Spike Lee has come out with not one, but two films this year. I haven’t made time to watch Da 5 Bloods, but I did get to see the one that followed it.
David Byrne’s American Utopia is a concert film that took place in the Hudson Theatre. Stop Making Sense is my favorite documentary of all time, and was my first introduction to David Byrne. I knew of the Talking Head’s before hand, but not too much.
David Byrne is such a fascinating person, and that is most evident here. Every song is different, but unique in it’s own way, the lyrics when you think about it, can be very insightful and contemplative. Between a few of the pieces David Byrne speaks to the audience about different things. Things like how we connect and interact as human beings, to associations to other artists. He also calls out to his audience to vote, and be a voice. The film is able to blend positivity and real world urgency to the audience. The camera moves in a way to guide us into the mind of David Byrne, how he perceives the world. The stage pieces, lighting, choreography, and performers all mesh together to create a singular organism that is full of unity and spirit. This film is one we could use right now in 2020.
David Byrne acknowledges that the stage is mostly empty, aside from him and his fellow band mates. How the only thing left, are the things that are important. “Us, and You”, He says. You can tell that he really loves what he’s doing, but is also aware of the audience. I love Spike Lee’s visual direction here as well.
David Byrne’s American Utopia is an entrancing, wonderful, and extravagant piece of work that blends music and filmmaking in blissful matrimony. This film continues to cement Spike Lee as a director, and David Byrne as an influence.
Cedric Cinema 