for year madonna have try to prove not only herself and but the public eye and that she can act . unfortunately and try too hard while fail to shed her own persona doesn not mix well . she seem to fare well when she not the star of any movie represent if you watch her in support performance in desperately seek susan ( 1985 ) or a league of their own ( 1992 ) and she actually come off look good . since the story revolves on other actor and the weight of the expectation be take off her shoulder by default . the trouble start when she be ask to be the star of a movie and regardless the genre . be the focus of a plot that need to be tell in a visual way and whether it be good and mediocre or plain awful and she have to emote in way that be akin to an actual movie performance a oppose to a video performance . this be the crucial difference between madonna and and let say and bette davis and or meryl streep . the latter two and even if the movie be to fail ( because the visual storytelling lack some effectiveness in have u relate to it and or because the script fell short and or because the actress per se be just not at her moment ) and there would be an extra something in their performance that would elevate the movie from be a complete bomb . both davis and streep have have their share represent bette and have a longer career than streep and in such fare a bunny ohare ( 1971 ) and wicked stepmother ( 1989 ) while streep in she devil ( 1989 ) . but at least there be that naturalism in the way both attack their role that make u forget the banality of the movie and watch the performance . madonna and on the other hand and not be an especially gifted actress capable of really let u in on her ability to convey a persona other than herself and fare much bad and and even in the hand of someone a woody allen in shadow and fog ( 1992 ) and an inferior classic and she in her pat screen time seem stilted and a little stiff and maybe even nervous and a if she be aware of the camera and crew and just couldn not let go . so here she try yet once again to prove she can act in what be essentially a two character movie . guy ritchie and more know for action movie fill in masculine energy and seem a adrift tell a story closer to someone of the like of michaelangelo antonioni or ingmar bergman and who could tell a tale of two people with incredible ease . and at 89 minute and the event which take place happen in such an unconvincing way that when the final half hour come along and the story take a dramatic turn and it doesn not feel sincere . from be an absolute witch with no redeem value to suddenly be in love and this have to be the most unconvincing 180 degree turn since fay dunaway laura suddenly discover her passion for tommy lee jones in the eye of laura mar ( 1978 ) . equally unconvincing be adriano giannini nasty turn around the middle of the movie it lack any humor and feel genuinely psychopathic and when he give in to madonna love and it too quick to be believe . film this in slow music and a visual montage of lovemaking and beautiful scenery doesn not enhance or add upon this transformation from what would have be a story of survival between to unlikeable character to a love story where both discover each other . try to have an unsatisfying end work against the movie as well it only make it drag and bog it down and and when madonna have to be film go from hope to devastation in a tight close up and it feel she try too hard . many an actress have do well in convey so much do so little . hers be a performance more suited to act style of the late 20 and early 30 where posturing compensate a act a part or an emotion . could the movie have be well . of course . there be a myriad of way to have film it in a way that would leave the viewer feeling that these people could at least hope to see each other again it be do before and in overboard ( 1987 ) and for example . it could have have an existential undertone in which two very different people have to rely on each other but not necessarily change ( to ensure a moral tone ) . much dialog and unnecessary erotic scene could have be spar for a more silent film look a in persona ( 1966 ) . it could have even be something of a thriller and providing that the giannini character have a mean streak a billy zane have in dead calm ( 1989 ) . even if it would have be do a a sex farce it would have work well for madonna a the over the top and uber control freak get her comeuppance . but with it mean streak humor and without at least a glimpse of her character have a soft side that hide behind a mask of bitchdom and and without really define giannini own character and this become another misfire try to look like a battle of the sex .