The long-awaited movie of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's hugely successful Seventies stage musical does it full justice, with Madonna giving the performance of her career as Argentina's most powerful woman, Eva Peron, a role she was surely born to play.

After pleading for years to star in the movie version, Madonna pulls off a major acting coup, and won a Golden Globe for it.

It being a pop opera, there's no dialogue as such, and inspired director Alan Parker manages the difficult feat of turning this into an advantage on screen, with lavish visuals and stunningly orchestrated crowd scenes.

The film begins blindingly well, and though it dips after half an hour or so, largely sustains this inspiration and momentum.

The songs are glorious throughout, beautifully handled by Madonna, while Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Pryce are virtually ideal in the other star roles as Che and Peron.

A plush, impressive musical treat.