May 21, 2014

Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense’s 30th Anniversary Hits Theaters

TALKING HEADS’ STOP MAKING SENSE TO BE RELEASED DIGITALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME ON PALM PICTURES JULY 15, CELEBRATING 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FILM’S RELEASE

 

SPECIAL LIMITED THEATRICAL ENGAGEMENT BEGINS THIS SUMMER

 

Palm Pictures will release the Talking Heads’ acclaimed concert film Stop Making Sense for the first time digitally on July 15. Watch a montage from the film here. Directed by Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia) and produced by Gary Goetzman (The Silence of the Lambs, Where the Wild Things Are), Stop Making Sense was originally released in 1984 and has continued to receive critical acclaim: The New York Times raves “Mr. Demme has captured both the look and the spirit of this live performance with a daring and precision that match the group’s own” while the Los Angeles Times proclaims “[David] Byrne, drummer Chris Frantz, bassist Tina Weymouth and keyboardist Jerry Harrison seemed to be simply bursting with inspired elements to pack into Stop Making Sense” and the AV Club declares “There never has been, and in all likelihood never will be, a more glorious intersection of live music and cinema than Stop Making Sense.” A special limited theatrical engagement of the film will begin this summer, including screenings in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Of the film, Palm Pictures and Island Records founder Chris Blackwell says, “Stop Making Sense is as relevant today as it was 30 years ago. It amazes me how timeless the film and the music are. I think this is a great testament to the music of the Talking Heads and the groundbreaking cinematography of Jonathan Demme in creating this film.” Stop Making Sense was filmed over three days at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood in 1983 while Talking Heads were on tour following the release of their album Speaking in Tongues. The documentary is noteworthy for its long camera shots, stripped down lighting, and lack of audience footage, allowing the focus to remain on the band’s intense energy and unique staging. Over the course of their career, Talking Heads established themselves as one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the 1980s. They refined a sound that was equal parts art-funk, polyrhythmic worldbeats, and melodic guitar pop on their acclaimed albums including Talking Heads: 77 (1977), Fear of Music (1979), Speaking in Tongues (1983), Little Creatures (1985) True Stories (1986) and Naked (1988).

Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme is known for his films including Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, and Rachel Getting Married as well as his three documentary/concert films about Neil Young. Producer Gary Goetzman’s credits include Where The Wild Things Are, Mamma Mia!, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, That Thing You Do!, The Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia.

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