MIT Lecture Series Committee

unrated
88 minutes

view trailer

format: 35mm

Stop Making Sense (1984)

Admission is FREE, sponsored by WMBR!

Those who aren't familiar with the work of seminal 1980s band The Talking Heads may find themselves becoming instant fans after viewing this incredibly entertaining concert film and documentary by director Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs). It starts with David Byrne stepping out alone on empty stage with an acoustic guitar to sing "Psycho Killer." The rest of the musicians follow one by one and the stage gradually fills to bursting with powerful, tightly orchestrated brilliance. Demme expertly captures the music's energy, fusing cinema with performance to create something more than the sum of its parts. Through it all, Byrne comes off as a charismatic artist of supernatural energy and robotic precision, and he's backed by an equally inspired group of musicians, including bassist Tina Weymouth. Artistically ambitious, and filled with joyous but controlled energy, this is considered by many critics to be the best concert film of all time. Songs performed include "Take Me to the River," "Once in a Lifetime," "Girlfriend is Better," "Burnin' Down the House" and a hilarious cover of "Genius of Love, " by the Tom-Tom Club (a side project for bassist Tina Weymouth and drummer Christ Frantz). It was filmed at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles. [www.rottentomatoes.com]

...a powerful musical experience because the filmmakers have such utter confidence in the material that there is no need to dress it up.
      -- James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk. Read this review.