True Stories

After topping the alternative music scene, Talking Heads frontman David Byrne set out to conquer the silver screen. The result, which he directed, co wrote, and starred in, is 1986's True Stories.

Byrne is the film's host. A no name stranger visiting the small town of Virgil, Texas during their Celebration Of Special-ness sesquicentennial anniversary. While their he meets an array of odd characters and their starnge habits and rituals. The town;s residents include Louis Fyne, John Goodman, a technician desperate to find his soulmate. Civic leader Earl Culver, Spalding Grey. Earl and his wife Kay, Annie McEnroe, never speak directly to one another. And Ramon, Tito Larriva, who uses radio waves for psychic powers. There's also Miss Rollings, Swoosie Kurtz, a wealthy woman who's so lazy she never leaves her bed. And the Lying Woman, Jo Harvey Allen, a lady who claims to have dated everyone from Burt Reynolds to the real Rambo.

The weekend celebration consists of everything from a karaoke competition to a fashion show where the designs are made up of astro turf and bricks. There's even a parade where a lawnmowere brigade leads the charge.

Byrne does a fine job playing the spectator to the odd surroundings. He really shines as a director. His hip sensibilites benefit him greatly with this picture. He's also smart enough to let his supporting cast take the spotlight. Goodman is really good as Louis, who's funny but also let's the audience feel his loneliness.

Byrne cowrote this with actor Stephen Tobolowsky and playwright Beth Henley.According to Tobolowsky, he and Henley mostly wrote about the town celebration while byrne focused on the characters. Byrne's ultimate goal was to make a movie about the odd people from tabloid headlines.

And of course te soundtrack, by the Talking Heads, rocks. It includes the hits Wild, Wild Life and City Of Dreams.

As the movie tag line reads, this is a completely cool, multi purpose movie. This won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoy it. And I think a lot of you will get it.

It's available on dvd.