source: Dangerous Game

This is a strange and disturbing experimental movie. A rare and great performance by Madonna. She actually can act under the control of the right director. Although, I hear she hated. It seems ironic that she finally makes a good movie and doesn't even realize it. I guess she made some complaints that she thought her character was going to be stronger. (Funny, if she wants to be a Feminist Avenger, or some kind of role model of strength, maybe she shouldn't have made a career out of exploiting herself for fame and the all mighty dollar. Okay, now I'm ranting, but isn't funny how men are especially really down with the NeoFeminist Bull about how it's actually empowering for women to exploit themselves.) Ferrara plays with the autobiographical nature of the subject matter. The plot centers on a film director who compartmentalizes his personal and professional life, until the secrets of his professional life overwhelm him.

One of the first movies in a while to really drag me in, possibly thanks to the performances of the leads. This feels REAL, and it's intense. A movie about the making of a movie where the drama is just as solid and visceral off-screen as it is on, but it's not some reality TV rubbish, it's a deeper reflection on life and relationships. That is, the movie that's depicted as being filmed, and the movie you're watching.. like layers of Inception. This movie studies what people need to be whole, whether they're intrinsic or extrinsic, whether they need others, need drugs, need alcohol, money, god, or can be whole within themselves. The confusion that lust sows. The conflicts that occur when those needs are at odds between partners. The nature of need. How sometimes when we love someone, they become a part of us, and the separation becomes physical. Finally a movie that was worth my time.

Boring, dark, nasty, and too long but in all this an incredibly good Madonna. The critics asked themselves how she could be so good and were truly worried about it, but fortunately the movie completely failed at the box office. I love Madonna but I admit that I wasn't able to watch this movie.. Iìve tried it twice, but both times after a mid-hour I've stopped it.. It's just too dark, disgusting and cruel and that poor Madonna, bit and humiliated all the time! The example that a good-acting can't make a good movie if the script is weak. Madonna, another time chooses a wrong script, but at least nobody has said that in this movie she can't act!

Why has this movie not benefited of a good release? I discovered it one night, as it was screened on the tv, and I was simply astonished. This a total perverse movie, playing on the edge of reality & fiction. Simply troubling,and dangerous. If you like getting close to the edge of things...

This one is not your typical Hollywood fare. Emotionally gripping and confronting, "Dangerous Game" cuts to the core of human nature and our search for answers and meaning. Abel Ferrara's exploration of our desires, fears, and failings rings painfully true. Starring Madonna (don't let that put you off) Harvey Keitel and James Russo, and directed by Abel Ferrara, this is an interesting psychological drama about a directors obsession with his film, and the stars breakdown of reality during their making of it. This film is filmed like a documentary about the actors in their film how they get on or not get on you will have to watch it to get the benefit, my description is not fulfilling the content of the film very well. Madonna and Harvey Keitel are extremely good on their roles, and Madonna is actually able to prove that she can be very good if the role is good enough. She delivers a sincere performance about an actress too embroiled in the characters she plays. Along with the legendary Harvey Keitel, the cast does an amazing job portraying the seedy underbelly of the film industry, using what appears to be old- school method acting. Possibly the best Madonna performance in a movie ever! Such a shame her acting didn't continue along this road. She's actually very credible in this and years later, the movie itself seems much more cohesive than it was upon first viewing. Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

As all Madonna's fans can attest, the worst thing about the great lady's film career is the fact that before Evita, every single excellent perfromance she delivered went completely unnoticed in films no one saw (just as the not-so-great performances were in highly publicized films which everyone saw fail). In Bloodhounds of Broadway, she delivered a finer and funnier version of her Who's That Girl character, and the world went unperturbed; similarly, when Abel Ferrara released Dangerous Game it played in legitimate theatres for about a week and then completely disappeared. Well, that just means you all have to go out and rent it--but don't expect too much from the film itself. The plot concerns a film director (Harvey Keitel) making a disturbing film about an abusive marriage (James Russo, Madonna), that is so harrowing to film that the events on-set seep into the real lives of those working on the picture. Ferrara never actually makes the connection between these two events strongly enough (the strongest indication I had about it all happening was that it was described so on the video box), and you're left with the impression that Keitel's character is more selfish and overly self-indulgent than disturbed. Russo is strong in his performance, but his character is so unlikeable and he doesn't manage to find any humanity in it, so it destroys his effectiveness. Madonna, on the other hand, is unbeatable as the actress whose accustomed commerciality and professionalism is challenged on a set where no holds are barred. You'll be amazed at what she's capable of, as well as disappointed that when she finally gets to work with such a great director she ends up in one of his worst films ever. Ferrara's real-life wife Nancy plays Keitel's bewildered wife, and does a heartful job that is quite memorable even though she's obviously not a professional actress. Produced by Madonna's company Maverick Productions.

I don't like this movie because it is very depressing. And I also don't like it because it's not a happy movie. Plus there is violence and rape in this movie which is very bad. And some of the scenes are too dark to see what's going on.

Not a particularly entertaining movie this one, but definitely an interesting watch when you take into consideration not only the movie, but the similarities which surrounded its release. And of course Madonna, who (unwittingly?) gives the best performance of her much ridiculed celluloid career. The film revolves around director Eddie Israel (Keitel) and his supporting cast members in their journey to film the uber-dark relationship drama 'Mother of Mirrors'. Starring alcoholic drug dependent Francis Burns (James Russo) and recent Christian convert Sarah Jennings (Madonna) the film within a film blurs over into real life, leaving the viewer confused about whether the actors are acting their character in 'Mother', their character in 'Dangerous Game' or even their character in real life. The confusion even seems apparent on set, with one directors clapper-board shots with the movies real director A. Ferrara noted on it. In reality, Ferrara had to resort to accepting finance for the film by Madonna's Maverick Films and thus also accepting its MD as his leading actress. Madonna once said that when she attended the premiere she left the theatre crying as it was in her eyes a completely different movie, and all her best scenes were cut. Dig a little deeper with this one and you might be able to see the underlying story which is far more interesting than what's bubbling on the surface.

Madonna(Sarah Jennings) showed her great talents in this picture, her role as Sarah made you want to stand up and clap your hands constantly, her great acting with Harvey Keitel (Eddie Israel) who was a womanizing director, also directed Madonna in very difficult scenes in the film he was producing, and also shared her bed along with an airline stewardess after telling his wonderful wife Nancy Ferrara of his horrible habits with women he has met and loved over the many years of his career and his many lies! If you like how Hollywood produces films behind the scenes and some of the tricks of the trade, this film should be a must to see, especially when you can see MADONNA in her greatest acting role! It seems that all the actors in this film were destined to destroy each other in one way or the other.