Evita [VHS]
This long-awaited adaptation of the Broadway musical, directed by Alan Parker (Fame,The Commitments), features Madonna in her award-winning performance as Eva Peron, the controversial and inspirational First Lady of Argentina, as well as the score from the long-running Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. The story of Peron's rise to power with her husband (Jonathan Pryce) is narrated in song by peasant insurrectionist Che (Antonio Banderas), as Evita's glamour, poise, and ultimate tragedy inspire a nation in the midst of political and social upheaval. The film is a powerful one, visually stunning and epic in its scope, and yet highly emotional in both the well-known songs and the performances. Pryce portrays a deeply flawed man, ruthless and yet devoted to his wife. Banderas is a swashbuckling figure, instilling passion in the heart of Eva Peron. And Madonna gives a strong and commanding performance as a woman who loves her husband and loves her people but must fight the stirring passion inside her. Featuring "You Must Love Me," an Academy Award-winning song written for the film, Evita is vivid and powerful entertainment for people who love musicals for both stage and screen.--Robert Lane