This watchable documentary, focusing on New York as the crucible of gay liberation politics, brings together performers from the Truth or Dare tour
An emotionally effusive film, this – sometimes excitable and indulgent but watchable, and an interesting addition to a growing documentary genre focusing on New York City as the crucible of gay liberation politics. Film-makers Ester Gould and Reijer Zwaan seek out and reunite the backing dancers recruited by Madonna for her 1990 Truth or Dare tour and its accompanying documentary. This became a scandal for “backstage” footage of an all-male kiss, noted here as an under-remembered historical moment in gay openness. But it also became a cause of terrible legal acrimony as the men involved were not ready for it to be used in the film.
Some of the dancers reveal that, for all the tour’s emphasis on defiant openness, they had not revealed that they were HIV positive.
An emotionally effusive film, this – sometimes excitable and indulgent but watchable, and an interesting addition to a growing documentary genre focusing on New York City as the crucible of gay liberation politics. Film-makers Ester Gould and Reijer Zwaan seek out and reunite the backing dancers recruited by Madonna for her 1990 Truth or Dare tour and its accompanying documentary. This became a scandal for “backstage” footage of an all-male kiss, noted here as an under-remembered historical moment in gay openness. But it also became a cause of terrible legal acrimony as the men involved were not ready for it to be used in the film.
Some of the dancers reveal that, for all the tour’s emphasis on defiant openness, they had not revealed that they were HIV positive.
- 2/2/2017
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
We're celebrating the 25th anniversary of "Truth or Dare" this week. Here's Jose having a brilliantly fun chat with its dancers who have an unofficial sequel, if you will, making the festival rounds...
Clockwise from top: Carlton, Madonna, Luis, Gabriel (Rip), Jose, Kevin, Oliver, and Salim (aka "Slam")
Jose here. I was four years old when Madonna went on her Blonde Ambition Tour, but I distinctly remember being hypnotized by the woman with the pointy bra on TV that was making the Pope very upset. Fast forward a couple of decades and not only am I a huge Madonna fan, but I’ve made more sense of that specific era in her career thanks to the revolutionary documentary Madonna: Truth or Dare. So I was thrilled when I found out Dutch filmmakers Ester Gould and Reijer Zwaan had made Strike a Pose, a documentary about the male dancers that were...
Clockwise from top: Carlton, Madonna, Luis, Gabriel (Rip), Jose, Kevin, Oliver, and Salim (aka "Slam")
Jose here. I was four years old when Madonna went on her Blonde Ambition Tour, but I distinctly remember being hypnotized by the woman with the pointy bra on TV that was making the Pope very upset. Fast forward a couple of decades and not only am I a huge Madonna fan, but I’ve made more sense of that specific era in her career thanks to the revolutionary documentary Madonna: Truth or Dare. So I was thrilled when I found out Dutch filmmakers Ester Gould and Reijer Zwaan had made Strike a Pose, a documentary about the male dancers that were...
- 5/10/2016
- by Jose
- FilmExperience
From over-the-top onstage antics to life on the road, Truth or Dare gave the world an intimate look at Madonna's 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour. And while the arrest threats in Canada, beef with the Pope and relationship drama with Warren Beatty are now legendary, nothing in the film is as famous as the shocking game of truth or dare the pop icon and her backup dancers play at the dinner table. People caught up with six of Madonna's Blond Ambition dancers, who are the focus of the new Dutch documentary Strike a Pose, premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival on Friday.
- 4/15/2016
- by Jeff Nelson, @nelson_jeff
- PEOPLE.com
From over-the-top onstage antics to life on the road, Truth or Dare gave the world an intimate look at Madonna's 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour. And while the arrest threats in Canada, beef with the Pope and relationship drama with Warren Beatty are now legendary, nothing in the film is as famous as the shocking game of truth or dare the pop icon and her backup dancers play at the dinner table. People caught up with six of Madonna's Blond Ambition dancers, who are the focus of the new Dutch documentary Strike a Pose, premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival on Friday.
- 4/15/2016
- by Jeff Nelson, @nelson_jeff
- PEOPLE.com
In 1990, Madonna launched her Blond Ambition World Tour. As over-the-top sexual as it was groundbreaking, the modern-pop spectacle was one of the most controversial concert events in music history. And it changed her life - and the lives of her seven backup dancers. The tour and the 1991 movie about it that followed, Truth or Dare, skyrocketed the pop icon's career to the next level and made her dancers - Luis Camacho, Oliver Crumes, Salim "Slam" Gauwloos, Jose Gutierez, Kevin Stea, Gabriel Trupin and Carlton Wilborn - celebrities in their own right. As Truth or Dare turns 25, Duth filmmakers Reijer Zwaan...
- 4/13/2016
- by Jeff Nelson, @nelson_jeff
- PEOPLE.com
In 1990, Madonna launched her Blond Ambition World Tour. As over-the-top sexual as it was groundbreaking, the modern-pop spectacle was one of the most controversial concert events in music history. And it changed her life - and the lives of her seven backup dancers. The tour and the 1991 movie about it that followed, Truth or Dare, skyrocketed the pop icon's career to the next level and made her dancers - Luis Camacho, Oliver Crumes, Salim "Slam" Gauwloos, Jose Gutierez, Kevin Stea, Gabriel Trupin and Carlton Wilborn - celebrities in their own right. As Truth or Dare turns 25, Duth filmmakers Reijer Zwaan...
- 4/13/2016
- by Jeff Nelson, @nelson_jeff
- PEOPLE.com
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