Madonna: Truth or Dare
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“Why would you say something if it's off-camera? What point is there existing?”
Overview
Following the diva on her 1990 “Blond Ambition” world tour, we see her at her most impressive and most flawed: possessed of a terrifying work ethic, a preternatural sense of showbiz, and an unsettling obsession with and willingness to exploit queer people of colour. Night after night of extravagant sold out concerts (shot in dazzling 35mm colour) from Yokohama to Barcelona, interspersed with intimate black & white 16mm behind-the-scenes footage of Madonna with her family, crew and lovers— including one cringe-inducing Pedro Almodóvar dinner party where she attempts to seduce a very married Antonio Banderas. Madonna: Truth or Dare (aka In Bed With Madonna) is a fascinating insight into fame and the music industry machine, and one of the greatest music documentaries of all time.
Why You Should See This Film
The "tour diary with candid moments" format is now pretty familiar, butTruth or Dare more or less invented not just the modern concert film but the reality TV genre. For someone so concerned with image Madonna gives a remarkably unfiltered look into her personality, and her legacy as an entertainer/entrepreneur can be seen in the Kardashian and Swift personal-brand-as-empire we have today. There are moments of genuine vulnerability, of tiredness and realness alongside calculated personal revelations, which combine with a burning desire to perform and above all to be seen that sees through to the core of celebrity culture.
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