Madonna Puts Her Life On Display In Truth Or Dare

1991

After a limited release in major cities (starting with Los Angeles), Madonna's concert documentary Truth or Dare opens in theaters.

The film is marketed as a warts-and-all, behind-the-scenes look at Madonna, but she has full control of the project since she is funding it and serves as executive producer. The concert scenes show her in full command on stage, enthralling crowds with an array of hits that includes "Holiday," "Like A Virgin" and "Vogue." The offstage moments are the meat of the film though. Madonna is gleefully in charge, even when talking to her dad, who asks her to tone down the show (she refuses). When Kevin Costner shows up backstage, he tells her the show was "neat," and makes an uncomfortable exit. When he's out of sight, Madonna makes the universal barfing gesture and says, "Anybody who says my show is 'neat' has to go." The most memorable scenes include an exchange of blue talk with Sandra Bernhard, a poem she recites about farting, and a creative use of a water bottle. It's not ladylike, but it is attention-getting, which has always been her MO. It's also very intimate, which is another common theme in her work - in countries where the phrase "Truth or Dare" doesn't translate, it is released as Truth or Dare: In Bed With Madonna. By wholeheartedly opening up her private life to the public, Madonna uses that access to stay in the spotlight and generate more talking points. It's a tactic that later becomes commonplace, but is rare in the days before cameraphones and reality TV (The Real World is still a year away). Warren Beatty, her boyfriend and a very reticent famous person, sums it up when he says in the film, "She doesn't want to live, much less talk, off-camera."