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Reviewed by UK Guest, 28th Nov 2003. |
| Review Summary: I thought Madonna suited the role perfectly |
Overall Score: 4/5
 
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Review: I've read some reviews and seen many critical of Madonna's casting in the film version of the musical Evita. Having never seen the stage show I went with no preconceptions at all and was blown away. The score was wonderful but more than anything Madonna was a revelation and I thought deserved her Golden Globe after many years of critical panning. Unfortunately for Madonna she is often bigger than the film she is in and everyone lines up to knock her. Sometimes she deserves it but not this time. It is no secret that she had to beg for the role but she was right, she has much in common with Evita herself which is why, ultimately, she was perhaps one of the few people who could truly pull off the part as the girl from the gutter who does good. On top of that Madonna's own mother died of cancer at a similar age and she doesn't look unlike her either. Eva Peron had both a hardness and a vulnerability about her, driving ambition and used fame to fill a hole in her life that ultimately consumes her. Madonna is her mirror-image. I cannot imagine anyone else playing Evita now. Madonna showed she CAN sing and had vocal coaching to increase the strength and range of her voice, she was pushing 40 when she made the film and had to play a teenager. She doesn't really pull it off but I can't imagine anyone else could have done better. And as for not being able to act - as someone who goes to the movies a lot and doesn't cry, I found myself bawling my eyes out at the end when Evita dies. Her tears seem real and painful. I watched it a 2nd time and the same thing happened. And to me that is a sign that somebody was truly taking me in with their performance. Antonio Banderas is fantastic as Che (who'd have thought he could sing like that!) and did anyone spot the singer from the Corrs as the maid who gets stomped on? All in all a great musical with a great cast and well worth watching. |
Ratings
| Value For Money: |
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4 |
| Review Score: |
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4 |
| Recommended? | |
Yes |
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