Customer Reviews

True Stories

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

THIS REVIEW IS IN NO WAY a review of the movie, which is unique and fairly unmatched, and has set some artistic standards.

Excuse me, but wasn't the brilliance of this movie at least worth.. well... a WIDESCREEN inclusion?

Come on.

Formatted to fit-your-tv only.

No extra features, no insights, no commentary, and TWO - get this - TWO menu selections - either to select a scene, or simply play the movie.

Warner Brothers went family-style cheap on this disc and it is a travesty to assume people with a DVD player just want a VHS-level rendition of an art film.

Don't buy this - wait until a version comes out that shows evidence someone has given this incredible movie some respect.

BLAH. Disappointing.

What is this strange movie about? Shopping malls, easily (and shabbily) constructed suburban building projects, computer dating, lonliness and the pursuit of attention, mass media, metal buildings, computers, evangelist preachers, the disappearance of culture into the principles of the ledger sheet and the skyscraper. These and other topics pervade "True Stories'" disparate plot lines and imagery. David Byrne took on the entire emerging power establishment of the late 1980s in this film. Today the film views like a warning, like a bleak testament to the disappearance of a previous way of life. Most of us live in the culmination of what this film seemed to prophesize. "True Stories" is cultural criticism embedded in campy film.

Byrne had played with the theme of mainstream alienation before. "Don't Worry About the Government" (from "Talking Heads '77"), "The Big Country" (from "More Songs About Buildings and Food"), and "The Road to Nowhere" (from "Little Creatures") provide just three examples. These songs attempt to elevate peoples' perceptions about their immediate culture. So does "True Stores".

Not everyone will enjoy this movie. Sometimes the pace moves along like molasses. Some of it feels very dated. It has an intentionally stilted perspective as it plays with common expectations and perceptions. Some of the humor is corny. In short, it's an experimental movie. That said, it also contains moments of absolute brilliance, penetrates some then unknown depths of humor, and has the ability to open eyes to the bizarre aspects of the culture of 1986 that we have all inherited. It also invites comparisons (in theme) to Luis Buñuel's "The Discrete Charm of the Bourgeoisie". That and the cinematography of the vast Texas landscape is stunning.

One scene that really brings out the film's themes is "The Parade of Specialness" in Virgil, Texas (with the Shriners in cars and the 'lawnmower brigade'). This scene is more about the disappearance of small town culture and pride and less about the freakishness of small town parades. As the painfully brief parade passes, the crowd stares at the tail end of the festivities as it slowly fades away into an empty distance. Where are they going? Away, seemingly forever, to nowhere. And quickly.

Some of the other brilliant scenes include: the fashion show with wildly ostentatious and meaningless fashions paraded past gaping mall goers; the dinner with the Culvers ("pass this to our guest"); the "Puzzlin' Evidence" and "Love For Sale" montages; the film's climax "The Big Show". Byrne's intro "The History of Texas" is one of the biggest highlights. John Goodman, in one of his earliest roles, plays Louis with sincerity and sometimes over the top humor. And Spaulding Gray displays only absolute mastery when he appears on the screen. His almost surreal introduction to "The Big Show" would stand up to infinite viewings.

Lastly, calling "True Stories" a "Talking Heads Movie" must be one of the greatest misnomers of that band's career. This was Byrne's movie (the other 3 members only appear in very brief glimpses and in the re-edited cut of the "Wild Wild Life" video). In 1986 the band stood on a pinnacle of popularity following 1985's "Little Creatures". People with money in their eyes likely thought to capitalize on the band's success (or perhaps that's how the film received funding?). Unfortunately, the band also found itself breaking apart at the seams. In an issue of Rolling Stone at the time, the other band members (most notably Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz) openly attacked Byrne. They depicted this movie as Byrne's attempt to put himself above the band. Weymouth even compared Byrne to a five year old. Nastiness ensued, and the film "True Stories" remains one of the pieces in the puzzle of the band's demise. They released one more album in 1988, "Naked". That was it, apart from a few very cursory "reunions". The DVD re-release pretty much removes the "Talking Heads" tie-in that created so much tension during the film's original release. This is good. "True Stories" stands up better as a "David Byrne" film than as a "Talking Heads" film.

Ignore Leonard Maltin's review above - this is no "satire". Far from winking superiority and cruel condecension, David Byrne deeply loves these characters for their absolutely unique art-form: gentle, American, small-town eccentricity. He stars in this film for the simple reason that he wants to introduce his beloved eccentrics to you personally. Byrne's stated artistic objective, to "elevate the mundane", here succeeds thoroughly: he grants even the film's most pathetic characters a grace and poignancy that no other modern filmmaker could match (though David Lynch's "Straight Story" shows promise). This movie is a treasure.

David Byrne, lead singer of the Talking Heads, takes us on a tour of the life and times of Virgil, TX, as it prepares to put on a "Celebration of Specialness" as its contribution to the sesquicentennial celebration of the state of Texas.

The video takes a bit of getting used to, but once you are in tune with what is going on you will see that there is great humor embedded in this pseudo-documentary. During the first part of the movie we meet main players. John Goodman plays a man hungry for a stable (or any) lasting relationship. He even advertises! You also meet "The Lying Woman" who tells a better and more unbelievable tale than anyone. There's a woman who hasn't gotten out of bed in years, it's not because she's ill, she's rich enough that she doesn't have to. There's the head of a local computer company and his wife who haven't had a direct conversation with each other for years, a mall full of twins, and a man who can tell a person's emotional state by touching their nose! An incredible, but extremely fun mix of Americana, music, and disjointed deadpan quips from Byrne as he plays the lead and narrator of the story.

You will thrill at the majesty of a fashion show at the mall, experience kareoke at a local bar, and be a mouse in the corner at a computer board assembly line.

Make any sense at all? Well, it will if you give this video a look. This is definitely a comedy, but you have to be ready for it. This is comedy tailor made for people with a dry sense of humor.

This is not a video for people who need a laugh track, or overtly funny bits to see humor to enjoy a comedy.

If, however, you see humor in life's little irony's, you grew up or live in a small town, and like music like that of the Talking Heads you will enjoy the show. It's a treasure.

You should be advised that this is NOT A MUSIC VIDEO, and most of the Talking Head's music on the sound track is performed by someone else. The Talking Heads did, however, release a CD in 1986 called "True Stories" that contains the music from the movie, all done by the Talking Heads.

A highly recommend this video -- give it a try. You may be glad you did.

5 stars.

Alan Holyoak

Film - 5 stars
Dvd - 1 star

I am choosing to leave the review of the film itself to others. This review focuses on the mediocre dvd issue by Warner.

I was quite surprised and dissapointed that Warner Brothers chose to release this dvd only in a full screen 'pan-and-scan' version, with absolutely no extras. I have seen the original wide-screen version of the film, at an art-house theatre in San Francisco - the best way to appreciate this film is to be lucky enough to see it on the big screen. Byrne used many artistically-framed wide-screen still compositions to set the tone throughout the film, which are broken up into 'pan-and-scan' segments to fit the tv screen on this version. It is not unlike trying to watch a Kubrick film on cable or video - it doesn't really capture the essence of the original film. The video quality on this dvd is not up really to current dvd standards. Also, having seen a short documentary about the making of this film, many years ago, and the photography book that was made to accompany the film, I know there is worthy material that could have been included as extras. Warner chose a no-frills dvd release.

This is such an under appreciated film, and fans and new viewers deserve a far better treatment of it on dvd. Having viewed it, I chose not to purchase this full-screen dvd until a superior version is made available, and urge others to consider this before purchasing.

I have always loved True Stories, but it's not for everyone. This is one ingenious but quirky movie that plays on multiple levels all at the same time. The box cover describes True Stories as "a completely cool, multi-purpose movie," and that's about as good a description as there can be for a film almost impossible to describe. The film takes the form of a documentary of the sesquicentennial celebration in Virgil, Texas, with Talking Heads front man David Byrne cruising into town in his red convertible to narrate the events. Byrne is, in my opinion, an underappreciated genius, and what he managed to do here was to capture a wonderful slice of Americana. Virgil isn't a small town, but it has a small town feel, surrounded by flat land as far as the eye can see - land destined to be developed in the coming years. The townspeople are the true stars of the film, though; most of them are not even given names, and I think this is because they are not so much individuals as representatives of everyday men and women. You have, for example, the Laziest Woman on Earth (Swoosie Kurtz), who has not gotten out of bed for years and years, the Cute Woman, and the Lying Woman (Jo Harvey Allen) - who continually steals the show with some of the most outrageous comments you've ever heard. The silent masses are just regular people going about their regular lives, most of them the opposite of glamorous, just the kind of folks you probably see in your own local shopping malls. The only difference is that here, thanks to David Byrne, you notice these people - and I think that is very important. When these people get up and lip synch to a song like Wild Wild Life, it doesn't matter how weird they are - they are just having fun being themselves.

Of course, the star and central figure of True Stories is a reasonably svelte John Goodman; he plays Louis Fyne, a man desperate to find a woman to share his life with. He pays for ads on television, and even has a Wife Wanted sign in his front yard, but nothing seems to work. This is certainly a character I can identify with. Louis is as excited as everyone else in town over the big doings for Virgil's Celebration of Specialness. And why not? You get to see the world's strangest fashion show, enjoy the big parade featuring such sights as Shriners in little red Mustangs and a precision lawn mower marching team, and end the festivities with a great big local talent show outside of town. The parade speaks volumes; as the townsfolk watch it wind away into the distance, they may well have a sense that life as they have known it will soon disappear as the population swells and modern conveniences trump their connection to one another and the town. Despite a good bit of off-beat humor in this film, it does leave you feeling somewhat sad and nostalgic.

Of course, one has to mention the music of True Stories. It is a pity that plans to release a soundtrack featuring recordings by the actors and actresses in the film fell through because these songs are an integral part of the film (the Talking Heads supplied only three of the songs themselves). You can buy the album featuring the Talking Heads performing all of these songs (and it is an outstanding album), but People Like Us seemingly belongs to Louis Fyne after you watch the movie, and "Kay Culver" gives an unforgettable performance of Dream Operator.

Inevitably, you'll either "get" this movie or you won't, and I don't think you can predict anyone's reaction to the film until he or she actually watches it. It is exceedingly quirky, almost surreal at times, and filled with off-the-wall comments that will not even register with some viewers. I don't think it's possible to hate this movie, though. It either leaves a lasting imprint on your mind or instantly disappears from your memory. For me, True Stories is one of those rare films that I not only enjoy but actually treasure.

When David Byrne conceived of this movie idea he was probably believing that he was only slightly ahead of his audience. Unfortunatrly, he was years ahead of them in terms of technology, music, and ideology. It's a wonderful film, a scathing indictment of the negative changes rampent technology was bringing on simple people... and a study on the price of loneliness on everyone. But, it no doubt did not catch on to an audience that was overpowered by the visuals and ideas in this movie.

The music is simply wonderful, the children singing "Hey Now" in a field that is being taken over by urban sprawl is worth the price of the movie alone. Talking heads interject several times with shameless music videos. And characters in the movie sing Talking Heads songs... in voices that were made from you and me.

This movie, in which David Byrne makes his directorial debut Byrne tours us around the town of Virgil, Texas, and introduces us to the citizens of that town, their interests, their industry, and their shopping mall. John Goodman's character looks for a love.. and it all ends in a talent show that was wonderfully edited and gave it a sense of excitment. Goodman doesn't sing too bad, either.

In my opinion this was one of the top Rock and Roll movies ever made (it should be noted that the best Rock and Roll Concert Documentry is "Stop Making Sense" also by the Talking Heads.

David Byrne has done it again. This man created this hip little movie that has become my all time favorite movie! It is not funny, per sé.. even though it has some humorous moments. It is an abstract film about a little town named Virgil in the state of Texas. Texas is about to turn 150 years old, so Virgil, a town whose main industry is computers, is celebrating its "specialness" with parades and talent shows. It is narrated by the one and only David Byrne (who drives around in a red convertable).

The movie really has no real plot (except for Louis, played by John Goodman, trying to find a wife). It just explores the lives of people in Virgil. These are the people that everyone knows: the lazy person, the liar, and the love-looker... we know these characters and encounter them in our everyday lives. John Goodman does great acting, there is some great music, and David Byrne says some things that make us laugh... and some that make us think.

As the tagline said, it is a completely cool multi-purpose movie. I love the indy approach to making it.. and the end, when Mr. Byrne talks about how by forgetting all the details we can see something as it really is.. that always makes me stop to think.

Is it comedy, is it drama, is it musical... I guess you have to take it as what it means to you. To me, it is a life-changer!

Why does anyone listen to Leonard Maltin, and why does Amazon put his screeds online? How anyone can watch this film and come away without a smile and soft spot in their heart is beyond me.

While I will admit there are better-made films out there, True Stories remains my favorite movie of all time. I like it because, much like its themes and characters (and life itself), it is imperfect. But its imperfection becomes part of its genius, especially on repeated viewings. It's not really a movie with a plot, except maybe for Louis' search for love. It illustrates ideas, themes and moods through a series of arresting images, narration, dialogue, humor and music. The film looks at its subjects with Byrne's mixture of bemusement and satire, both handled with the sort of wide-eyed innocence of an alien visiting Earth from another galaxy. As a result, we see this town and its people through the eyes of Byrne, and therefore start to look at the familiar and mundane in new ways. I will not bother to spend a lot of the time others have spent talking about the plot or what makes this film great--just buy it. It's only 10 bucks. Some favorite quotes:

"Freeways are the cathedrals of our time, someone said. Not me."

"I have something to say about the difference between American cities and European cities but I forgot what it is. I have it written down at home somewhere."

"You like music? I know. Everyone says they do."

"Yep. It's fancy drivin' all right."

"You know, things that never had names before are now easily described. Makes conversation easy."

"They're calling it a celebration of specialness. But this place is completely normal."

"I'm really getting used to these outfits. They sell a lot of 'em, but I don't see anyone else wearing them."

"Most people around here have eaten dinner already. Don't want to be late. Know What I mean? Or do you?"

"I personally believe I can see Fort Worth from here."

"You gotta see this. This might be part of Virgil's Specialness. Or it might not be. You might have seen it on television. Or maybe you missed it. Hope you like "LOUD" music."

"You know the astronauts didn't read poetry. But that's changing."

"Computers are as much a means of expression as language."

"These people have too much metal on them. They are reflecting kind of people."

"I tried a computer dating service once--wound up with a midget. I mean, I'm not a fussy man, but..."

"Marriage is a natural thing, and I am a natural man."

"This is the Vericorp building just outside Virgil. It's cool. It's an all purpose shape--a box."

"Shopping is a Feeling"

"What time is it? No time to look back."

"If I ever went downstairs I might be surprised, huh? It's clean down there, right, Roberto?

"People here are inventing their own system of beliefs. They're creating it, doing it, selling it--making it up as they go along. Driving---not only driving, but parking."

"Hi, twin."

"Linda! Larry! There's no concept of weekends anymore."

"Of course nowadays not eveone's having kids--what with the end of the world coming up and all."

"Metal buildings are the dream that modern architects had at the beginning of this century finally come true, but they themselves don't realize it. That's because it doesn't take an architect to build a metal building."

"This is not a rental car. This is privately owned."