Desperately Processing Madonna

Sticky and Sweet

OK. So I've had time to digest it all. The concert: Fabulous, except that gypsy moment (which is vaguely justified by the release of Filth and Wisdom), and the terrible shoes I've mentioned. The singing doesn't matter, it never has. So what if some of it is pre-recorded? So what if her backup singers are doing most of it at times? Totally beside the point. Another reproach though: too much guitar-playing. She plays indifferently. We want to watch her dance, not just stand there with her guitar. Maybe it's because she's 50 now and so she can rest a bit when she does that (sorry that was my venomous minute). The tongue-in-cheek guitar-hero thing is amusing for five seconds. Everything else is perfect Madonna. Moves, costumes, references, it's all there and it's all great. Tremendous mise en scène of "She's Not Me." Exciting tributes to Britney.

Setlist found on Wikipedia:

Video Introduction (contains elements from "4 Minutes" and "Die Another Day")
"Candy Shop"
"Beat Goes On"
"Human Nature"
"Vogue" (contains elements of "4 Minutes" and "Give It To Me")
"Die Another Day" (Remix) (Video Interlude)
"Into the Groove" (contains elements of "Toop Toop", "Jump" and "Double Dutch Bus")
"Heartbeat"
"Borderline"
"She's Not Me"
"Music" (contains elements of "Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit", with excerpts from "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life")
"Rain" (Remix) (Video Interlude) (contains elements of "Here Comes the Rain Again")
"Devil Wouldn't Recognize You"
"Spanish Lesson"
"Miles Away"
"La Isla Bonita" (contains elements of "Lela Pala Tute")
"Doli Doli" (Dance Interlude)
"You Must Love Me"
"Get Stupid" (Video Interlude) (contains elements of "Beat Goes On", "Give It 2 Me", "4 Minutes" and "Voices")
"4 Minutes"
"Like a Prayer" (contains elements of "Don't You Want Me" and "Feels Like Home")
"Ray of Light"
"Hung Up"
"Give It 2 Me"

As for her film, Filth and Wisdom. It really is a good film. I bet if it had been made by anybody else, the critics would have loved it, even at the Berlin festival. Some critics, notably in France, have been honest enough to admit that it's good. You find all her obsessions here and there, but it's all subtle! Good writing, good acting. "Classical" directing in the best sense of the adjective. Moving without being corny. Aesthetic without being pretentious. Very English in many ways. Shades of Kusturica. I must confess I went in expecting the worst and came out beaming. You go, girl.