Desperately Seeking Susan

Desperately Seeking Susan

• Director: Susan Seidelman
• Based on book: no.
• Cast: Roseanna Arquette, Madonna, Aidan Quinn, Mark Blum, Robert Joy, Laurie Metcalf, John Turturro
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Roseanna Arquette – Homicide Life on the Street, Pulp Fiction, Le Grande Bleu, After Hours, Silverado, The Aviator
• Madonna – Evita, A League if Their Own, Dick Tracy, Who’s That Girl?, Shanghai Surprise
• Aidan Quinn – Elle s’appelait Sarah, The Exonerated, Nine Lives, Practical Magic, Michael Collins, The Stars Fell on Henrietta, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Benny & Joon
• Laurie Metcalf – The Big Bang Theory, Absolutely Fabulous, The Norm Show, Third Rock from the Sun, Dharma and Greg, JFK
• John Turturro – The Miracle at St Ana, Margot at the Wedding, Romance & Cigarettes, Secret Window, The Man Who Cried, O Brother Where Art Thou?, Cradle Will Rock, The Big Lebowskie, Clockers, Quiz Show, Barton Fink, Jungle Fever, Miller’s Crossing. Mo’ Better Blues, Do the Right Thing
• Why? Like it
• Seen: Two or three times before. Now 1 December 2019

             Having just watched two mediocre films that both happened to be from 1984 we thought we’d give the 80’s one more try with a film we know we like. And besides, we’ve recently listened to several Madonna CDs.

       Roberta (Arquette), a naïve young romantic, is fascinated by personal ads and has been keeping track of those signed ‘Jim’ with the heading ‘Desperately Seeking Susan’. She’s bored and married and when an ad appears calling Susan to New York she decides to go witness the meeting.

       Susan (Madonna), looking and dressing and acting remarkably like Madonna, is a con artist and a moocher.

       Roberta sees Susan meeting Jim (Joy) then things get complicated, with suspected murder, stolen treasures, handsome reluctant boy scout Dez (Quinn), amnesia, mistaken identities, villains.

       Finally, an 80’s film that is thoroughly enjoyable.

      

4 ½ * of 5

PS I know, I know, there are loads of good 80’s films. I’ve reviewed many.