Search - Stop Making Sense on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1984 DVD Release: 10/26/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Restored/Remastered,Special Collection SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 39 mins Studio: Palm Pictures Members Wishing: 31 Genres: Music, Concerts, Rock Musical See Also: Stop Making Sense [Blu-ray]

Stop Making Sense was the first feature-length documentary effort of filmmaker Jonathan Demme. The director's subject is The Talking Heads, a new-wave/pop-rock group comprised of David Byrne, Chris Franz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison. The film was made during a three-day concert gig at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. What emerges on screen says as much about director Demme's taste and sensitivity as it does about the group and its visionary leader Byrne. Though some of the material in Stop Making Sense overlaps with the Talking Heads' earlier concert film The Name of This Band is Talking Heads, one never gets the feeling of by-the-numbers repetition; the group's energy is such that it virtually explodes from the screen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bernie Worrell - Synthesizers
Alex Weir - guitar
Steve Scales - percussion

Palm Pictures' DVD treatment gives this landmark concert film the respect it deserves. For starters, it includes three audio settings. "Feature Film Mix 5.1" is a remixed and remastered version of the original soundtrack, "Studio Mix 5.1" uses the old mixing board tapes, and the two-channel stereo mix ensures that those without 5.1 Surround Sound don't miss out. The widescreen, 16:9 anamorphic presentation helps the movie look almost as good as it sounds.
The extra features aren't nearly as sharp, but they're fun. Three songs ("Cities" and a version of "Big Business" that segues into "I Zimbra") emerge as bonus tracks. In another extra, frontman David Byrne dons ridiculous costumes and interviews himself, asking all the obvious questions and answering in a stunned monotone. Storyboards and Byrne's notes reveal how much of the show's on-stage lunacy was choreographed ("Now David does a spastic dance"). A commentary track features all four Heads and director Jonathan Demme, recorded separately, discussing Byrne's famous Big Suit, '80s new wave, song origins, and the anal-retentive work that went into the Stop Making Sense tour and film. For obsessive and casual fans alike, this disc makes sense after all. ~ Jen Muehlbauer, All Movie Guide