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You don't have to actually like Cher to at least respect her for having the chutzpah and sheer resilience to overcome any number of ill-conceived moves (most of which she acknowledges with wry self-deprecation), including bad records, disastrous relationships, embarrassing infomercials, and enough cosmetic surgery to underwrite several surgeons' Beverly Hills manors. This 90-minute concert, filmed in Las Vegas in '99 and subsequently broadcast on HBO, is Cher in all her kitschy glory. She's a performer, not just a singer (a good thing, given her limited if distinctive voice), and the show gives us the requisite array of Bob Mackie costumes (Valkyrie and vamp, pirate and prostitute, and one item that she herself describes as "Bozo the Clown meets Braveheart"), wigs galore, a host of beautiful bodies writhing about onstage in what might charitably be called "interpretive dances" (also known as "filler while the star changes outfits").... Oh, and there's music too, from the old hits ("Half Breed," "Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves") to "Believe," the late '90s techno-dance smash that here is saved until last, with a few covers thrown in for good measure (U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"? Go figure). We also get some old Sonny & Cher TV clips (bet you didn't remember that Ronald Reagan and David Bowie appeared on their show), highlights from her very impressive film career, still photos, drawings of Mackie's creations, and the "Walking in Memphis" music video. All in all, it's a weird, extravagant, campy stew, and a heck of a fun ride. --Sam Graham
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