Rec | A ★★★★★ REVIEW OF STOP MAKING SENSE (1984)

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Rec'd on 📽️ 7/30: BEST MOVIE YOU’RE SEEN IN A THEATER?

A ★★★★★ review of Stop Making Sense (1984)

I pondered this question for about 15 minutes because it’s an impossible question for me. so I decided it was best that I choose a film that hit me by surprise. I’m in the theater multiple times a week and film is a large driving factor in my life. I saw this in IMAX and had no idea what I was getting into. I was the youngest person by decades but I had a fucking BLAST. I couldn’t have named one song by the talking heads, but I left a huge fan. people were singing and dancing and loving the performance. It’s easily the most unique and impressive live performance I’ve ever watched! David Byrne is a national treasure and I applaud him for bringing this together. the music is great, it’s shot beautifully, and more surprises keep coming. The heads are part of my regular rotation now and this is one of the first movies I always recommend people. I felt like I was part of a religious experience and a real concert!

@peterparker

1d ago

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@chloexposed

Going in blind is amazing, went to go dance in the theater when the a24 remaster came out and unfortunately the other theater goers were not having it lmao

1d ago

@peterparker

@CHLOEXPOSED wowwww what a bunch of Debby downers

1d ago

@chloexposed

@CHLOEXPOSED Fucking LOSERS

1d ago

@peterparker

@CHLOEXPOSED let’s just host a dance friendly showing the next time it re-releases 😆

1d ago

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Stop making sense (1984)

This concert film is amazing.
I've never listened to the Talking Heads before tonight. Sure, I've heard some of their most popular songs in other media, but I didn't know they were theirs until now. (Tragically, I strongly associate one of their songs to this truly annoying trailer for Downsizing (on account of which, I refuse to see it)). What a wonderful way to be introduced to this band.
I've only seen two concert films: this, and The Last Waltz. The Last Waltz is a master class in documentation. This momentous show was happening once and Scorsese had one shot at getting right. And he and the crew nailed it. Incredible documentary.
Stop Making Sense is the other side of the spectrum—cinematic. Extreme close-ups, dramatic lighting, movement...the camera is not an observer; it's a participant. I am floored how well exposed the 35mm film is despite frequent lighting changes, and how in-focus it is with all the energetic performances. And the concert itself...it borders on performance art. I'm enamored how extemporaneous the performances feel with what is obviously heavy choreography. I love, love how it starts stripped down and pretends to be built up on the fly.
[EDIT] God, I forgot to praise the DIRECTOR Jonathan Demme, best know for SILENCE OF THE MF LAMBS![/EDIT]
I've wasted a lot of breath on the visuals (just who I am). What I can say about the music is this: I am a fan. I will be listening more.
As for Byrne himself, I'm a Big Fan. Not just his performance, or his music, but his enthusiasm for his band and the musicians he plays with. I love how he intentionally highlights every performer at some point during the show. And his obvious glee playing music with them. And even his appreciation the stagehands integral to the flow of the show. I gotta shut up now.
Thanks gomizhou for inviting me to see this in IMAX. I thoroughly enjoyed it. royallmonarch wish you could have joined so you could have written this essay instead of me.

@lucius

Oct 3, 2024

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STOP MAKING SENSE

Seeing this movie on the big screen is something else. Had the room to myself, sang, danced, shook my shoulders like a lunatic. David Byrne has quite the mastermind for such a wiggly body, truly the human embodiment of three racoons in a trenchcoat. Go see this movie please, for your own wellbeing. Jonathan Demme directed it (the Silence of The Lambs dude) and the final product rocks. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@viennoiserie

Jun 24, 2025

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stop making sense

truly blew me away. i couldnt believe i’d never seen it before and when it was reissued i used the opportunity to go. i cried, and since seen it 3 more times. i’d recommend it to anyone

@heIen

Dec 19, 2024

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