Stop Making Sense (1984)

Stars	User	Rating
10	Sockman	92 _95th
The ultimate anti-concert. No backstage antics, no interviews, no "Hello, Cleveland," no stagedives. This is a rare concert film that treats each song as its own visual composition rather than a recording of music being played. Not to mention that Talking Heads were at the top of their game at this stage, and the added musicians only enhance the performance. Very highly recommended to any fan of the band or of music in general.
8	Magb	100 _98th
It's...impossible...to...sit...still...
5	MartinTeller	98 _99th
I can't gush enough about this. There's no interviews, no behind-the-scenes footage, no fans, no animation, no fantasy sequences. Just 9 musicians and their instruments, a floor lamp, and a big suit. With these sparse tools, Demme and Byrne crafted the finest performance film I've ever seen. Engaging, energetic, and completely infectious. Through variations in lighting, staging and dance, they manage to make give every song a distinct visual feel.
5	Anomaly	95 _98th
Amazing. The minimalism allows the performances to be taken in, and lends itself to some very creative visuals. Very energetic and entertaining, and will leave you with an appreciation of boom boxes, floor lamps, and big suits.
5	theficionado	100 _97th
The minute David Byrne enters the stage with a boombox, you know you're watching something special. And when he returns in that famous white suit... fuuuuuuck.
5	BillyShears	100 _98th
Fat Talking Heads nerd in his basement fucking up every lamp in the house for a brief moment of absolute weightless bliss
4	Pickpocket	9 _93rd
This is one of the best things I've ever seen. So much energy, so fun. I could watch this every day. Thanks! Anyone have any questions?
4	Alex Watkins	5 _91st
If it's not the best concert film ever, it's the best I've seen. Completely awesome both for its music and for its merits as a film, with some absolutely great versions of classic Talking Heads tracks (the versions of "Life During Wartime," "This Must Be the Place" and "Heaven" here are essential). Fantastic visuals (the chiaroscuro lighting on some of the performances was really something), great music, engaging performances - it's a blast.
4	purgatos	95 _96th
After watching this, it will take a week for the grin to leave my face.
4	Eric WK	95 _95th
This is the only concert movie I've ever seen that's distilled down to the only thing that really matters: the performance. By cutting (or never even filming, I don't know) all of the bullshit, Demme brings you right into the auditorium for a Talking Heads set that is nothing short of exquisite. What a band, what a film.
4	Ocelot	90 _97th
While most concert films feature a ton of backstage bullshit, "Stop Making Sense" just delivers the goods. Burning Down the House, Psycho Killer, Crosseyed and Painless; it's all absolutely magnificent music. The album is one of the best albums ever made so it's only fitting that the movie is one of the best of its medium as well. "Stop Making Sense" is an honest to God masterpiece. It's the kind of movie that only comes along Once in a Lifetime.
4	FunkyAstro	100 _99th
If I had a time machine I would go back to when this movie was made and be at the concerts. Nobody puts on a show now a days like the Talking Heads of '84. I will always remember the band as the one in this movie. All the songs sound better than their studio recordings. The direction was brilliant, especially the long uncut shots. And who can not make way to the legend that is David Byrne. Simply put, the man is a genius. For what it is, a concert movie, Stop Making Sense is perfection.
3	joseywales	91 _97th
Absolutely wonderful! A musical treat for any music fan. Probably the best music concert video.
2	twincinema	95 _96th
The concert documentary that all other concert documentaries want to be.
2	karolcrist	93 _96th
I love this concert movie. It's amazing how the show is conducted, starting with just David Byrne singing Psycho Killer, and little by little, more members and instruments are added, to the point of having the show complete. I loved Psycho Killer in this concert. The Byrne's personallity makes of Talking Heads an unique band. For those who like that amazing band, is an unforgettable concert movie.
2	hellboy76	88 _97th
My favorite concert film of all time.
2	bof	90 _97th
Does for the concert movie what Loveless did for shoegaze - ie is so good it kills its genre stone dead.
1	DavidKahane	97 _96th
So exuberant, so inventive, so bright and brilliant that it stands as a mighty contender in the ongoing debate about what deserves the designation Greatest Concert Film Ever. The band delivers their own unique, vibrant staging and a thrillingly energetic concert performance, and Demme's visual sense is astounding. The camera is often in an entirely unexpected place, and yet it's also always a perfectly positioned, so much so that it's hard to conceive of why anyone would place it elsewhere.
1	pilgermann	90 _94th
Absolutely wonderful and thrilling film. There's so much energy captured here that it's nearly impossible to sit still by the end of it.
1	jamisonrk	85 _90th
It's rare to be excited while watching a concert on a Television. This is a rare film...
1	Evolution	94 _98th
Before viewing this film I described myself as a Talking Heads fan; after viewing I would describe myself as a Talking Heads fanatic.
1	kav	90 _92nd
Not only are the Talking Heads amazing, it's a brilliant concept and concert too.
1	moraesfelipe	93 _97th
SMS is maybe the greatest rock concert (or concept) ever shot. And I'm saying this not just because of the great images that Demme and his crew managed to capture -- they make a cinematic achievement out of a gig --, but the performance itself: their groove is almost unbearably catchy and weird. This is staggeringly brilliant.
1	omgfridge	9 _92nd
Wasn't quite sure how I would react to a concert movie but this blew my mind.
1	ZayanK	94 _93rd
I'm totally buying a suit like that.
1	Okkervil	89 _95th
Talking Heads... bit good wern't they!
1	Bown	86 _80th
People always be like “how does Byrne have so much energy” like they’re forgetting cocaine exists. Anyway this was fucking awesome
1	wetwillies	100 _98th
If I could go to any concert in history, it would probably be this one. Considering how much energy there is coming through Demme's camera, I can only imagine how much energy there is at the real thing. There are so many great moments in this concert both audio and visual. I just can't choose a favorite moment. If you watch this and your head isn't bobbing the entire time then something is certainly wrong with you. I don't know. This film is really awesome. (three times)
1	Noblet	93 _97th
The opening and gradual introduction of the entire band is brilliant it just gets better from there. Fantastic music, wonderful visuals.
1	Jerky	90 _99th
My god...the awesomeness!
1	AceySaid10%	78 _33rd
Highly recommended on 1.5x fast forward. A multitude of crazy legs...

Average Percentile 79.99% from 978 Ratings