Madonna's heavily hyped 1991 documentary covers the superstar on the road at her career peak, with confessional backstage and non-musical scenes photographed in artsy black-and-white like a vintage fashion layout/Andy Warhol flick. The exhibitionist pop siren hired music-video specialist Alek Keshishian to film her Blonde Ambition tour for a possible TV special—an idea that grew into this fly-on-the-wall portrait, culled from hundreds of hours of footage of the singer's private life. Musical numbers are presented in full color and effectively nail the spectacle and glitz of the Material Girl's brash showmanship. Elsewhere, Madonna basks in her slumber-party entourage of troubled personal assistants, sapphic pal Sandra Bernhard, and gay male dancers; leads pre-show prayers; and is pleased by gossip that one of the queer hunks is her latest lover. The artist herself turns vulnerable on occasion, pining for the attentions of then-boyfriend Warren Beatty and weeping on the grave of her own long-dead mother. Performing near her Michigan hometown, she wrings drama from her family and casts herself as First Amendment martyr when cops threaten to close down her show because the choreography simulates masturbation. While all of this seems a bit narcissistic (were it anyone but Madonna one might suspect reality-TV fakery before its time), this remains an often compelling behind-the-scenes pop-music superstar profile. Bowing on Blu-ray with no extras (beside trailers), this is recommended. (C. Cassady)
Madonna: Truth or Dare
Lionsgate, 120 min., R, Blu-ray: $14.99 August 27, 2012
Madonna: Truth or Dare
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