Madonna and Justin Timberlake don't seem to be saving the world, so much as causing seismic ripples of energy that disrupt reality. These bursts cause the screen to fragment into cubist facets that reveal the layers beneath what is normally visible. For example, the underlying musculature and skeletal system of two lovers is revealed when Madonnalake enter their bedroom. Meanwhile, a 4:00 time bomb counter looms at the back of the dancefloor, counting down to zero while these two stars — and, occasionally, co-writer / producer / vocalist Timbaland — strikes as many poses as possible. Mirrored images and shadowed choreography — plus the stated mission of using the four minutes of song to save the world — reinforce the notion that Madonna and Timberlake are two points on a pop star continuum: One is a Hall Of Famer that has outlasted every fad and fashion — even the ones of her own creation — and the other as the sole survivor of the mid '90s teen pop explosion. --> watch "4 Minutes" (YouTube)
Madonna "4 Minutes" (Warner Bros.)
Jonas & Francois, director | Greg Panteix, producer | SOIXAN7E QUIN5E, production co | Dan Landin, DP | Danny Tull, editor
