An innovative concert movie for the rock group Talking Heads.An innovative concert movie for the rock group Talking Heads.An innovative concert movie for the rock group Talking Heads.
IMDb RATING
8.6/10
15K
YOUR RATING
- Awards
- 3 wins & 1 nomination
Videos1
Ednah Holt
- Backing Vocalsas Backing Vocals
- (as Edna Holt)
- Director
- Writers
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
- All cast & crew
Storyline
David Byrne walks onto the stage and does a solo "Psycho Killer." Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz join him for two more songs. The crew is busy, still setting up. Then, three more musicians and two back-up singers join the band. Everybody sings, plays, harmonizes, dances, and runs. They change instruments and clothes. Bryne appears in the Big Suit. The backdrop is often black, but sometimes it displays words, images, or children's drawings. The band cooks for 18 songs, the lyrics are clear, the house rocks. In this concert film, the Talking Heads hardly talk, don't stop, and always make sense. —<jhailey@hotmail.com>
- Taglines
- Why stop making sense? Why a movie? Why a big suit? Where do the odd movements come from? What will the band do next?
- Genres
- Certificate
- Not Rated
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaThe footage was culled from several different shows. In order to minimize the amount of cameras in the frame, one show was all shot from one side of the stage, the next night was shot from the other side.
- GoofsAs stated above the concert was edited together from three shows, and it being a "live" show, things not planned happened. The first night, David Byrne puts on the baseball cap that's thrown up on stage from the audience, so the next night it can be seen next to the drums so that he can put it on again.
- Quotes
David Byrne: Thanks! Does anybody have any questions?
- Alternate versionsVideo release is 12 minutes longer and features three additional songs not included in original theatrical version.
- ConnectionsFeatured in At the Movies: Stop Making Sense/Falling in Love/Paris Texas (1984)
Top review
A Masterpiece
This concert/movie is simply a brilliant collaboration of music and film. First off, you have the Talking Heads, perhaps one of the most creative and interesting bands in the history of music who put on a concert that is so imaginative that I still cannot believe it happened. Second, you have veteran Director Johnathan Demme who brings the darkness and creepiness that he used in such films as Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia, to a concert with sort of a dark and creepy demeanor, i.e. David Byrne in general, the style of music, the dancing. I mean dark and creepy in a good way however. I cannot help to think that this movie is also a comedy. David Byrne's movements, the bass players dancing, the songs and just everything i get a kick out of. I have always been a big fan of the Talking Heads, but after seeing this movie, my love for them skyrockets. They are a unbelievable band with an imagination that rivals that of the likes of Shel Silverstein and the Cohen Brothers. I could literally go on and on about how brilliant this movie is. I think the next time i watch it, i may actually get up and dance. I only wish that I could have been at the actual show. I also cannot figure out what I like better, The Last Waltz or this. Shame on anybody who badmouths this movie or the band in general. See this and then see it again and again and again. 10/10
helpful•663
- phmurphy
- Jun 10, 2005
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,200,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $5,095,592
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $41,666
- Oct 21, 1984
- Gross worldwide
- $5,108,872
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