Filth and Wisdom: Presenting The Film
Thursday, 14 February 2008

Pictures from AP / Reuters Via Yahoo! News
Pictures from AP / Reuters Via Yahoo! News
Pictures from AP / Reuters Via Yahoo! News
Pictures from AP Via Yahoo! News
It is a surprisingly positive review from a UK newspaper and gives the film 3 out of 5 stars, and suggests it is a good starting point for her career as a director!
Yet despite its many shortcomings and an ending so mushy and neat it would embarrass Richard Curtis, Madonna has done herself proud. Her film has an artistic ambition that has simply bypassed her husband, the film director Guy Ritchie. She captures that wonderfully accidental nature of luck when people’s lives intersect for a whole swathe of unlikely but cherishable reasons. Altmanesque would be stretching the compliment too far, but 'Filth and Wisdom' shows Madonna has real potential as a film director.
To read the full review visit www.timesonline.co.uk/arts_and_entertainment
Pictures from AP Via Yahoo! News
The press conference will be available online from tomorrow at www.berlinale.de
Thanks to Marcel
Fans can view a photo slideshow of Madonna's arrival at www.bild.de/BILD/berlin
Thanks to Margit
From AFP Via Yahoo! News
From Reuters Via Yahoo! News
Madonna's The Confessions Tour DVD (Jonas Akerlund, video director; Sara Martin & David May, video producers) won a Grammy Award last night for Best Long Form Music Video.
The official website for Madonna's Malawi documentary I Am Because We Are has launched. Fans should take the time to visit the site, read the synopsis of the film, view the trailer and find out more about the project at www.iambecauseweare.com
Madonna
Title TBC
Warner Bros, 28 April
It doesn't have a title yet, but the direction of Madonna's new album, her last major release before she turns 50, seems clear: the Barbour-wearing Queen of Pop is hitting the street.
Two of the three tracks we heard in an exclusive playback boast productions from the biggest beatmakers in hip hop.
Timbaland evidently reserves his best work for the highest-paying customers because lead single '4 Minutes to Save the World' is a mighty effort, powered by superhero horns, ticking clocks and Justin Timberlake's falsetto. On 'Candy Shop', a sticky clutch of not-so-subtle innuendos ('Come into my store/ I've got candy galore') is traded over a snappy Pharrell Williams beat. 'Give it to Me' slinks into more familiar dance-pop territory, but the chatter behind this album suggests that R&B and hip hop will be its main flavours.
Not a revolutionary move from Madonna, but at least she's working with the right people.
Thanks to John
You worked on Madonna's new album with Timbaland. In what direction did you take her?
Basically, our job was to re-invent her sound. My thing was producing her vocals, really experimenting with rhythm. Everything she does with rhythm is straightforward. What I do is more staccato and R&B. So the challenge for me was writing songs, then saying, 'How can I make this sound more like Madonna?' I'm a big fan of her first album. So my mission was to write a modern-day 'Holiday.' I wrote a cool house record for her called 'Miles Away' that I think is a smash! She sounds great on it.
So is it an R&B Madonna?
It's an R&B/pop/dance record, but it´s still Madonna. Her voice still sounds like she's 18 year old! It trips me out that she's 49. She´s always been rough and tough. Her last couple of records, she's like, 'Rrrrrrr!'
How did she react to your ideas?
A couple of times I pushed her in a direction where it took a minute before we saw eye to eye. Her approach was, 'Well, I just haven't done that.' And I was like, 'Yeah, that´s why you should do it.'
So did you teach Madonna how to beatbox?
(Laughs) No, no. We left that to me and Tim.
Thanks to Heidi
Gala
OK!
Thanks to Kirsten, Margit and Susanne
Last night I went to the Joe Henry Concert at Jazz At Lincoln Center - Madonna was in the audience right behind me with three others (two women and one guy - didn't recognize any of them). He performed Don't Tell Me and dedicated it to her. After the show, myself and two friends waited at the stage door. One photographer was there. Sure enough she came out - went straight into her SUV. She looked flawless.
waThe UK newspapers have really picked up on the Gucci Raising Malawi/UNICEF benefit gala that took place on Wednesday evening - below are scans from the Daily Express, Daily Mirror and Daily Star.
Today's edition of free newspaper the Metro featured Madonna and Lourdes on the cover at the Gucci Gala - and also has a short article inside about the event too.
From mymag.com - thanks to Lauren
The Thursday edition of the London Evening Standard newspaper published this one-page article about the Gucci gala. The article states that Lourdes was bidding for tickets to American Idol and first-edition Harry Potter books - but unfortunately she was not the highest bidder.
Other celebrities attending the star-studded event included Gwyneth Paltrow, Gwen Stefani, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Brooke Shields, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Debra Messing, Eric Dane, Jerry Seinfield, Ellen Pompeo, Cynthia Nixon and Angie Harmon.
Pictures from AP / Reuters Via Yahoo! News
From Reuters Via Yahoo! News
Here is a look at the invitition to the Gucci fundraising event that took place last night in New York City that was published on www.famegame.com
Thanks to Taylor
In preparation for tonight's Gucci gala hosted by Madonna in New York City the Gucci website now features Madonna's I Love New York as the background music.
Check it out at www.guccilovesny.com/
Thanks to Lauren
Madonna fan Akos, has published his second book, this time filled with photographs he took during the Re-Invention tour - for more information visit www.lulu.com
Following on from Madonna's commercial for the brand, Sunsilk are now after female fans in the Greater London area who could take part and give a presentation about Madonna at a workshop in London next Monday.
The day of the Madonna Immersion workshop is Monday 11 February (9:00am-6:00pm). The payment is £500. The presentation should last for about 45 mins and additional 15 mins will be allocated for questions and discussion.
The brief for the event is quite short:
- at the very beginning, you can quickly take people through what you do as Madonna fan etc.
- your short fan introduction to Madonna
- how did you become a Madonna fan?
- why Madonna?
- also, it would be great to compile all the current news about her new album, image and tour in order to update the team.
UPDATE - 07 February - Thanks to everyone who has emailed in - Sunsilk will now work their way through all the submissions.
Madonna's 81 minute film will premiere on Wednesday 13 February - for more information visit www.berlinale.de:
'Filth And Wisdom' is about Andriy Krystiyan, or A. K. for short, who has come to England from the Ukraine, and his two flatmates, Juliette and Holly.
A. K. is a philosopher (at least that's what he claims to be), a poet, and an authority on all aspects of life. At the same time, he is following his grand plan to become an international star.
Global stardom is how A. K. describes the goal that he and his band Gogol Bordello are pursuing with their particular brand of boisterous gypsy punk. For the time being, however, he makes ends meet by performing role play in women's clothing for straight married men.
A. K. shares a flat with two young women named Juliette and Holly. Juliette dreams of being a kind of Florence Nightingale of the developing world. She is currently working behind the counter at the local drug store run by Sardeep, the Indian chemist.
Holly is a trained ballerina. Her big dream is to dance with the Royal Ballet. So far she hasn't been able to earn a single penny with her dancing, and continues to 'polish' her skills as a pole dancer at Beechman's Exotic Gentleman's Club.
These three distinctive personalities are at the centre of a cinematic tale of everyday life about people who are obliged to take on jobs just to earn a living, but who live in hope of one day fulfilling their dreams. But the paths to one's goal are sometimes circuitous. And whether we take the path of wisdom or the path of filth, we will eventually arrive at the same enlightened place.
3:30pm: Press Screening (CineStar 3)
4:50pm: Photocall
5:00pm: Press Conference
Press conferences are streamed live on the Berlin Film Festival website at www.berlinale.de - and note the times stated above are in Central European time.
Orbit was the producer of Madonna's much-acclaimed Ray of Light album, which he co-wrote. His other collaborations with the Queen of Pop include Beautiful Stranger and American Pie, and he has remixed various singles such as Erotica and I'll Remember. Orbit's own hits include the hugely popular dance hit Barber's Adagio for Strings and Fascinating Rhythm (the latter under the guise of Bassomatic).
The Space, held at the Joogleberry Playhouse, is open to all and brings together the creative community with high calibre guest interviews. Doors open at 7pm for a prompt 7:30pm start. £5/£3
For more details, visit www.thespace.me.uk or www.williamorbit.com
Thanks to Wayne
The most star-studded event comes Wednesday, when Madonna hosts a gala - totally underwritten by the new Gucci store in Trump Tower - on the lawn of the UN to benefit UNICEF and her Raising Malawi charity. Madge's guest list includes Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, Sean Combs, Lenny Kravitz, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Lindsay Lohan, Drew Barrymore, Gwyneth Paltrow, Alex Rodriguez, Martha Stewart and Uma Thurman, with Alicia Keys and Rhianna performing.
Thanks to Jonathan
Thanks to Margit
From Digital Spy
Thanks to Margit
From 3am Girls / Daily Mirror
The recent edition of German magazine In (31 January issue) featured a look at fashion designers and Madonna was featured on the Juicy Couture page in one of her familiar tracksuits.
Thanks to Kirsten
MTV News published this small but vital piece of information in their news round-up today:
Madonna has pegged Tuesday 29 April as the release date for her yet-untitled album, her rep confirmed to MTV News.
Which would mean a release date for Monday 28 April for (most of) the rest of the world.
Justin Timberlake got one heck of a 27th birthday surprise on Thursday (January 31) when Madonna presented him with a cupcake and champagne on the set of her new video, Madge's representative told MTV News.
The clip, for '4 Minutes to Save the World,' is currently being shot in London with director Jonas & Francois and will feature JT as well as Timbaland. The track will appear on Madonna's yet-untitled LP, due this year.
From MTV News