning. Andrew should be proud of this film, as it does do his musical justice. It’s not perfect, but it works. For Doctor Who fans, keep a keen eye out for a certain Billie Piper, who appears this film. 

You must love this film.

What Do You Think? 

Picture



Is Evita a musical masterpiece? 

Or will you be saying Goodnight and Thank You? 

Let us know in the comments! 

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Hit Play/
    Hit Stop

    Movies that you'll want to watch and movies that you really shouldn't 

    Head Of Film

    Picture

    Cookie 'N' Screen
    cookienscreen@imwithgeek.com

    Archives

    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    Categories

    All
    Alli Kett
    Cookie N Screen
    Hit Play
    Hit Stop
    Jo Johnstone
    Liam Bland
    Liam McMillen
    Matthew Gammond
    Melissa Haggar
    Robbie Jones
    Vanessa Hague

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.