Stop Making Sense

4 Reviews

"The concert was designed with a dramatic structure in mind. David Byrne starts off on his own with “Psycho Killer,” and then Tina Weymouth joins for “Heaven,” then Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, and then more – including key Parliament Funkadelic alums - until it seems like there’s 100 people on stage (really on 9) rocking “Take Me to the River.” Jonathan Demme was in the ZONE for this film. It includes David Byrne’s “big white suit” which grows with the size of the band. Rather than using “quick cuts” to accelerate the tempo, the camera glides around the stage emphasizing the proscenium and interplay between musicians. I have personal connections to this film, I was in the audience at the Pantages Theater when this was shot."- Alex Gibney

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Release Date:	Sep 15, 1999
Running Time:	100 minutes
Country:	United States
Language:	English

synopsis

Stop Making Sense was the first feature-length documentary effort of filmmaker Jonathan Demme. The director's subject is The Talking Heads, a new-wave/pop-rock group comprised of David Byrne, Chris Franz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison. The film was made during a three-day concert gig at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. What emerges on screen says as much about director Demme's taste and sensitivity as it does about the group and its visionary leader Byrne. The group's energy is such that it virtually explodes from the screen.