newcritics - Latest Comments in Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

David Ehrenstein — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:03:53 -0000

The film makes no sense because Rosanna Arquette has always been cooler than Madonna and always will be. They shoudl have switched roles.

Outside of that I overhwelmingly prefer the original: "Celine et julie von en bateau/ Phantom Ladies Over Paris."

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

tomwatson — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:52:17 -0000

I'd have to go with Material Girl - perhaps the song of its era.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

larry aydlette — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:53:19 -0000

Siren, am I crazy? You need to go on Google images, put in Joan Crawford in the search field and eventually you will come to a pic of Crawford dressed EXACTLY, and I mean EXACTLY, as Arquette and Madonna are in this movie. It's either a Photoshop fake or it is clearly what they used "for inspiration", if you get what I mean.

I've always been fond of this movie, because one night in the late '80s, I happened to run across Madonna on St. Mark's Place. I'm not embarrassed to admit that I followed her around for a minute or two. She was with friends. They went into a corner drug store. They bought a bunch of bubble gum, Madonna said something about a tabloid claiming she was having an affair with "Marky Mark" (long before he became the esteemed Oscar nominee) and she refused to look at one magazine a friend proffered because it was "too dirty" for her. Which, considering her public image at the time, is quite remarkable. Interesting night.

Anyway, "Into The Groove" is her greatest song, in my opinion. Great dance number.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

Vanwall — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:47:11 -0000

Sorry Mrs. C had to go, hope she feels better.

I like film this over After Hours, mostly because it has a loopy energy. After Hours was more disquieting. The music is either too after or too before for me, but I knew soooo many gals watched this film and suddenly they all looked like bit players in it. i went to county fair in the hinterlands of WA state a few years ago, and a lotta those little farm girls still dressed like this - unfortunately, so did a lotta their Moms.....generationally creepalicious.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

LanceManion — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:45:46 -0000

It came back a little in the 80s. Susan, Working Girl...

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

LanceManion — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:44:10 -0000

Darn, C's gone. I wanted to get her take on this one. Seems to me that male stars of the Golden Era were a lot more comfortable being the love interest. That had changed drastically by the 60s. Newman himself didn't do very many romantic movies.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

LanceManion — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:38:42 -0000

Evening, Van. Don't worry, this is hardly a meeting of a cyber chapter of the Madonna fan club.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

LanceManion — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:36:52 -0000

Night, C. Sorry you're not feeling well.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

Vanwall — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:36:15 -0000

All this N'yakking is fascinating - the dark underbaelly of The Big City Bustier Babes Club comes to the fore, and is there going to be a fave deli fight? With creamcheese? I liked "...Susan", but Madonna never has done a thing for me. An amber rock kicked up by a toe, I actually like the fact that this was the high point for a lot of the players - good memories. Now get offa my lawn, kid.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

LanceManion — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:33:35 -0000

I wonder if part of the problem with making a romantic movie is that it's hard to find male actors who are willing to let their guards down like that and allow themselves to be the object of desire.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

LanceManion — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:32:07 -0000

Not either an explanation or an excuse. Merely a description of how rotten it was. But we all have rotten moments.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

Campaspe — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:29:48 -0000

Alas gentlemen, I am afraid I am sick. Just took my temperature and I need to go to bed. Carry on and I will check in tomorrow. Have fun!

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

tomwatson — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:25:33 -0000

Was it Trax, per chance?

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

Campaspe — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:25:00 -0000

Meh. Weak as an explanation and nonexistent as an excuse. I mean, she was talking about her dead daughter for pete's sake. Don't tell me you can't break character, that's BS. I think he didn't want to deal.

but I mean, it's one lousy moment in a lifetime of being a nice guy by most accounts.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

LanceManion — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:24:10 -0000

Reason I brought it up though, was Sheila's description of the scene on the bed between Newman and Geraldine Page in Sweet Bird of Youth.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

tomwatson — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:24:01 -0000

It had rows and rows of white couches you weren't allowed to sit on, as i recall...but then again, by recall of those days isn't very specific. But I do remember Madonna - she didn't have quite the flashy wardrobe then. More black t-shirts etc.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

LanceManion — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:21:20 -0000

Yeah! It was almost as if Newman thought they were rehearsing and he had let himself be taken over by Hud.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

Campaspe — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:20:11 -0000

I heard about that after the fact but wasn't there, alas.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

LanceManion — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:18:46 -0000

http://www.thehousenextdooronline.com/2008/09/i...

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

Campaspe — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:17:18 -0000

I did and it was awesome as Sheila's stuff always is. That Patricia O'Neal story was the single shittiest thing I have ever heard about Newman. It may be the ONLY shitty thing I have ever heard about Newman, in fact.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

Campaspe — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:15:58 -0000

Yep. And did ANYONE foresee that when watching 21 Jump Street? It was future flameout Richard Grieco who got the big heartthrob push. It was undoubtedly smart of Depp not to try for that.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

LanceManion — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:13:31 -0000

Did you happen to read Sheila O'Malley's post on Paul Newman at the House Next Door?

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

Campaspe — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:12:35 -0000

oh wait, I remember that one ... trying to recall the name. In the 80s you could still conceivably have a dance club in an area like that.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

LanceManion — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:10:37 -0000

I doubt Depp tries, in fact I suspect that if he knows it's happening he reins himself in. But he's just that much better than just about any young male actor he'll ever work with.

Re: Wednesday Night at the Movies: Desperately Seeking Susan

Campaspe — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 22:10:15 -0000

Oh sure, lately it's usually the dreams of boys. Not men (which I would enjoy more), just boys.