There are many, many reasons we will always love Madonna:
• There’s her career-long dedication to kicking ass to help us achieve LGBT equality
• Her influential fashion sense (a blend of downtown thrift store cheekiness and uptown Haute couture chic) has made her one of the great style icons
• She refuses to play by anyone else’s rule book
• Her music (and its accompanying videos) have provided the soundtrack to a generation of people both queer and straight (seriously!)
Unfortunately, one area where the superstar entertainer hasn’t provided a lot of fulfillment — to either queer or straight people — is in her once-promising acting career. It’s true. There was a time when 26-year-old Madonna, who seemed to combine the effortless sexual allure of Marilyn Monroe with the brassy comic appeal of Bette Midler, was expected to become the next great singer-turned-movie star.
That brief, shining, glorious moment was 1985 and the Susan Seidelman-directed comedy Desperately Seeking Susan was a big hit in movie theaters. The bohemian, opportunistic title character, originally intended for Goldie Hawn, was tailor-made for the newly-anointed Queen of Pop. Fans lined up (the comedy grossed more than $27 million on a $4 million budget — that was impressive in its day) and many critics praised Madonna’s performance and described the character she created as “a Holly Golightly for the 1980s.” Alas, Madonna’s public persona is such a strong one that she’s since had considerable trouble subverting it into another character’s. Remember when she played a missionary in Shanghai Surprise? No? For every film that’s made good use of her skills (think Evita and, um, um… just think Evita), there have been countless other misfires. But so what? Not everyone is meant to be Meryl Streep.
Thirty years have now passed since DSS premiered so naturally a splashy anniversary screening is planned. The event, complete with costumes and lots of vintage Madonna tunes, is planned for August 13 at Universal City in Los Angeles, a mere three days before her 57th birthday, which many (but not Queerty employers, unfortch) consider an official work holiday. Can you think of a better way to celebrate? If you’ll be in L.A. and want to attend, note that seats are very limited so you must order tickets here prior to July 30.
Get into the groove with the original trailer for the film below.
Bob LaBlah
Wow! It seems odd but I was just thinking about her and the controversy over Like a Prayer and Justify My Love and how MTV refused to show it. If I am not mistaken I think Justify My Love was shown once but I’m not sure.
My, how times have changed. I think all videos now go to youtube.com. MTV doesn’t even show music videos anymore. It sure has been a fast thirty-something years for ol’ MTV.
Milton Appleby
Because she can’t act.
Ladbrook
Aside from this film and Evita, one should also point out that Dick Tracy was a huge hit, and she was fantastic in it. The rest of her work was basically crap. She’s not a naturally gifted or particularly versatile actress, but if given the right part, she can do great things on screen when given the chance… But of course, the same can be said for most actors and actresses working in Hollywood today (see Grffith, Melanie; Basinger, Kim; Stone, Sharon)
Cam
“There’s her career-long dedication to kicking ass to help us achieve LGBT equality”
How? What did she do? I like her music but what exactly is this career long dedication to help with LGBT equality you claim she was for?
She didn’t hate gays, and was happy to use them as dancers, have them as friends, or feature them in videos, but I don’t see her every getting out there in fierce advocacy for much beyond herself until she started building those Kabbalah schools in Mali.
hyhybt
@Ladbrook: I’d forgotten Dick Tracy, or that she was in it.
Other than that, I’ve only seen one movie with Madonna, and don’t even remember what it was about or the name. All I rememeber is that it didn’t seem very good, she stole CD’s and complained that her lipstick had been discontinued, and then there was something about a jaguar or leopard or something.
AtticusBennett
she’s actually sensational in EVITA, Dick Tracy, A League of their Own and for all the collective-loathing against SWEPT AWAY her performance in it is actually very good – she’s just playing an unlikeable person in a tonally-inconsistent film.
she simply, clearly, needs a director who has the confidence to direct her strongly and properly. when that happens, she’s magnetic onscreen.
Kevin J Desmond
Only thing she did that I liked was A Leage Of Their Own.
Ladbrook
@AtticusBennett: Yes… A League of Their Own was fantastic. I completely forgot that one. The film’s theme, This Used to be My Playground, is one of my all time favorite Madonna tunes as well. Thanks for the needed reminder.
Bob LaBlah
@Ladbrook: “She’s not a naturally gifted or particularly versatile actress,”
I watched Dick Tracy last week and thought she slept-walked thru it. When it was released I remember the studio was so worried it might be a flop that she and Warren (Beatty) started this “romance” shit to generate interest in it. The movie turned out to be pretty good but her overall performance in it was nothing to write home to momma about.
Jeremy Kinser
Re: Dick Tracy, apart from the musical numbers which she performs with aplomb (does anyone else remember the skepticism that greeted the announcement she’d perform Sondheim?), I’m not so impressed by her acting in the film. There was a story that circulated back in the day that the scene in which a tear rolls down Breathless’ face required something like 80 takes.
Re: A League of Their Own, having Madonna play “All the way Mae” always struck me as stunt casting. She excels in the swing dancing scene but her big “acting” moment with Tom Hanks rings so false.
Re: Swept Away, I’ll agree that she’s believable as a very unlikeable woman.
I should have added that she’s been a really great actress capable of showing various emotions for a few minutes at a time in many of her videos. I think it’s her inability to deliver dialogue in a believable manner that has been her Achilles’ heel.
rickperryisgay
I don’t ever recall her having any sort of talent in acting. And her music has always been sub par. I wish the skeleton troll would just go away.
Anthony Most
Does no one else Shanghai Surprise?
Sweetie Pie
Those were the days…She was in a few movies and directed one or two more, but that doesn´t mean she was an actress or a film director.
30 years later she´s still struggling to be relevant
hyhybt
@Sweetie Pie: Have yourself a dandy day that cost you under a fin…
Desert Boy
Fast forward to 2015 and Madge can’t sell out her three Australian dates.
Blackceo
Remember 30 years ago when Madonna was a huge star, period?!!!!!
adrianjurado310
no.
Bob LaBlah
@Jeremy Kinser: Aw, come on. I know you saw Desperately Seeking Susan didn’t you? I thought she was cast right in that movie but to be brutally honest, you are correct in your summation of her acting abilities. What I love about her is her “Keep your name out there” mentality.
John Kuehnle
My favorites so far are A League of Their Own and E.vita and she wasn’t the star of the 1st and the 2nd was really a long video but good.
Bob LaBlah
@Anthony Most: I remember it and just like her, I try to forget it. That’s just how god awful it was. As a matter of fact I don’t think she even lists that movie on http://www.imdb.com
Jeff Bruggeman
No. I don’t remember any such thing.
Jesus Malverde
Can’t act!
Tony Minutella
She did one good movie: Desperately Seeking Susan
Sam D. Maloney
Her early performances were pretty appalling. She was excellent in the very demanding role of Evita, but by then it seems as though Holywood had already decided she didn’t have what it takes.
lykeitiz
All this mention of “A League Of Their Own”, but c’mon…..she had a bit part. Blink & you missed her. Great movie, but she was as integral to it as Rosie O’Donnell.
Dick Tracy? All about the musical numbers (as others have mentioned).
Evita? Absolutely, but once again…..Musical.
And “Desperately Seeking Susan” was a 3-star-at-best movie where she played herself.
Girlfriend is NOT an actress, but personally, I don’t think it takes away from her greatness. Everyone can’t do everything.
Tobi
Yup, Madge is no Cher. 😛
chris_clb614
Coulda lived without seeing the trailer.
o.codone
She’s been COOKED for years. Nobody remembers any of the movies. They are imminently forgettable and few of us are that old anyway. Basically this overrated “star” is fading fast, she has nothing to offer, she appears desperate and her cringe factor is off the scales (like when she shows up at the VMA’s with her ass hanging out). Please keep that stale Granny ass covered up.
She doesn’t seem to realize her place in pop history. She thinks she’s fresh. She thinks she’s still a star. Go away now Madonna. Nobody’s listening and nobody cares. Somebody tell her she’s done. Maybe an intervention would work. Somebody just sit her down and tell her.
Cam
@Sam D. Maloney: said…. ” She was excellent in the very demanding role of Evita, but by then it seems as though Holywood had already decided she didn’t have what it takes.”
________________
True, but overall Evita was like a large expensive music video. She was always good in those.
Jeremy Kinser
@Bob LaBlah:
I wrote this article so yeah, I’ve seen DSS a dozen times and think it’s still her best acting work. The films I mentioned in my comment was in response to some of the comments made by readers about her other film work. I’m Team Susan.
Curty
I never have understood the attention she gets. Perplexed actually…