Stop Making Sense

Stop Making Sense

D: Jonathan Demme (1984); with David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison. Stop Making Sense is considered by many to be one of the best concert films of all time, and possibly the best (depending on how one feels about the band). There are people who find David Byrne to be affected and bizarre, but plenty of others have no such problems. The Talking Heads were at their artistic zenith when the film was made, having released back-to-back the albums Remain in Light and Speaking in Tongues, and the band's videos were getting heavy rotation on MTV. The concert begins with Byrne taking the stage, guitar in hand and accompanied only by a boom box. After performing "Psycho Killer" solo, he's joined by fellow Heads Weymouth, Frantz, and Harrison, each arriving individually to add their talents to the next song. It can be argued that parading the band out one at a time is a conceit, but it's one that works. By the time they kick into "Slippery People," the music is in full gear. Heads fans will be happy with the performances of such favorites as "Heaven," "Burning Down the House," "Life During Wartime," "Naive Melody," "Once in a Lifetime," "Take Me to the River," and "Crosseyed and Painless." Byrne bouncing around the stage in his big suit during "Girlfriend Is Better" is one of the more memorable rock images of the Eighties, but Stop Making Sense is more than just something to be sliced and diced into music videos. Director Jonathan Demme wisely stayed away from unnecessary camera movement and the rapid editing style so prevalent on MTV at the time, allowing the concert to unfold in the organic manner the band intended.

The DVD of Stop Making Sense has a number of interesting features, including three different music tracks, one in stereo, another in Dolby Digital 5:1, and a new 5:1 studio remix. Also included are commentary from Demme and the band members, a trailer, and storyboards. Rounding out the package are two bonus numbers -- "Cities" and "Big Business/I Zimbra." Stop Making Sense successfully captures almost everything that was great about the Talking Heads, and there's no better endorsement of a concert film than that.