Madonna has released a racy, celebrity-packed short film titled Confessions II, a 10-minute visual feast showcasing six songs from her upcoming album of the same name, set for release on July 3. The pop icon suggested at a recent New York premiere that this project would replace traditional music videos for her new era, calling the idea of making a standard music video "cheap."
A Controversial Opening
The film opens with the track Good For The Soul, which may become its most talked-about scene due to the provocative poses of her dancers. Madonna struts through a misty, swampy nightscape while scantily-clad dancers strike poses with legs spread and green lasers shooting from their private parts. The visual is both shocking and humorous, with a nod to extreme laser hair removal.
Star Cameos Abound
Sabrina Carpenter makes a brief appearance, performing their recent duet Bring Your Love alongside Madonna. The film quickly moves to its centerpiece: Danceteria, a spoken-word dance track paying tribute to the iconic New York club where Madonna performed in the early 1980s. Set in a crowded club bathroom, the scene features a parade of celebrities. Actress Odessa A'zion appears after Madonna bumps into her, spilling a drink. Richard E. Grant parties in a stall with two women, while Gwendoline Christie peers over a partition. Debi Mazar, Madonna's longtime friend, also makes an appearance, emerging from a stall as Madonna purrs, "Get on the elevator, I run into Debi Mazar."
Perhaps the most amusing cameo occurs when supermodel Kate Moss lifts her head into view just as Madonna sings, "He's a DJ? Hide the cocaine." Later, Benedict Cumberbatch joins the party, urging everyone to "get up and dance" while busting moves by the urinals. In a clever visual, Madonna turns her head on the dance floor and morphs into Julia Garner, the actress once cast to play her in a now-scrapped biopic. The film also features Lourdes, Madonna's eldest daughter, who appears as a mysterious masked woman revealed at the end. Madonna recently confirmed that Lourdes co-wrote one song on the new album.
A Step Up from Previous Efforts
This star-studded approach is a significant improvement over Madonna's 2015 video for Bitch, I'm Madonna, where celebrities like Beyonce and Miley Cyrus appeared only via pre-recorded clips on a TV. The short film's release follows a busy promotional period, including a free concert in Times Square on Friday, where she performed songs from the new album alongside classics from its 2005 predecessor, Confessions on a Dance Floor.
