Stop Making Sense

1984 88 min ★ 8.3 Documentary, Music

A concert film documenting Talking Heads at the height of their popularity, on tour for their 1983 album "Speaking in Tongues." The band takes the stage one by one and is joined by a cadre of guest musicians for a career-spanning and cinematic performance that features creative choreography and visuals.

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Cast

David Byrne

Self - Vocals, Guitar

Chris Frantz

Self - Drums, Vocals

Jerry Harrison

Self - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals

Tina Weymouth

Self - Bass, Percussion, Vocals

Ednah Holt

Self - Backing Vocals

Lynn Mabry

Self - Backing Vocals

Steven Scales

Self - Percussion

Alex Weir

Self - Guitar, Vocals

Bernie Worrell

Self - Keyboards

Details

Director

Jonathan Demme

Tagline

"Why stop making sense? Why a movie? Why a big suit? Where do the odd movements come from? What will the band do next?"

Status

Released

Original Language

EN

Budget

$1,200,000

Revenue

$12,471,520

Production

Talking Heads Films, Arnold Stiefel Company

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

October 8, 2023

★ 7/10

I'm not sure Jonathan Demme really had too much to do here as David Byrne and "Talking Heads" present us with a belter of a creative toe-tapper. It's a film of their concert - constructed from performances over three nights in a small Hollywood theatre, and that setting lends itself excellently to their showcase. The depth and height of the stage allows the band to arrive on set song by song, and ...

J

James

October 20, 2023

★ 7/10

I did write an artistically brilliant rendition of my thoughts on this movie but instead I’m going to give you this: I can't seem to face up to the facts I'm tense and nervous and I can't relax I can't sleep 'cause my bed's on fire Don't touch me, I'm a real live wire Psycho Killer Qu'est-ce que c'est? Fa-fa-fa-fa, fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa, better Run, run, run, run, run, run, run away, oh-oh-oh ...

7

798twh80n

May 7, 2026

★ 9/10

went into the movie without even knowing who Talking Heads were except that they were quite popular back in their days, and i will have to say that i really enjoyed it