Saturday, August 14, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Cool Review Of DSS
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
I'd been in the mood to watch this ever since seeing the "Seeing Songs" exhibit at the Boston MFA, which features a video piece of various Madonna fans karaoke-ing her songs. Desperately Seeking Susan is one of the few films that really makes me wish I was a hip twentysomething living in the Village in the mid-80's. For real. The movie follows jaded New Jersey housewife Roberta (Rosanna Arquette), who stalks cool drifter Susan (Madonna) through the personal ads. As the flighty Susan travels around the US, she and her rocker boyfriend Jim (Robert Joy) communicate through the personals.
After she unwittingly gets mixed up in a mob murder and jewel theft, Susan tries to lay low in New York, while Roberta gets amnesia and is mistaken for Susan. Jim's friend Dez (Aiden Quinn) takes Roberta in without knowing who she really is, and they develop a halting romance. Meanwhile, Susan helps Roberta's yuppie cheating husband Gary (Mark Blum) find his wife. There's lots of eye-catching fashion, endearingly run-down buildings, cameos, and cool tunes thrown into the mix.
That synopsis sounds convoluted on paper, I'm sorry, but I am not a great writer as has surely already been established. But don't worry, Desperately Seeking Susan is not at all confusing to watch, despite the fact that it stars two dudes and two ladies who look alike. It's a cute story about how awful being a housewife in NJ is, and how everything in NYC is fun and bohemian and neon: all concepts I can get behind. It's also about a lady learning to stand up for herself and finding out what kind of life she'd like to have, instead of continuing to suffer the one she'd settled into. And it's about another lady with impeccable fashion sense, tons of confidence, and the balls to dance in a club to her own song. (Can you guess which is which!?)
While the story is light and fun (that crime and murder stuff is barely involved), the characters are interesting and funny. I really enjoy Roberta's husband and sister-in-law as they debate her whereabouts, convinced she'd become a prostitute or worse, a lesbian! Their dialogue provides an unexpectedly smart satire on those WASPy middle-class New Jerseyans. At the other end of the spectrum are cool hipsters Jim and Dez, the former spiking his hair and touring with his rock band, the latter showing obscure old movies as a projectionist. Arquette tends to be a little grating, but generally she does a nice job pulling all these disparate characters and stories together. They are all slight caricatures, but still real people for the most part. Madonna, of course, elevates herself above anyone else in the film through her portrayal of the carefree, seemingly magical Susan, floating above those mere mortals imbued with that innate rock star persona and moxy to spare.
With equal parts comedy, fashion, and intrigue, Desperately Seeking Susan is an enjoyable glimpse at a very specific culture and time period. It's a little silly and a little romantic, offering a nice spotlight on two cool women leads. Nothing life-altering, but always a fun diversion.
Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
I'd been in the mood to watch this ever since seeing the "Seeing Songs" exhibit at the Boston MFA, which features a video piece of various Madonna fans karaoke-ing her songs. Desperately Seeking Susan is one of the few films that really makes me wish I was a hip twentysomething living in the Village in the mid-80's. For real. The movie follows jaded New Jersey housewife Roberta (Rosanna Arquette), who stalks cool drifter Susan (Madonna) through the personal ads. As the flighty Susan travels around the US, she and her rocker boyfriend Jim (Robert Joy) communicate through the personals.
After she unwittingly gets mixed up in a mob murder and jewel theft, Susan tries to lay low in New York, while Roberta gets amnesia and is mistaken for Susan. Jim's friend Dez (Aiden Quinn) takes Roberta in without knowing who she really is, and they develop a halting romance. Meanwhile, Susan helps Roberta's yuppie cheating husband Gary (Mark Blum) find his wife. There's lots of eye-catching fashion, endearingly run-down buildings, cameos, and cool tunes thrown into the mix.
That synopsis sounds convoluted on paper, I'm sorry, but I am not a great writer as has surely already been established. But don't worry, Desperately Seeking Susan is not at all confusing to watch, despite the fact that it stars two dudes and two ladies who look alike. It's a cute story about how awful being a housewife in NJ is, and how everything in NYC is fun and bohemian and neon: all concepts I can get behind. It's also about a lady learning to stand up for herself and finding out what kind of life she'd like to have, instead of continuing to suffer the one she'd settled into. And it's about another lady with impeccable fashion sense, tons of confidence, and the balls to dance in a club to her own song. (Can you guess which is which!?)
While the story is light and fun (that crime and murder stuff is barely involved), the characters are interesting and funny. I really enjoy Roberta's husband and sister-in-law as they debate her whereabouts, convinced she'd become a prostitute or worse, a lesbian! Their dialogue provides an unexpectedly smart satire on those WASPy middle-class New Jerseyans. At the other end of the spectrum are cool hipsters Jim and Dez, the former spiking his hair and touring with his rock band, the latter showing obscure old movies as a projectionist. Arquette tends to be a little grating, but generally she does a nice job pulling all these disparate characters and stories together. They are all slight caricatures, but still real people for the most part. Madonna, of course, elevates herself above anyone else in the film through her portrayal of the carefree, seemingly magical Susan, floating above those mere mortals imbued with that innate rock star persona and moxy to spare.
With equal parts comedy, fashion, and intrigue, Desperately Seeking Susan is an enjoyable glimpse at a very specific culture and time period. It's a little silly and a little romantic, offering a nice spotlight on two cool women leads. Nothing life-altering, but always a fun diversion.
Desperately Seeking Susan A.K.A Into The Groove?
I found this on a copyright website regarding the rumored song called "Desperately Seeking Susan."
Desperately Seeking Susan
Document number:V3497D955
Date of Recordation:May 23, 2003
Entire Copyright Document:V3497 D955 P1-6
Title:Desperately Seeking Susan : a.k.a. Into The groove / Co-writer, Madonna Louise Ciccone.
Variant title:Into The Groove
Is it possible that ITG was originally called DSS?
Desperately Seeking Susan
Document number:V3497D955
Date of Recordation:May 23, 2003
Entire Copyright Document:V3497 D955 P1-6
Title:Desperately Seeking Susan : a.k.a. Into The groove / Co-writer, Madonna Louise Ciccone.
Variant title:Into The Groove
Is it possible that ITG was originally called DSS?
The Gaumont Theater
The Regent Theatre was built for the Provincial Cinematograph Theatres circuit (PCT) and was the first major cinema designed by architect William Edward Trent. It was located on Barker's Pool, opposite City Hall.
It opened on 26th December 1927 and seating was provided for 1,450 in the stalls and 850 in the balcony. The Neo-Classical/Italian Renaissance style auditorium was very similar to a typical Thomas Lamb design in theatres in the USA. There was a double dome in the ceiling and the projection box was built into the dome. The cinema had full stage facilities, a Wurlitzer 2Manual/8Rank theatre organ was installed and a 150 seat cafe was an added amenity.
PCT were taken over by Gaumont British Theatres in February 1929 but it retained the name Regent until 27th July 1946 when it was re-named Gaumont Theatre. The stage was still being used in the 1960's for one night concerts by artists such as; Cliff Richard, Eddie Cochran, Bobby Darin, Victor Borg, Nina & Frederick, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and the Count Basie Orchestra.
In October 1968 it was closed for twinning. All vestiges of the original decoration was removed and the two curtain-walled auditoriums opened on 23rd July 1969 with seating for 737 in the former balcony and 1,150 in the former stalls. On 25th November 1979 a third screen was opened in the former cafe area which seated 144.
The Gaumont closed on 7th November 1985 with "Perfect", Madonna in "Desperately Seeking Susan" and "A View to a Kill".
It opened on 26th December 1927 and seating was provided for 1,450 in the stalls and 850 in the balcony. The Neo-Classical/Italian Renaissance style auditorium was very similar to a typical Thomas Lamb design in theatres in the USA. There was a double dome in the ceiling and the projection box was built into the dome. The cinema had full stage facilities, a Wurlitzer 2Manual/8Rank theatre organ was installed and a 150 seat cafe was an added amenity.
PCT were taken over by Gaumont British Theatres in February 1929 but it retained the name Regent until 27th July 1946 when it was re-named Gaumont Theatre. The stage was still being used in the 1960's for one night concerts by artists such as; Cliff Richard, Eddie Cochran, Bobby Darin, Victor Borg, Nina & Frederick, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and the Count Basie Orchestra.
In October 1968 it was closed for twinning. All vestiges of the original decoration was removed and the two curtain-walled auditoriums opened on 23rd July 1969 with seating for 737 in the former balcony and 1,150 in the former stalls. On 25th November 1979 a third screen was opened in the former cafe area which seated 144.
The Gaumont closed on 7th November 1985 with "Perfect", Madonna in "Desperately Seeking Susan" and "A View to a Kill".
Hello Everybody
I know it's been a very long time since I've posted anything on the blog and I just wanted to apologize for being gone so long. Thanks to everyone who has checked out the blog and also to those who have posted comments. I really appreciate it. I hope everyone is doing well and will continue to visit from time to time to check out DSS, Madonna's greatest movie.
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