W.E. A Film By Madonna

You would have to have been living in a cave not to realise that Madonna is back in business after being relatively quiet for the last few years making her new film W.E. I went to see it today and despite the mixture of luke warm / poor reviews I loved it. It helps of course that I have more than a passing interest in Wallis Simpson and indeed Madonna herself to prompt me to go and see it but I do feel some of the more savage reviews are uncalled for. It is far too easy to put down what really is a hobby for the most successful female artist of all time and if she hadn't put her name to it I wonder if the critics would have been so lazy in their criticism of this movie.

I have enjoyed Andrea Riseborough in everything I have seen her in and she was a perfect choice for Mrs Simpson. She looked amazing and the styling and wardrobe / makeup for this part of the story was beautiful. It was a bit like The Hours with 2 stories running parallel, the Edward and Mrs Simpson story with a modern day story of New Yorker named after her who has an obsession with the story spending her time at the Sothebys auction of Wallis' possessions.

Madonna being the ultimate perfectionist with her live shows and videos the attention to detail was incredible. Every scene looked stunning and perfect, maybe at times a bit too perfect being my only criticism. There were some surprises I wasn't expecting including a Sex Pistols track in the score and also a shot that moved from the Empire State Building to a close up of Rayban sunglasses which made me think I was watching Desperately Seeking Susan.

Instead of what The King gave up Madonna tries to show us what Wallis gave up and tells it from her point of view. My favourite scenes were when Edward accidentally tears Wallis' dress and she lets the cat out of the bag in front of everyone and also when the abdication news breaks she flees to Claridges with her vintage Vuitton luggage only to fool the press by running back out the back to disappear into exile with the former king.

When you think this was only the second time Madonna has been behind the camera it was pretty dam good and I will definitely be getting the Blu Ray when it's out. Go see it with an open mind and you might be surprised.