Madonna as serious Classical Hollywood cinephile

September 26, 2014 3:53 PM

The exhaustively researched Hollywood history podcast You Must Remember This (Previously) presents a two part episode focusing on Madonna's use of classic Hollywood imagery and references as a form of conceptual art and her early attempts to trade pop idol success for movie stardom within the context of two high-profile relationships with Sean Penn and Warren Beatty. Episode One. Episode Two. Meanwhile, Todd In The Shadows creates video reviews for every movie Madonna was ever in. So far he's done Desperately Seeking Susan, Shanghai Surprise, A Certain Sacrifice, and Who's That Girl.
posted by The Whelk (9 comments total)

No, Madonna has had only two appearances in film.

Desperately Seeking Susan, a cult classic
The song "Live to Tell" from At Close Range

Everything else is only a fever dream. Hallucinations. I don't believe you. la la la la

Actual conversation I had with a girlfriend after seeing A League of Their Own:

That was a good movie, I said.
Yeah, I really liked Madonna, she said.
Madonna? Why?
It was the perfect role for her!
Well, yeah, I suppose, I mean she has that tough girl image...
IT WAS JUST LIKE HER LIFE!
Madonna was a 1940s taxi dancer and speedy outfielder?
No, she's sexy, from the streets.
Well, she's is from Detroit..
Exactly.
... But for a while there, she was apparently Spanish.
You just don't get Madonna.
What's to get? She's an actor. She sings, she dances.
SHE'S ALWAYS CHANGING!
I thought you said she was from the streets?
You're just narrow-minded.
I fucking said I liked the movie!

Sigh.

When she left, that girl took all my furniture.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:11 PM on September 26, 2014 [4 favorites]

I love You Must Remember This. It's the one podcast my husband and I listen to together, usually while driving around LA. We had our doubts when the first Madonna episode showed up, but I think we're going to have to have some drinks and listen to part 2 tonight.
posted by Lyn Never at 4:31 PM on September 26, 2014

And here I always wondered why Sarah Silverman was so hot for Jimmy Kimmel.
posted by four panels at 5:21 PM on September 26, 2014

Todd in the Shadows is great! His One Hit Wonderland series in particular is very interesting, but I also like his pop song reviews. I love that he started the Madonna project because he was so uninspired by this summer's pop charts offerings. He could review pretty much anything and I'd watch it.

Also, transcripts of all his videos.
posted by danabanana at 7:23 PM on September 26, 2014 [1 favorite]

I love You Must Remember This, too. Karina Longworth is a superbly gifted biographical storyteller. Her podcasts on Kay Francis, Val Lewton, Ida Lupino, and Frances Farmer were little masterworks of depth and economy.
posted by chimpsonfilm at 9:28 PM on September 26, 2014 [2 favorites]

No, she's sexy, from the streets.
Well, she's is from Detroit..
Exactly.

The rough byways and dark alleys of Rochester Hills. I think the worst of it you can say is that it's one of the least affluent parts of the most affluent county in the state.
posted by dhartung at 11:39 PM on September 26, 2014

Metafilter: When she left, that girl took all my furniture.
posted by localroger at 5:24 PM on September 27, 2014 [1 favorite]

If Todd wants to stay in the shadows he needs to either lose the goddamn hoodie or keep it fully obscuring his face. The line of darkness cutting his silhouette was extremely distracting.
posted by localroger at 5:26 PM on September 27, 2014

Metafilter: When she left, that girl took all my furniture.

I can't believe you left out the obviously needful TRIGGER WARNING for people who have lost furniture...it's not a joke dude. ;)
posted by trackofalljades at 8:46 PM on September 27, 2014