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Film reviews

Stop Making Sense (2023 Re-release) Review

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Stop Making Sense, a concert film directed by Jonathan Demme in 1984, is unequivocally the best concert movie of all time. Filmed at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater over three days in December, this cinematic masterpiece features Talking Heads, with David Byrne at the helm, as well as Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, Bernie Worrell, Alex Weir, Steve Scales, Lynn Mabry, and Edna Holt. This incredible film is an immersive and unforgettable experience that showcases many of The Talking Heads’ greatest hits. It’s no wonder audiences around the world were completely blown away by this exceptional concert film.

I saw David Byrne live in concert in 2018 at the Auditorium Theatre in downtown Chicago. My Mom was fortunate to see Talking Heads perform in 1982 at the Civic Center in Des Moines, Iowa, and it remains one of her all-time favorite concerts. Seeing Stop Making Sensemade me feel like I was revisiting the concert experience my mom had back in the 1980s. Seeing this film in the IMAX experience felt like a journey back in time. This group has a reputation for magical music and their songs are still magical today thanks to the artistic genius of David Byrne and his band.

As soon as the film started, the song “Psycho Killer” captured my attention. David Byrne always knows how to set the tone for his music and concerts. He has the moves, voice, and style that make his performances grand. Throughout Stop Making Sense, there are many uplifting moments that make you want to dance. These segments exude positive vibes and are extremely enjoyable.

The re-release of this concert feels authentic and immersive. The film, as well as the concert itself, are captivating and mesmerizing, showcasing Byrne’s imaginative world of wonders. The songs are infused with cultural significance and are brilliant in their direction. Stop Making Sense is a treasure trove of a concert experience that will awaken nostalgic memories for many and create a special experience for those who are witnessing it for the first time. The concert features many of Talking Heads’ great hits, including “Slippery People,” “Once in a Lifetime,” “Heaven,” and many more.

One song that always lifts my mood and restores my positivity is “This Must Be the Place”. It’s a song about acceptance, finding the positive aspects of life, and facing reality head-on. The performance of this song in Stop Making Sense is truly remarkable due to the incredible energy flowing from the artists, the audience, and those watching the film. “This Must Be the Place” has been an uplifting anthem for fans worldwide for many years, including myself.

The grandeur of Byrne’s artistry is demonstrated by his giant, oversized suit which evokes a feeling of enchantment. Once Byrne puts that suit on, the world of Stop Making Sense takes on its own amazing dimension where Byrne is the master of culture. His empowering lyrics round out the incredible concert experience of Stop Making Sense.

Fans of David Byrne and Talking Heads simply cannot afford to miss this incredible opportunity to see this film on the big screen. Even if you’ve had the pleasure of witnessing it before, it is worth revisiting, now that A24 has obtained the rights. So, go ahead and grab your oversized suits and get ready to dance to the music, because Stop Making Sense is a definite four-star experience.

Film reviews

Earth Mama Review

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This title of this film speaks with a meaningful message. Earth Mama is an invigorating story that displays the challenges of tough love and shows how choices have consequences. Motherhood is the subject of the struggle in Earth Mama which is filled with heavy emotions. Hardship for the mother continues throughout the film but there is no giving up hope. I found this experience to be eerie, yet vividly stunning due to its exploration of human nature. Earth Mama made me curious about what it’s like to be restricted based on choices.

The film takes place in the Bay area of California. Gia is a mother played by Tia Nomore. She has two kids and a third on the way. Her children are in the hands of the court system because Gia has made choices that are unsafe for her children. Therefore, she is restricted from being with her kids as much as she would like to. She must live on welfare and be on probation.With a rough background and a questionable paper trail of errors, Gia keeps hitting plateaus as she tries to get her head on straight so she can convince her parole officer that she is capable of taking care of her kids. Her parole officer is Jasmine played by Tina D’Elia.

As the film progresses, Gia begins to understand that she may have made mistakes. However, deep down she has a big heart for her children. Nevertheless, she decides to investigate adoption for her third child, but fears this commitment may cause even more problems. Gia has lost a lot in her life due to repeated errors, lies, and struggles with addiction. The title Earth Mama relates to Gia’s problems which all involve wanting to feel a sense of escape. Unfortunately, her brief periods of relief also have serious consequences.

The film thrives on Gia’s errors, which I found somewhat disappointing. Earth Mama has a strange vibe that boils through the audience as Gia goes through many waves of conflict. While it feels real, it is not a comfortable feeling. There is good in the love that Gia has for her children, but there is nothing good in the choices she continues to make. Earth Mama creates a world of tragedy and melancholy as the cinematography grasps the sadness of Gia’s challenging life. Can Gia get through her parole? Can Gia regain custody of her children? Will Gia make the right choice for her newborn? There is no right or wrong answer to any of these questions in Earth Mama. It is a film that battles with and tackles life challenges in an extremely realistic way.

Earth Mama hit me to the core because of its exploration of a-life-like situation, including the harsh consequences that come with poor decisions. The threat of relapse and continued errors only escalates the hardship for Gia and her children. Finally, Gia regaining faith in herself may be the biggest struggle in Earth Mama. Two and a half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Talk to Me Review

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There is a vibe of disturbance that has the taste of a haunting rampage displayed with vengeance and obscure power. It is a film that is deep with sorrow and guilt in which terror seeps into wonders unimaginable. The directors, Danny and Michael Phillippou, drive the eerie feelings for their audiences. This film of existential and creative terror is Talk to Me and is by far one of the best horror films of 2023.  The momentum which builds in the tragedies involve consequences. Above all, Talk to Me is a terror experience that will make its viewers think. There is no hiding from the surprises in this film and it had me jumping in my seat due to the shocking discoveries. In fact, I found it hard to stop thinking about how many more frights I was going to have.

The film takes place in Australia and is about a group of friends who are always together despite some harsh terms. Those friends are Mia (played by Sophie Wilde), Riley (played by Joe Bird), Jade (played by Alexandra Jensen), and Daniel (played by Otis Dhanji). There are more names, but Mia, Riley, Jade, and Daniel are the important ones in this film’s haunting experience. The friends find a game where they realize they can conjure up spirits. The way they do this is by using an embalmed hand. Once they grab the hand, they have to say three words…TALK TO ME! Each of them has fun with the game for a bit by testing the boundaries of it.  The game is like a drug that feels fun to mess around with, but sadly, turns dangerous. One of the friends receives horrific injuries after the embalmed hand explodes with supernatural forces. This terrible encounter means lives are on the line because the conjuring force has unleashed. The many problems of Mia, Riley, Jade, and Daniel go into karma mode as the spirit makes them wonder who the most dangerous person is.

The terror in Talk to Me dives deep into missed connections. Mia is grieving after the death of her mother. She has struggled with drugs in the past. The embalmed hand is presented like a new escape in place of drugs. Instead, the embalmed hand opens a world of accepting the evils of reality, and the evils of past behaviors. Can Mia live with it? Can anyone conquer the supernatural forces of the hand? The writing reminds the audience that even in darkness there can be light. The light, however, does not come without sacrifice or admittance of guilt. It is like a Jumanji film, but in truth or dare mode where there are imagined supernatural spirits at their finest.

The diversity of horror is spellbinding. The search for answers involves dark allies filled with meaning. There is a puzzle to all the surreal and terrorizing outcomes in Talk to Me and a mystery to every emotion and event. The film tests the waters of the past, is filled with scary moments, and causes emotions to spiral in unexpected places that result in a triumphant terror flick.

Is the embalmed hand that dangerous? Do the spirits lurk throughout the film? Is there a way to battle the evils of conjured spirits? Find out in Talk to Me…a surreal realm of horror that surpasses other scary films of 2023. Four stars.