I’ve now seen this movie three times, including a first viewing that turned Talking Heads into my favorite band. But this third viewing may have been the best - it looked and sounded amazing, with the theater sound system turning it into an all-encompassing experience.
And oh my god what a perfect movie it is. Coming off of one of the greatest ever five-album runs. Talking Heads were at an absolute peak here, wrapping their nervy art-rock in the transcendent possibilities of funk with the help of an incredible backing band. Everyone on stage looks AND plays like they’re having the absolute time of their lives, bringing down the house and pinging off of each other’s creative energy at every turn as they turn out the definitive versions of most of these songs. David Byrne goes all in on being a beautifully autistic and incredibly charismatic little freak while wrapping the entire concert in arty lighting and theatrics. Jonathan Demme knows exactly what to shoot with his camera, keeping the focus squarely on the band, their performances, and plenty of small little moments and interactions between them.
It is a joyous movie, and no matter how many times I see it or listen to the soundtrack I’ll never get tired of it