Evita film on DVD

Out of respect for the recent announcement concerning the future of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Ritchie, I offer what may be Mrs. Ritchie's only appearance in my Year. Of course, I mean Madonna's portrayal of that other powerful and over-reaching 20th Century icon in Evita. Oddly, this is Antonio Banderas's second appearance in my Year, previously having been discussed in the cast of the revival of Nine.

This film feels very much like an MTV music video, with much of the singing covered by visuals of other action, presented in quick-cut shots. With non-singers playing the two lead singing roles, that may not be surprising. Both leads are very visually satisfying, though, with Madonna wearing very attractive 40's era dresses on her petite frame and Mr. Banderas just being angry and hot.

Jonathan Pryce, as Juan Peron, out-acts and out-sings both of his cast mates, offering subtleties in both acting and singing, even if his is not a traditional baritone voice.

The song written for the film, "You Must Love Me" doesn't really offer anything new and isn't a pretty enough tune to warrant its inclusion.Does someone have a cabaret show of all song cuts from out-of-town tryouts, or songs added for films or revivals? An interesting idea.

One very nice addition to the film that I don't recall from the stage version (which I saw years ago) is the inclusion of dance, particularly tangos, expecially the "dream tango" that Banderas and Madonna dance during their only duet, "High Flying Adored".

Evita
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Book and Lyrics by Tim Rice
Film released in 1996
Directed by Alan Parker
Cast: Madonna, Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Pryce

Nine 2003 Broadway Cast recording

Some days you have something to say. Some days you just have to say something.

I don't have much to say about Nine. I have no experience with Maury Yeston's music and have never seen one of his shows on stage. I think I need to, so I can understand how they are put together and how the music and the action interact. The cast album alone doesn't give me enough.

The music works best for me when its mimicking another style--such as "Folies Bergeres" or "Be Italian" or the Handelian Casanova sequence. Not to say there aren't other songs that catch my ear. Claudia's "A Very Unusual Way" is a beautiful song (sung here by Laura Benanti, who just won the Tony for portraying Gypsy), and Mary Stuart Masterson is very effective singing "My Husband Makes Movies." But much of the rest of the music doesn't capture me, as I suspect the stage action would.

Chita Rivera, though, is in this cast and how can you not applaud her with a stellar career that started 50 years before this production and continues to this day?

Nine
Music and Lyrics by Maury Yeston
Book by Arthur Kopit
2003 Broadway Cast Recording
Released by PS Classics
Cast: Antonio Banderas, Jane Krakowski, Laura Benanti, Mary Stuart Masterson, Chita Rivera