Confessions II - The Film
If there is one thing the music industry has been lacking lately, it is genuinely great music videos and album visuals. But whenever that happens, you can simply wait for Madonna to feel like making one, because you know it is going to be done right.
Madonna has unveiled the visual companion to her upcoming album, Confessions II, in the form of a 10-minute short film titled Confessions II - The Film. Directed by TORSO, the creative duo of David Toro and Solomon Chase, whose previous work includes Charli xcx's "Von Dutch" and "360," Kali Uchis' "No Hay Ley," as well as Mugler runway shows, the film serves as a vibrant first taste of Madonna's new era.
The short takes us on a brief but striking journey through the dancefloor and club culture. It is dark, sticky, hot, seductive, and deliciously decadent. Madonna only lets us sample her new music rather than fully indulge in it, but that's alright. She can tease and play all she wants — it's her show, and she's the DJ.
Confessions II - The Film looks extravagant, bright and polished. The entire production feels like an expensive video captured at the coolest party imaginable. The music, fashion, cinematography, and overall aesthetic create that perfect balance between darkness and euphoria that great dance music thrives on.
Madonna has finally reached the point in her career where she is ready to self-reference, and here it feels completely natural and works really well. At times, the film even evokes memories of The Substance, while stylistically it also shares certain similarities with Miley Cyrus' Something Beautiful: The Visual Album. But Madonna never overstays her welcome, making you wish it were longer — yet perhaps that is exactly why it works.
The film also offers our first glimpse at several new songs while embracing a chaotic, restless, and occasionally eclectic atmosphere. The undeniable highlight comes during the bathroom sequence built around "Danceteria", where Madonna assembles one of the most random casts imaginable, including Arca, Benedict Cumberbatch, Cole Palmer, Gwendoline Christie, Honey Dijon, Kate Moss, Odessa A'zion, and Shygirl. Yet that randomness ultimately captures the essence of dance music itself. Dance music brings together people who have absolutely nothing in common and unites them in a single space, moving to the same rhythm.
Most importantly, Madonna seems to be having the time of her life. There is a genuine sense that she is enjoying everything she is doing right now, and that enthusiasm is impossible not to buy into. By the end, all you want is to step onto that dancefloor yourself alongside the one and only Madonna.
8/10
