True Stories
David Byrne trades in his oversized Talking Heads suit for Western wear and a black Stetson to direct, co-write and star in True Stories a Byrne's-eye view of Virgil, Texas.
That view, vividly shot by cinematographer Ed Lach-man and featuring music written by Byrne and songs performed by the Talking Heads, is danceable, irresistibly festive. You'll meet such amiable, offbeat folk as: bachelor Louis, who posts a "Wife Wanted" sign on his lawn; the world's laziest woman; a precision lawn-mower mar-ching team; and many more colorful participants in Virgil's Celebration of specialness. Innovative, energetic, funny and special. That's the truth of True Stories.
Member Reviews
Good To Revisit, But Just So - Watchdog
It is all about context. I saw True Stories on opening night because I owned the album (yes, album) and was a huge Talking Heads fan. If anyone hasn't heard the original songs before seeing the film, I don't recommend it since there are few of the songs sung by the band and instead done by the actors.
This is a fan film. I enjoyed it because it broughtback great memories and had me humming Papa Legba and Radio Head for a week - the album versions that is.True Stories - Moviola
A very funny, very lovely film. Imagine small-town David Lynch, but minus all the creepiness, & you'll have an idea of the feel of this movie.
While it doesn't feature much of what might be called a plot, you won't even notice as long as you let its charm carry you away. This movie is quirky in the best sense of the word.You're a Goodman, Johnny Brown... :) - Lone_Primate
Quirky. Sometimes deep. It's not the kind of movie you're going to watch over and over (if you're the kind of person who does, like I am). This is one you'll pull out every couple of years and go "...Oh yeaaah."
True Stories has a kind of dreamlike quality to it. It all takes place in a world not quite real, but close. The sort of world where people just naturally seem to know one another, where they're uncritical of one another and accepting of how people are. It's kind of refreshing.
If you need just one good reason to see this movie, here it is: John Goodman. He plays Lewis in the movie, a lonely but hopeful, good-natured guy in his 30s, trying to find someone with whom to share his life. This was John in his pre-Rosanne days; portly but not really massive yet. And has the guy got a voice on him. In my opinion, Talking Heads has really short-changed the world by putting David Byrne's lackluster, Perry Como-esque renditioning of "People Like Us" on the album instead of John Goodman's lively, yearning version (available only on the 45 in the 1980s, as far as I know... and in the movie). Yeah, see it for John.
Member Reviews
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Good To Revisit, But Just So - Watchdog
It is all about context. I saw True Stories on opening night because I owned the album (yes, album) and was a huge Talking Heads fan. If anyone hasn't heard the original songs before seeing the film, I don't recommend it since there are few of the songs ...True Stories - Moviola
A very funny, very lovely film. Imagine small-town David Lynch, but minus all the creepiness, & you'll have an idea of the feel of this movie.
While it doesn't feature much of what might be called a plot, you won't even notice as long as you let its charm ...You're a Goodman, Johnny Brown... :) - Lone_Primate
Quirky. Sometimes deep. It's not the kind of movie you're going to watch over and over (if you're the kind of person who does, like I am). This is one you'll pull out every couple of years and go "...Oh yeaaah."
True Stories has a kind of dreamlike ...