Average Rating: 
Rating:  - A great comedy, NOT A MUSIC VIDEO
David Byrne, lead singer of the Talking Heads, takes us on a tour of the life and times of Virgil, TX, as it prepares to put on a "Celebration of Specialness" as its contribution to the sesquicentennial celebration of the state of Texas. The video takes a bit of getting used to, but once you are in tune with what is going on you will see that there is great humor embedded in this pseudo-documentary. During the first part of the movie we meet main players. John Goodman plays a man hungry for a stable (or any) lasting relationship. He even advertises! You also meet "The Lying Woman" who tells a better and more unbelievable tale than anyone. There's a woman who hasn't gotten out of bed in years, it's not because she's ill, she's rich enough that she doesn't have to. There's the head of a local computer company and his wife who haven't had a direct conversation with each other for years, a mall full of twins, and a man who can tell a person's emotional state by touching their nose! An incredible, but extremely fun mix of Americana, music, and disjointed deadpan quips from Byrne as he plays the lead and narrator of the story. You will thrill at the majesty of a fashion show at the mall, experience kareoke at a local bar, and be a mouse in the corner at a computer board assembly line. Make any sense at all? Well, it will if you give this video a look. This is definitely a comedy, but you have to be ready for it. This is comedy tailor made for people with a dry sense of humor. This is not a video for people who need a laugh track, or overtly funny bits to see humor to enjoy a comedy. If, however, you see humor in life's little irony's, you grew up or live in a small town, and like music like that of the Talking Heads you will enjoy the show. It's a treasure. You should be advised that this is NOT A MUSIC VIDEO, and most of the Talking Head's music on the sound track is performed by someone else. The Talking Heads did, however, release a CD in 1986 called "True Stories" that contains the music from the movie, all done by the Talking Heads. A highly recommend this video -- give it a try. You may be glad you did. 5 stars. Alan Holyoak
Rating: - A Celebration of Specialness
Based on tabloid articles he collected while on tour with the Talking Heads in 1983, David Byrne's "True Stories" is a film revolving around the diverse citizens of Virgil, Texas, and the events leading up to their festival celebrating the state's 150th anniversary. This book features Byrne's complete screenplay with story boards, lyrics to all the songs in the movie, and tons of stills and on-set photos. He also includes the original clippings that inspired the different characters and storylines, most of them from the infamous "Weekly World News." The book's introduction explores the ideas that led up to the project, as well as the work of the photographers that influenced the look of both the film and the book (William Eggleston, Len Jenshel, Mark Lipson, and Byrne himself). For those who were intrigued by the movie but perhaps didn't quite understand the point of some of it, this will shed a little more light on just what he was getting at. It's an informative companion to the film, and a great introduction to David Byrne's non-music career in art and photography.
Rating: - Quite possibly one of the greatest movies ever!
David Byrne has done it again. This man created this hip little movie that has become my all time favorite movie! It is not funny, per sé.. even though it has some humorous moments. It is an abstract film about a little town named Virgil in the state of Texas. Texas is about to turn 150 years old, so Virgil, a town whose main industry is computers, is celebrating its "specialness" with parades and talent shows. It is narrated by the one and only David Byrne (who drives around in a red convertable). The movie really has no real plot (except for Louis, played by John Goodman, trying to find a wife). It just explores the lives of people in Virgil. These are the people that everyone knows: the lazy person, the liar, and the love-looker... we know these characters and encounter them in our everyday lives. John Goodman does great acting, there is some great music, and David Byrne says some things that make us laugh... and some that make us think. As the tagline said, it is a completely cool multi-purpose movie. I love the indy approach to making it.. and the end, when Mr. Byrne talks about how by forgetting all the details we can see something as it really is.. that always makes me stop to think. Is it comedy, is it drama, is it musical... I guess you have to take it as what it means to you. To me, it is a life-changer!
|
