Evita
US (1996): Musical/Drama
After more than a decade of false starts and several potential directors, the popular Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice musical finally made it to the big screen with Alan Parker at the helm and Madonna in the coveted title role of Argentina's first lady, Eva Perón. A triumph of production design, costuming, cinematography, and epic-scale pageantry, the film follows the rise of Eva Perón to the level of supreme social and political celebrity in the 1940s. Like Madonna, Perón was a material girl (she was only 33 when she died); she was instrumental in the political success of her husband, Juan Perón (Jonathan Pryce). But Eva was also a supremely tragic figure whose life was essentially hollow at its core despite the lavish benefits of her nearly goddess-like status. The film has a similar quality -- it's visually astonishing but emotionally distant, and benefits greatly from the singing commentary of Ché (Antonia Banderas), who serves as a passionate chorus to guide the viewer through the elaborate parade of history. (Amazon.com)
5 nominations, 1 Award
· Best Achievement in Music (Original Song) 1996: "You Must Love Me" Andrew Lloyd Webber, music; Tim Rice, lyric
· Achievement in Art Direction 1996: Brian Morris, Art Direction; Phillippe Turiure, Set Decoration
· Achievement in Cinematography 1996: Darius Khondji
· Achievement in Film Editing 1996: Gerry Hambling
· Achievement in Sound 1996: Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer & Ken Weston