★★★★★

concert film

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REVIEWER: nick tonkin

Considered by critics as the greatest concert film of all time, the live performance was shot over the course of three nights at Hollywood's Pantages Theater in December of 1983 and features Talking Heads' most memorable songs.

Stop Making Sense is a 1984 concert film directed by Johnathan Demme of the band Talking Heads while on tour in support of their 1983 album Speaking in Tongues. 

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According to the internet it’s been long considered one of the greatest concert films of all time. From the point of view of someone only vaguely familiar with Talking Heads prior to watching the film, I wholeheartedly agree with this bold claim.

Filmed over four nights, Stop Making Sense distills the best of these performances into an intense and absorbing experience, punctuated by the zany stage antics of David Byrne and his famous big suit.

It naturally helps that Talking Heads were really masters of their craft, with the whole runtime of the film boasting bangers and gems, but the performances of these songs are why the film is so revered.

Excellent musicianship combined with creative stagecraft and directorial choices from Academy Award winning director Johnathan Demme crystallised into a genuinely excellent concert experience that has absolutely stood the test of time.