Spring Break
Madonna demonstrates solid attempt, yet fails at first film
Jessica Herbine
Issue date: 10/17/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
In the Queen of Pop's current single, she and Justin Timberlake have only four minutes to save the world. In Madonna's newest project, however, the Queen sat down on the wrong throne and directed an 81 minute movie. "Filth and Wisdom" is a perceptive comedy that encompasses the lives of three roommates living in London who must sin in order to achieve their highest goals.
The film stars A.K. (Eugene Hutz), an insightful Ukrainian immigrant attempting to launch his band into nationwide stardom with the fiscal backings of his role-playing, cross-dressing gigs and work for a blind, retired professor (Richard E. Grant).
The object of A.K.'s affection, roommate Holly (Holly Weston), is a brilliant yet broke ballerina who descends into the pole-dancing depths of a strip club for financial support. The third resident, Juliette (Vicky McClure), aspires to help diseased children in Africa but is stopped short of her low-paying pharmaceutical door, where she works her hours helping customers and pinching pills.
The movie starts out with a silhouetted monologue by A.K., who takes on the simultaneous role of narrator. His script is intriguing and explains the themes Madonna and writer Dan Cadan wanted to emulate through "Filth and Wisdom." However, the narration is not carried well in over an hour's time and too many messages and ideas are thrown around to comprehend what the story's main connotation is. The tale becomes even more muddled when Juliette's lustful boss, one of A.K.'s clients, and both of their spouses are needlessly brought into the story-like that of a wannabe "Crash" or "Vantage Point," interweaving a number of unrelated relationships.
All of this is not to say that Madonna's work is not promising. She has undoubtedly pushed aside any desire for a Hollywood blockbuster with this indie piece, which first aired at the Berlin International Film Festival in February. She produces a cultural work of art with an array of accents and languages, and characteristically eclectic costumes consisting of Madonna-like gold chains, patches, odd prints and lots of leotards.
The film stars A.K. (Eugene Hutz), an insightful Ukrainian immigrant attempting to launch his band into nationwide stardom with the fiscal backings of his role-playing, cross-dressing gigs and work for a blind, retired professor (Richard E. Grant).
The object of A.K.'s affection, roommate Holly (Holly Weston), is a brilliant yet broke ballerina who descends into the pole-dancing depths of a strip club for financial support. The third resident, Juliette (Vicky McClure), aspires to help diseased children in Africa but is stopped short of her low-paying pharmaceutical door, where she works her hours helping customers and pinching pills.
The movie starts out with a silhouetted monologue by A.K., who takes on the simultaneous role of narrator. His script is intriguing and explains the themes Madonna and writer Dan Cadan wanted to emulate through "Filth and Wisdom." However, the narration is not carried well in over an hour's time and too many messages and ideas are thrown around to comprehend what the story's main connotation is. The tale becomes even more muddled when Juliette's lustful boss, one of A.K.'s clients, and both of their spouses are needlessly brought into the story-like that of a wannabe "Crash" or "Vantage Point," interweaving a number of unrelated relationships.
All of this is not to say that Madonna's work is not promising. She has undoubtedly pushed aside any desire for a Hollywood blockbuster with this indie piece, which first aired at the Berlin International Film Festival in February. She produces a cultural work of art with an array of accents and languages, and characteristically eclectic costumes consisting of Madonna-like gold chains, patches, odd prints and lots of leotards.
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