Why such a low rating? - Desperately Seeking Susan (1985) Discussion

[–] Hinda 15 years ago

I am baffled as well.

I see this as a tightly-knit, well-edited film!

The segues alone are worth a higher rating! I realize that may sound facetious, but I am serious:

When Des says "I can't believe it. She took the refrigerator!", The camera shoots the fridge's former home for a moment...and viola! we are transported to Roberta's fridge where Gary, Larry and Leslie are having some food and talking about the crisis of missing Roberta!

It's a good film.

"Have a Romy & Michelle day!"

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[–] snepts (11123) 5 years ago

I'm pretty much with you on this. I'm not a Madonna guy (but I do admire what she's accomplished and like some of her early hits), but I thought this movie was a nice homage to the Madonna image at the time, and Rosanna had the right weirdness to be Madonna / Susan, or whoever she was being. I thought it was a fun little movie.

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[–] crystalcastle 15 years ago

yeah.

it deserves at least a 6!

madonna is hilarious in it.

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[–] pc32 15 years ago

Having lived the scene in early 1980s lower manhattan and enjoyed the clubs and condomless post sexual revolution pre aids New York City I can tell you this movie deserves a cult status and a 9 of 10 rating. From the realistic bridge jumper bath tub salesman and RA's fantastic accent and performance to the music and clothing of a very creative time in New York ( see maripol, madonna punk girl bands the last of the dance club scene etc ) this movie covered a tremendous amount of territory and more importantly it was a blast as always.
madonna's best and at her most natural. maybe the rating reflects the youth and today's displeasure with madonna's raters.

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[–] Tracey73 11 years ago

Having lived the scene in early 1980s lower manhattan and enjoyed the clubs and condomless post sexual revolution pre aids New York City I can tell you this movie deserves a cult status and a 9 of 10 rating.

While I never lived in that area, I was a pre-teen & teen in the 80's. I completely agree that this deserves a cult status. I don't think many can appreciate just how 80's this movie is (and I mean that in a good way) unless they grew up in the 80's.

Madonna was IT during that time period (at least for me). I wanted to be her lol. I wanted to dress like her. Everything about this movie screams 80's ... the clothing, music, make-up, jewelry, and of course, the sunglasses etc. Brings back wonderful memories.

Some hurt, some love, some shout. I fought the world and I lost that bout. ~ Blue October

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[–] Sox575 15 years ago

Yeah, I agree with you. I love this movie and I've seen it many times, and I still enjoy it even though I know what's going to happen next. This is my favorite Madonna movie.

And I also love the transitions in the editing.

But'cha Y'Are, Blanche! Y'Are In That Chair!

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] KatieCruise 15 years ago

This has always been considered a classic movie. It deserves at least a 7.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] whoshal1 15 years ago

I just watched this movie again after not seeing it in the 80's. I never thought it was a good movie to begin with.

The movie says nothing, it makes you feel nothing, the acting is horrible, it's boring, has no tension, character development. Shall I go on? I rated it a 3.

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[–] alithre 14 years ago

Gotta agree with Whoshall, and am surprised the rating's so HIGH here ... 5.6 stars?!? This movie woulda never made it out of the 4's for me, and that's being gracious! Watching it now on IFC, after having seen it some 20 years ago, and Madonnas acting is just awful to me (still is - hee hee!) LOVE 80's NY though, all rough around the edges like that. NYC alone is worth watching the movie for, you got me there.

Also surprised to learn other high profile actresses were considered for this part. Ellen Barkin, really? Madonnas acting was so bad I thought they just signed her on to get her into a movie, then wrote the script around her cause she was so popular in music. Learn something new every day.

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[–] edgein15 14 years ago

It's a giant ball of nothing. HATED IT.

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[–] oingo_boingo-wildsex 13 years ago

I don't understand why everyone says her acting is bad. How is it bad? Please, someone, explain it to me because I don't see anything wrong with her acting.

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[–] LaWanda74 8 years ago

@whoshal1. I am having a lazy Thanksgiving(Not going anywhere!) I decided to watch the movie, since it's free with Amazon Prime. I have always been curious about it but never got around to watching it. I found it so dull and pointless, not to mention it lacked serious wit and charm.

The good points, I miss the 80's and Madonna's Get into the Groove takes me back to the good ole days.

I am a lioness. I will not cringe for them.

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[–] WarpedRecord 14 years ago

I'm surprised also. This is a well-written, well-acted and well-directed film. 7/10 stars from me.

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[–] JrnlofEddieDeezenStudies 13 years ago

Currently 5.7 here, which doesn't seem too bad for IMDb, really. Maybe a tad lower than I would have guessed prior to checking, but anything around 6 is typical for a film that many people like, but that doesn't have an unusual amount of critic, cinephile or popular admiration. I wouldn't say that films are generally dismissed by users here unless the average is in the very low 5s and below.

Also keep in mind that there are less than 250 films on the site--so that's out of the vast majority of all films ever made, anywhere in the world--that have above an 8.0. So you could see that as an effective ceiling for a film, which puts a 5.7 into better perspective.

http://www.rateyourmusic.com/~JrnlofEddieDeezenStudies

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[–] DameDigbyChickenCaesar 13 years ago

Yes! This is my fave flick from the 80s and Into The Groove is still one of my fave tunes as well.

*beep* you and your pomme frites."

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