Too much to say... I could write thousands of words about this film... A masterpiece
Jul 30, 2024
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This concert film is amazing.
I've never listened to the Talking Heads before tonight. Sure, I've heard some of their most popular songs in other media, but I didn't know they were theirs until now. (Tragically, I strongly associate one of their songs to this truly annoying trailer for Downsizing (on account of which, I refuse to see it)). What a wonderful way to be introduced to this band.
I've only seen two concert films: this, and The Last Waltz. The Last Waltz is a master class in documentation. This momentous show was happening once and Scorsese had one shot at getting right. And he and the crew nailed it. Incredible documentary.
Stop Making Sense is the other side of the spectrumācinematic. Extreme close-ups, dramatic lighting, movement...the camera is not an observer; it's a participant. I am floored how well exposed the 35mm film is despite frequent lighting changes, and how in-focus it is with all the energetic performances. And the concert itself...it borders on performance art. I'm enamored how extemporaneous the performances feel with what is obviously heavy choreography. I love, love how it starts stripped down and pretends to be built up on the fly.
[EDIT] God, I forgot to praise the DIRECTOR Jonathan Demme, best know for SILENCE OF THE MF LAMBS![/EDIT]
I've wasted a lot of breath on the visuals (just who I am). What I can say about the music is this: I am a fan. I will be listening more.
As for Byrne himself, I'm a Big Fan. Not just his performance, or his music, but his enthusiasm for his band and the musicians he plays with. I love how he intentionally highlights every performer at some point during the show. And his obvious glee playing music with them. And even his appreciation the stagehands integral to the flow of the show. I gotta shut up now.
Thanks gomizhou for inviting me to see this in IMAX. I thoroughly enjoyed it. royallmonarch wish you could have joined so you could have written this essay instead of me.
Oct 3, 2024
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The way this film has impacted me is going to make me write an essay about it at some point. I canāt believe it didnāt get any attention when it came out. Thereās something so special about it. Maybe it is the music that did this to me!? You just have to watch it and then hit me up. I could actually talk about it for an hour. The last movie I saw that made me feel this way was āLionā with Dev Patel and that was years ago.
May 23, 2024
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Iāve already recommended the original cut on here but wow. The extended cut is bigger and better. All I could say as the credits rolled was āFuck meā. Good music, good story, great cinema. Going to go binge listen to The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre for the next month
Jan 15, 2025
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