Stop Making Sense

Name: Stop Making Sense
Genre: Music, Documentary
Released: October 18, 1984
Duration: 88 min
Rating: 94
Cast: David Byrne

1984

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Universal acclaim based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 58 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 58 Ratings

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Stop Making Sense

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Movie Details & Credits

Cinecom Pictures | Release Date: October 18, 1984

Starring: David Byrne

Summary: A concert film of the rock band Talking Heads.

Director: Jonathan Demme

Genre(s): Music, Documentary

Runtime: 88 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Wesley Morris

Part aerobics workout, part self-styled dreamscape, Sense is a hyperactive piece of performance art that begins as the stripped-down dress rehearsal of a garage band and builds into a mighty, exhausting spectacle that shakes as much ass as it kicks. [Review of re-release] Read full review

100

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

The pleasure of the music is overpowering. Read full review

100

Edward Guthmann

Has there ever been a live concert film as vibrant or as brilliantly realized? I don't think so. [Review of re-release] Read full review

100

Richard Brody

The film not only bears witness to the self-surpassing power of inspired collaboration but, as an art work, also exemplifies it. [Review of re-release] Read full review

100

Moira Macdonald

Watching it leaves you lighter, happier, younger — dancing your way out of the theater to the Heads’ irresistible beats. Read full review

Janet Maslin

Mr. Demme has captured both the look and the spirit of this live performance with a daring and precision that match the group's own. Read full review

Steve Morse

But as good as it is, the film falls short of translating the exaltation and near-gospel music feel of the band in full flight. [2 Nov 1984]

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User Reviews

Sinews

Apr 5, 2020

Like any great band or artist, Talking Heads were about more than just a few dozen great songs and albums. Whether by design or by accident, they become an idea. For Elvis, it was smashing cultural boundaries and having a good time, for Radiohead, a solemn prayer for our collective angst.Like any great band or artist, Talking Heads were about more than just a few dozen great songs and albums. Whether by design or by accident, they become an idea. For Elvis, it was smashing cultural boundaries and having a good time, for Radiohead, a solemn prayer for our collective angst. And for Talking Heads, it was a simple but profound statement acceptance of what it is to be human. Talking Heads have a pretty extensive catalogue, from the immaculately produced sonic wizardry of Fear Of Music and Remain In Light, to the funky fresh Talking Heads: 77 and Speaking In Tongues, but, for all intents and purposes, Stop Making Sense is the ultimate Heads experience.

What's on display here is music reached an international audience because it expressed music as a universal language. You see some funky African performers that clearly think this American white dude just wrote the most kickass stuff on planet Earth, and you have these clever little tricks, like a ray of light serendipitously shining on drummer Chris Frantz as he pounds away at the heavenly "Thank You For Sending Me An Angel", and you have David Byrne crying out "Thanks!" to the crowd between songs in much the same tone as you do in your car when someone waves you in at an intersection. They didn't need fancy words to write songs about being afraid of Heaven, or about being "just an animal looking for a home." They took some advanced, college-education musical stuff and made it look simple. They made it look easy. And when you watch David Byrne in his oversized suit fumble around onstage to a hip-hop rendition of one of his songs, you start to realize: It was never that hard being human. Everyone's afraid. No one knows what they're supposed to do with their hands, nor have they been handed a written code on how to maneuver a crowded set of urinals. You didn't sound all that dumb when you went on that diatribe about how there are no real bad guys in the world at your friend's wedding. In fact, most present would say you had a point. No, you didn't happen to sleep in the one day they explained the meaning of life and what happens when we die, and most everything you were told as a kid was some ape's best guess. And that's okay. Because you aren't alone. And never is that more reassuring than when some nerdy guy in an oversized suit with an acoustic guitar is screaming it at you.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ryancarroll88

Aug 26, 2010

Incredible - The cameras manage to capture both the grandiosity of the stage production and the intimacy of the flawless performance, setting a near insurmountable standard for capturing the energy of live footage. David Byrne's antics alone are also reason enough for checking it out.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

EpicLadySponge

Apr 30, 2016

Stop Making Sense shows that this movie doesn't need to make sense in order for it to be great. Likely, there's a lot of films that needs to make sense in order for them to look great. All I can say is.... Stop Making Sense, please!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Trailesque

Apr 14, 2021

I loved this as a young Talking Heads fan. I sill think it captures them in their prime and makes for great viewing. It is very much a straight ahead concert flick. Byrne is an energetic, controlled performer. Nicely edited and directed by Jonathan Demme. You can hear the originality (andI loved this as a young Talking Heads fan. I sill think it captures them in their prime and makes for great viewing. It is very much a straight ahead concert flick. Byrne is an energetic, controlled performer. Nicely edited and directed by Jonathan Demme. You can hear the originality (and the connections to some mediocre 1980s music). And who could ever forget the big suit?… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Feb 9, 2022

I never considered The Talking Heads as a truly influential band for me. With the exception of their fourth album; Remain in Light, I rarely listen to them.

Still, that's not a problem for me to appreciate an excellent performance, and this show is in my opinion 100% worthy of the status itI never considered The Talking Heads as a truly influential band for me. With the exception of their fourth album; Remain in Light, I rarely listen to them.

Still, that's not a problem for me to appreciate an excellent performance, and this show is in my opinion 100% worthy of the status it has achieved as one of the best live concerts ever recorded.

It's rare when you can bring their own fans, music fans and movie fans together in one project, but this work gives something for everyone.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JaredC.

Feb 21, 2008

Pretty good show, but for a movie called Stop Making Sense. It should focus a little harder on how it doesn't make sense.

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gracjanski

Aug 1, 2020

Hard to like this "movie" if you dont like the music much, because there is no story, no dialogue, just a concert.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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