'Evita' delivers Madonna as serious actress, singer

After seemingly endless months of hype, the much-anticipated Evita finally opened nationwide Friday. With so much riding on a single movie -- the future of musical films, as well as Madonna's career as a serious actress -- Evita had to deliver.

And it does.

The Hollywood Pictures' musical, based on the Broadway production of Evita, includes music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Tim Rice and direction by Alan Parker.

Madonna is stunning in her portrayal of Eva Peron, a lower-class girl who makes her way up the social ladder from actress to first lady to saint in the eyes of many adoring Argentine constituents before dying of cancer at 33.

Besides proving she could sing as well, if not better, than former Evas such as Patti LaPone and Elaine Paige, Madonna has also proven she was right when she said she was born to play the role. And Madonna has shown the world she indeed can act.

The cast also includes Antonio Banderas, who gave a surprisingly strong performance as the story's narrator, Che Guevara and Jonathan Pryce, 1995 Cannes Film Festival's Best Actor winner, as Juan Peron.

Evita made the transition from stage to screen without losing the impact of the live performance. In addition, audiences are treated to panoramic shots of Argentina and the masses chanting at Casa Rosada. Scenes depicting the funeral of Eva's father have also been added to clarify the narrative.

The highlights of the movie include Eva and Che singing the comical "Good Night and Thank You," during which Eva goes through a string of men who help further her career and the seductive "Waltz for Eva and Che" in which Madonna and Banderas dance their way through flashbacks of their history.

The Webber-Rice team has proven musicals can be adapted successfully for the big screen. With five Golden Globe nominations for best actress, best actor, best song, best director and best film, look for Oscar nominations to follow. Musicals may have started their comeback.