MADONNA: TRUTH OR DARE

In the midst of her 1990 “Blonde Ambition” tour, Madonna was at the peak of her global stardom, with her music and sultry, candy-colored stage presence dominating the cultural landscape. A traditional concert movie might have settled for simply letting those dazzling performances work their magic on the big screen, but director Alek Keshishian took a more sophisticated approach, resulting in one of the greatest music documentaries of all time (and one of the highest-grossing documentaries in history).

With intimate black-and-white footage tracking Madonna and a merry entourage of backup dancers around the globe, Madonna: Truth or Dare reveals the relentless energy and attitude of an artist compelled to ride out her fame on her own terms, and have a blast in the process. (Her innovative use of a glass bottle in the eponymous drinking game epitomizes her uniquely casual approach to putting her sensuality on display regardless of the cameras in the room.)

Intercut with plenty of remarkable stage routines, the movie explores the gap between the precise choreography of her performances and the anxiety-fueled energy of life backstage. Keshishian captures a Fellinesque ensemble of exuberant characters who feed off Madonna’s carefree attitude toward fame, deepening the personal nature of her journey in spite of its ubiquity in the media landscape. Keshishian’s fly-on-the-wall presence means that audiences get to feel like they’re part of the crew.

As Madonna battles censorship with a smile (including a bizarre attempt by Toronto police to charge her with indecency) and shrugs off the frivolous exchanges of showbiz (her rejection of a corny compliment from Kevin Costner is a comic highlight), Truth or Dare remains such a gripping, intricate character study it’s a wonder that it isn’t scripted. But Madonna is in full control of her own story. She’s a masterful guide to the insanity of creating art in the public eye and what it takes to survive the spotlight with creative integrity intact. Decades later, Truth or Dare remains as riveting and insightful as ever.

You may also like the following events from Southampton Playhouse:

• This Sunday, 10th August, 06:00 pm, BACK TO THE FUTURE IN IMAX Featuring Michael J. Fox live in person in Southampton
• Next Friday, 15th August, 06:30 pm, ROSES GROVE BAND at the Southampton Playhouse! in Southampton
• Next Sunday, 17th August, 02:15 pm, BEATLES GET BACK: THE ROOFTOP CONCERT IN IMAX in Southampton

Also check out other Entertainment events in Southampton, Arts events in Southampton, Concerts in Southampton.