[.ca] Stop Making Sense (Widescreen)

Amazon.com Essential Video:
Over the course of three nights at Hollywood's Pantages Theater in December 1983, filmmaker Jonathan Demme joined creative forces with cinematographer Jordan Cronenweth and Talking Heads... and miracles occurred. Following a staging concept by singer-guitarist David Byrne, this euphoric concert film transcends that all-too-limited genre to become the greatest film of its kind. A guaranteed cure for anyone's blues, it's a celebration of music that never grows old, fueled by the polyrhythmic pop-funk precision that was a Talking Heads trademark, and lit from within by the geeky supernova that is David Byrne. The staging--and Demme's filming of it--builds toward an orgasmic release of music, rising from the bare-stage simplicity of Byrne, accompanied only by a boom box on "Psycho Killer," to the ecstatic crescendo of "Burning Down the House," by which time the Heads and additional personnel have all arrived on stage for a performance that seems channeled from heaven for the purpose of universal uplift. (God bless Demme for avoiding shots of the luckiest audience in '80s pop history; its presence is acknowledged, but not at the viewer's expense.) With the deliriously eccentric Byrne as ringleader (pausing mid-concert to emerge in his now-legendary oversized suit), this circus of musical pleasure defies the futility of reductive description; it begs to be experienced, felt in the heart, head, and bones, and held there the way we hold on to cherished memories. On those three nights in December 1983, Talking Heads gave love, life, and joy in generous amounts that years cannot erode, and Demme captured this act of creative goodwill on film with minimalist artistic perfection. Stop Making Sense is an invitation to pleasure that will never wear out its welcome. --Jeff Shannon

From Amazon.co.uk:
Over the course of three nights at Hollywood's Pantages Theatre in December 1983, filmmaker Jonathan Demme joined creative forces with cinematographer Jordan Cronenweth and Talking Heads ... and miracles occurred. Following a staging concept by singer-guitarist David Byrne, this euphoric concert film transcends that all-too-limited genre to become the greatest film of its kind. A guaranteed cure for anyone's blues, it's a celebration of music that never grows old, fuelled by the polyrhythmic pop-funk precision that was a Talking Heads trademark, and lit from within by the geeky supernova that is David Byrne. The staging--and Demme's filming of it--builds toward an orgasmic release of music, rising from the bare-stage simplicity of Byrne, accompanied only by a boom box on "Psycho Killer" to the ecstatic crescendo of "Burning Down the House", by which time the Heads and additional personnel have all arrived on stage for a performance that seems channelled from heaven for the purpose of universal uplift. (God bless Demme for avoiding shots of the luckiest audience in 80s pop history; its presence is acknowledged but not at the viewer's expense.) With the deliriously eccentric Byrne as ringleader (pausing mid-concert to emerge in his now-legendary oversized suit), this circus of musical pleasure defies the futility of reductive description; it begs to be experienced, felt in the heart, head and bones, and held there the way we hold on to cherished memories. On those three nights in December 1983, Talking Heads gave love, life, and joy in generous amounts that years cannot erode, and Demme captured this act of creative goodwill on film with minimalist artistic perfection. Stop Making Sense is an invitation to pleasure that will never wear out its welcome. --Jeff Shannon

this is not my beautiful DVD player !!:
but it is my extremely entertaining, albeit "contrived" concert event. But that is not a bad thing ! as the resulting DVD manages to capture the energy and talent of a truly great American band. If I could go back in time, one of my first destinations would be the CBGB in New York City, 1977, to see the Talking Heads open for the Ramones. Obviously the Talking Heads stole every show, which is probably why the Ramones disliked them so much ! And even though the four members of the "Talking Heads proper" kind of get lost in this nine-member stage ensemble, David Byrne is still the clear leader, and the contributions of the other original band members are essential to the energy of the Talking Heads experience. and what an experience it is ! Every song is an artistic presentation, with the visual effects beautifully complementing the funky, up beat, afro-synchronic musical riffs. With absolutely radical versions of Life During Wartime and Once in a Lifetime, this is my second favorite musical DVD (second only to Led Zeppelin - which is really saying something !)

Maybe later...:
David Byrne self-interviews himself nice. It's good to feel nice. You laugh. The video will make you good to feel nice...and then cry. Because you feel video to feel nice. Does anybody have any questions? I have a tape to play for you...To feel nice. Do you know what I'm trying to say? Thanks, Toe Knee

Greatest of its genre:
I first saw this at a party and was just blown away. Afterwords I figured that the movie was so great because I was drunk and there were a lot of cannabanoid molecules in the atmosphere. However, I saw the DVD again when I was of a completely straight mind and the affect was the exact same. I was just as mesmorized by the music and movements of David Byrne as I was at the party. This is no mere concert, it is the best piece of musical entertainment ever filmed. I say that because I wasn't too found of the parts of Woodstock where the camera would focus on the audience for long periods of time (except when the women were bathing) where as, while you certainly are aware of it, the audience is never visually acknowlledged in Stop Making Sence so there is no doubt that you don't miss any action. If you haven't experienced it then do so. Though, if by some miracle you don't like it, make sure you don't pass that judgement before you see Life During Wartime (obviously my personal favorite). What else can be said?

A lifelong journey:
First I saw the video on MTV. I bought the record, then the CD. Finally I found the VHS and I thought I had everything. Then they released the anniversary edition CD and finally I bought the DVD. If only I would have been able to actually attend. Need I say more. The music is fantastic, and the presentation is entertaining. This is by far, the best concert video I've ever seen, and if your not already a Talking Heads fan, you will be after you watch and listen.

A Postmodern Cinematic Catharsis Narrative:
According to the commentary track included with this DVD, David Byrne may be considered to be the central character in this Talking Heads concert documentary. In the course of the film's 90 minute duration, he is transformed as "a stiff white guy who sheds his inhibitions, gets loose and lets go. He is both changed by the music and set free." The concert starts on a bare 60 by 40 foot stage with a solo performance of "Psycho Killer" and then slowly adds both equipment and musicians during the first five songs. By the sixth song, "Burning Down the House", nine musicians are present and will remain fully engaged for the next 10 tracks. Three additional tracks are included on the DVD as a bonus. Seven cameras are used to record the performance, with much of the footage being shot from the perspective of the audience. Indeed, the viewer of the documentary is made to feel that they are witnessing a live event. The director takes great pains to record the artists not just as musicians, but also as "characters" with their own individual performance personalities. The stage is lit solely by white lighting, with both the type and positioning of the lights permitting an amazing visual variation. Backlit slide photography of both text and representational images are sometimes used in the stage design as well. The title, "Stop Making Sense", refers to David Byrne's approach to writing song lyrics during the early 1980's. His lyrics are often irrational and illogical, not making sense from one line to the next, yet they still tend to remain both intuitive and emotionally involving. "Stop Making Sense" is resplendent in its entertaining divergence from the commonplace. Watch, listen and be moved by its wonderfully liberating creative energy!