Benjamin_Lumb Reviews

McQueen (2018)

McQueen

[28 July 2023]

After Alexander McQueen's death there were more exhibitions, books and information about him, and there was a lot of publicity for a man who during his lifetime I didn't take any notice. I became interested in McQueen's work in May 2016 when I started my research about him, and then at this time there was an exhibition on Isabella Blow at the Powerhouse Museum, and I was able to see his fashion that he had created. This is a great documentary, and there was an idea of making a biopic about McQueen, but this was changed due to Jack O'Connell not being attached to the project.

During McQueen's career he was intelligent, ambitious and creative, but unfortunately as McQueen became more successful his mind and personal life deteriorated further, due to his mental health issues. McQueen was interested with the anatomy, and I believe his fashion is sculptural and organic. The only distraction with this documentary was the music would play during an interview, and for me it was hard to understand what they were saying. McQueen's life was extraordinary, and his fashion shows will be remembered as unforgettable.

Marilyn Monroe Declassified (2016)

Marilyn Monroe Declassified

[28 July 2023]

I have seen this documentary and I have read about how Marilyn Monroe died, and there are reasons why people question if she did take her own life. There was a police officer Lynn Franklin who pulled over Peter Lawford speeding on a road from her home just hours after she had died with Ralph Greenson and Robert Kennedy in the car. I don't believe a police officer would make something like that up. So was Peter Lawford being used either by the Mafia or the CIA?

Later in 1972 a hired contractor discovered a covert listening device installed throughout the home in Brentwood when Veronica Hamel and her then husband the new owners had paid over $100,000 to remove. Then there's the article Dorothy Kilgallen had authored suggesting Marilyn Monroe had an affair with Robert Kennedy just a day before she died. So was this article the reason for Peter Lawford to be at her home that afternoon on 4 August 1962?

Then there's Eunice Murray and her son-in-law Norman Jeffries at her home that night where she died. So was Eunice Murray waiting for a phone call from Peter Lawford that they were going to return, and did he call two times that night?

If she had accidentally overdosed on the amount Ralph Greenson had asked Eunice Murray to give her. Then Peter Lawford was still accountable, because he was wanting Ralph Greenson and Robert Kennedy to be there. "Say goodbye to Pat, say goodbye to the president, and say goodbye to yourself, because you're a nice guy. ... I'll see, I'll see." - Marilyn Monroe.

Zero: An Investigation Into 9/11 (2007)

Zero: An Investigation into 9/11

[28 July 2023]

The events after September 11 are strange. It was an odd thing to do for the US government to lead the nation, and then coalition forces into a war on the false assumption that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein were terrible dictators, and did horrible atrocities against humanity, and I agree with removing people like that from power and then having them executed. However, the Iraq War could have ended in a shorter time after eight years of conflict, and then leaving. There were casualties and losses from the coalition forces 4821 people were killed and over 32,776 people were wounded.

Madame X (2021)

Madame X

[28 July 2023]

Following Madonna's performance from Tears of a Clown she decided to perform in smaller theatres. Madonna used the name Madame X for her album and tour, and her performances in these theatres was a lot more professional, and the audience behaviour was not so loud considering this show was not going to be performed in large indoor arenas. As the show begins there's an opening address from Madonna that the audience is to concentrate more on the show than their mobile phones, so all mobile phones were to be turned off. And then the show starts with "God Control" that delivers the message that the United States needs to have better gun laws, but if there was a better understanding about respecting other people then maybe the crime of murdering innocent people could be prevented. "Dark Ballet" is a return to the song "Like a Prayer" with its message about racism and the intolerance towards people who are viewed as a minority, and then Madonna sings "Human Nature" a song about having no shame or sorrow for being who you are. Overall the show has more serious than lighthearted messages, and as this show was concluding there was the outbreak of COVID-19, and her shows were abruptly cancelled. Then there was the long delay of releasing this show, and then the limited release on Paramount+. As for the filming of this show there's more control with the location, and she's not at every venue around the world like what she did for the Rebel Heart Tour video.

Madonna: Celebration - The Video Collection (2009 Video)

Celebration: The Video Collection (2009 video)

[8/10 · 28 February 2022]

I don't know why Madonna hasn't released this collection of her music videos on Blu-ray. Anyway, some fans were disappointed with this collection as some of her music videos were omitted. Such as "Oh Father", "This Used to Be My Playground", "Bad Girl", "Fever", "Love Don't Live Here Anymore", "You Must Love Me", "Drowned World/Substitute for Love", "Nothing Really Matters" and "American Life" (uncensored version). The "American Life" music video was amazing, but unfortunately Madonna's company didn't want the uncensored version to be released commercially. It is good to watch music videos on YouTube or download them on Apple Music, but I still like the idea of packaging and a little foldout that you can read with all the video directors credited.

Madonna: The MDNA Tour (2013 TV Special)

MDNA World Tour (2013 video)

[8/10 · 20 December 2017]

After the studio album MDNA was released. Madonna was then to promote it with the MDNA World Tour. The show begins slowly with religious chanting, and then Madonna enters the stage via a confessional box. From the performance of "Girl Gone Wild" to "I Don't Give A" the show is intense and dark, and it's only after the "Best Friend" interlude that the show starts to lighten up. The best song and performance in my opinion is "Express Yourself", and I really liked the use of animation in the background to enhance this performance. Later on, I also liked the drumbeat for "Open Your Heart", and this song was entertaining. Following the "Justify My Love" interlude Madonna's Jean-Paul Gaultier outfit is worn as she sings "Vogue". Other highlights are the "Nobody Knows Me" interlude I liked how this song was remixed, and the collage of faces in the background. The show finishes with "Celebration", and there are scenes of the Miami crowd having a good time. The Blu-ray has bonus features such as the MDNA Workshop, and some DVD versions have the live CD from the tour.

Madonna: Sticky & Sweet Tour (2010 Video)

Sticky & Sweet Tour (2010 video)

[9/10 · 20 December 2017]

The Sticky & Sweet Tour was filmed in 2008 and then released in 2010, and this is an excellent show but the Confessions Tour was more popular. Every song is performed well and the Buenos Aires crowd seemed to be enjoying Madonna's performance. I think the best songs in this show are towards the end after the "Get Stupid Medley". As an extra for the DVD release we get a behind the scenes look, and Madonna tells her viewers that this could be the last tour of her life, but after experiencing somebody else's show changes her mind. Then someone asks one of the musicians what has been the biggest highlight for him on the tour, and that experience for him was when Barack Obama was elected as president of the United States. The DVD's bonus content includes a 30 minute special behind-the-scenes from the tour, and a live CD.

Madonna: The Confessions Tour Live from London (2006 TV Special)

The Confessions Tour (2007 video)

[9/10 · 20 December 2017]

This show was so exhausting to watch and there are only two songs "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" and "Paradise (Not for Me)" where you can sit down and just contemplate it all. The opening of this show will go down in history as the most visually thrilling as Madonna enters the stage via a gigantic Swarovski crystal ball that comes down from the ceiling, and the video screens from behind it show images of horses galloping. Horses are in this show due to Madonna falling off one. The infamous scene with Madonna on the cross is in this show as a video screen counts to 12 million the number of how many African children are orphaned due to HIV/AIDS. At the end a website address appears for anyone interested in donating. We then go into the theme of the environment, and again images of politics and religion are shown. There's an interlude and then the show starts to the music of "I Love New York" and "Ray of Light", and this is where the dancers do their amusing hand movements. Towards the end there's "Music" with the song "Disco Inferno" mixed in, and the dancers make more of their presence known. The last two songs are full of energy as the show closes to the music of "Lucky Star" and "Hung Up", and many golden balloons fall from the ceiling before the phrase "Have you confessed?" appears on a video screen. The DVD's bonus content includes tour rehearsal footage, an exclusive photo gallery and a live CD.

Madonna: Drowned World Tour 2001 (2001 TV Special)

Drowned World Tour 2001 (2001 video)

[9/10 · 20 December 2017]

Since the Girlie Show Madonna was ready to tour again with the Drowned World Tour. All the themes in this show are amusing from Cyber-Punk, Geisha, Cowgirl, Spanish and then Ghetto. The costumes and makeup were all made to look effortless. The Detroit crowd were happy that she was performing there again for it had been a while since the Girlie Show. It was good with the DVD that you were able to look at all the photos that have been taken of Madonna during her career in the music industry. As for this show it was well edited, and the Japanese animation was interesting as an interlude. The DVD's special features are a photo gallery and DTS surround sound.

Madonna Live: The Virgin Tour (1985 Video)

Madonna Live: The Virgin Tour (1985 video)

[9/10 · 20 December 2017]

It's interesting to look back at this show and see how far concerts have come before large sets and video screens were introduced you just had to concentrate on the dancing and the singing. This is the show where Madonna had two men as backup singers. I guess it would have been exciting and scary for Madonna at the time to perform for her first tour. You can see all the Madonna wannabes in the crowd it's a rare sight these days to see fans dressing up like their favourite idol. Strange ending of the show with Madonna laughing in the background I don't know what that means. Also, at the beginning of the show she tells her viewers what her dreams are, and how she's made them come true not an easy feat in the real world.

Madonna: The Girlie Show - Live Down Under (1993 TV Special)

The Girlie Show: Live Down Under (1994 video)

[9/10 · 20 December 2017]

I remember when this show came to Sydney and Madonna was in the news walking out of the airport with a didgeridoo in her hand. It was entertaining to have a major pop star in Australia. I would have bought a ticket but I was only 16 at the time and I wasn't going to go in the city by myself. Anyway, as for the show it was good to see a release on DVD and the footage here is consistent. This show was more theatrical than the Blond Ambition tour, and some of her best performances are when she sings "Like a Virgin" with a Marlene Dietrich inspired accent, and the costumes for the "Justify My Love" number. Overall one of her most entertaining shows.

Madonna: Ciao, Italia! - Live from Italy (1987 Video)

Ciao Italia: Live from Italy (1988 video)

[8/10 · 20 December 2017]

This was an excellent show but there are problems with where the footage was taken from. It's odd when you have the title Ciao Italia and then find out on the internet that the opening scene was taken from Tokyo, Japan. The skyline at the beginning is Tokyo and the stadium is a baseball stadium in Tokyo. So what happened to Torino? Torino is a beautiful city and it was in 2006 that they had the Winter Olympic Games at the stadium where Madonna filmed this show, so what happened to the original footage for this show remains a mystery. It would have been more appropriate if the opening scene had been the skyline of Torino, Italy and not from Tokyo, Japan. There was also another version titled Who's That Girl: Live in Japan.

Madonna: Rebel Heart Tour (2016 TV Movie)

Rebel Heart Tour (2017 video)

[9/10 · 28 April 2017]

I was lucky enough to see Madonna perform the live songs from Rebel Heart for the first Sydney show, and her performance was impressive. This tour was inclusive, and it was an amazing feat how she travelled this show to the various nations. Also, there were a number of controversies that are well known to Madonna, but I'm not going to acknowledge these matters for this review. The runway with a large heart at the end was interesting, and the costumes were colourful for this show. The medieval costumes for "Iconic" reminded me of Game of Thrones because that night Madonna invited Gwendoline Christie to be on stage with her. The Blu-ray has special features such as an excerpt from Tears of a Clown and "Like a Prayer", and some Blu-ray versions have the live CD from the tour.

I'm Going to Tell You a Secret (2005)

I'm Going to Tell You a Secret (2006 video)

[8/10 · 28 April 2017]

Sort of a Madonna: Truth or Dare part-two documentary from the Re-Invention World Tour. Again, we get a look at Madonna's process of working with her dancers and team. I think Madonna wanted to show how she had changed as an entertainer, and we get another look at her beliefs, her children and ex-husband. Did Madonna feel she was less mature than her previous movie, and was trying to show a more mature side? As for the show we only get flashes of some of the songs that are performed, which is really disappointing because Madonna is a great performer, and we miss that again with this documentary. For the future it would have been better if they had released the whole show because there are many songs that are missing. At the time there were discussions about politics, religion and the environment, that are still matters of concern today, and still create an argument. The DVD has bonus features including never-before-seen footage, and a live CD.

Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991)

Madonna: Truth or Dare

[6/10 · 28 April 2017]

I have seen the Blond Ambition on TV from Nice, France in 1990, and I became a Madonna fan ever since. This movie documents Madonna's tour from Japan and finishes in France. So we get for the first time a look at Madonna's entourage, and her behaviour towards them after the show finishes. At the time it was an interesting idea, and Madonna wanted to show the positive and negative side of human behaviour. All the show's footage is in colour and the behind the scenes are in black and white, and was filmed on 35mm to give a look that's more cinematic. As a fan I believe the Yokohama, Japan show was a better version, and would like to have seen a more global release. Madonna was at the height of her fame when this documentary was created, and is still just as famous today.