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Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991)

Rate: 3
Viewed: 8/21

Madonna
8/21: Well, the contest is officially over: the worst documentary of 1991 goes to Madonna: Truth or Dare.

The trouble with Madonna is virtually zero sex appeal. She tries so hard that it always backfires on her. Often wanting to be the next Marilyn Monroe in music and motion pictures, Madonna fails on many levels, and it has everything to do with lack of substance. Hence, I view her more of a shrewd businessperson, knowing what works and doesn't work with the sheeples, regardless of quality and lasting impact.

At least, it's nice to see some real stars such as Warren Beatty (a notoriously private creep; I'm surprised that he allowed himself to appear, but he threatened to sue Madonna if certain scenes weren't removed), Al Pacino, and Antonio Banderas. The first two probably have a lot to do with Dick Tracy which was filmed in 1990. There's an awkward moment when Kevin Costner made a remark about Madonna's show being "neat." In other words, it's his polite way of saying, "It sucked," and I agree with him.

Having seen many movies which starred Madonna, I still don't get it. They've always been shallow and random. I lived through the 80's and 90's and knew Madonna was a big star. Yet nothing she did impressed me; she wasn't on the same level with Michael Jackson or Prince as far as talent went. That's why she faded away after the mid 90's.

For the most part, Madonna: Truth or Dare is tough to watch. The first hour is tedious, but the second hour turns into unbearable, especially when it comes to Madonna's tasteless visit to her mother's grave. The dominant theme of her behavior is narcissism which was captured in 250 hours of footage. Hence, there's a brief moment that sums up Madonna in a nutshell, and it's 100% dead-on. It must have been a nightmare to put the documentary together in the editing room.

All in all, Madonna: Truth or Dare equals vain.