Review: Stop Making Sense
Blu-ray: Stop Making Sense (1984)
I suppose the bottom line with any music video is – do you like the band? I saw David Byrne 20 years ago and wasn’t really familiar with Talking Heads, but after seeing him live, he (and Taking Heads) became a firm favorite of mine. Filmed at the great Pantages Theatre in LA in 1983, Jonathan Demme’s ‘Stop Making Sense’ has long been the bench mark in how to make a really bloody fantastic live show film.
Entering a stark stage that looks like a building site, David Byrne, guitar in hand, googled eyed, stalks alone with a small ghetto blaster. Centre stage, he begins ‘Psycho Killer’. Falling around to the stuttering of the blaster, stage hands bring Tina Weymouth on stage and they play Heaven. This artfully continues song by song, each one showcasing each musician’s talent until the full band are on stage along with backing singers and musicians. However, if you can’t bear Talking Heads (are you mad?) watching Jonathan Demme’s Stop Making Sense could give you a new appreciation of the band. This is a masterclass in filming a concert, and 32 years after the original gig, the music remains dynamic and vital along with the images. Actually I defy anyone not to want to shuffle their arse to Burning Down the House.
It’s impossible for me to write a bad review of this music film, simply put, as straight concert films go, it’s the best. Energetic, slick, exciting, the whole bands talent shines and through it all; centre is David in fine voice, New York slipping, jumping with the backing singers and being just completely magnificent. This is a concert that rivals any KISS explosion; it doesn’t stop and is consistently entertaining. Extras include a commentary from the band and director (especially interesting is David Byrne’s take on each song, particularly Once in a Lifetime), a choice of listening to it ‘live’ or ‘studio recorded’, bonus songs, interviews and a storyboard to film comparison.
Epic stuff and a must buy for fans!
Stop Making Sense – Restored Edition (Limited Edition Packaging) is available to buy from November 16th 2015.
Review by Tina (co-host of 60 Minutes With) from a disc kindly supplied by Aim Publicity from Second Sight Films.
