Nessieldwi Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

BelSports This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Siflutter It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

peterpants66 True Stories is a movie about fictitious Texas town "Virgil" and their celebration of specialness. It's the towns Sesquicentennial and writer/director/star David Byrne takes us on a ride through Virgil outlining all the colorful people that live there, their talents and ultimately what they want from life. John Goodman plays "Lewis Fyne" who posts a commercial accompanied by phone number in search of a bride. This movie is laced with Talking Heads music, and in a way it's kind of a musical. But not one of those "Nutcracker" types, this is a musical that the FREAKS can get behind. The movie takes a nod from the beat poets, it Explodes into song from time to time and examines complexities through a kaleidoscope instead of a microscope. The film has got truth, lies, and one hell of a talent show at the end. Radiohead gets their name from this movie, which explains much. Although the town of Virgil is fictional, everything is shot in Texas, so there's plenty of of long green landscapes and prefabricated building's. The film explores a variety of topics, the intro is amazing, Puzzlin evidence is awesome, the cute lady, the liar. I personally don't know many people who have seen this either, and it's got a lot less reviews then you'd imagine for a movie of such abundance. It flows like a river and crashes like lightning, it's both intriguing and hysterical, "astronauts didn't use to read poetry, that's changing now". I love the dinner scene with the overhead shot of all the food lighting up, "Linda, Larry, there's no such thing as weekends anymore!". How about Indian wars, computer technology, the Trilateral commission, name one other movie that covers so much ground. It's both scary and beautiful, like being eaten by a shark while dispersing fliers to an upcoming wrestling match, or being beaten to death by clowns while reciting the pledge of allegiance.

Steve West I view this as Byrne's first feature film, except that he never made another (he stated in a recent AV Club interview that he would like to make another but isn't inclined to spend 5 years to get the ball rolling). Byrne reminded me eerily of myself in how he interacts with people, I've read that he thinks he might have had Apsergers but I am certain it is social anxiety, however he didn't let it get in the way of the direction of this film.I'm sure Byrne could have made a lot more commentary about society but as this is sort of in the "experimental" bin, it's padded with musical numbers (which might technically define it as a musical), a mock fashion show, a pageant (as the town is celebrating its sesquicentennial) and a local talent show performed on an outdoor stage fit for a rock band, climaxing with John Goodman performing "People Like Us".As it's probably Byrne's natural inclination to observe the world around him and find out what makes it tick, I think a fully-fledged Byrne film could have potentially been much more meaty (for lack of a better term), however he is primarily a musician so it's understandable that he did not become a writer-director after the making of this film. And I'm guessing that this film only exists because of the success Byrne and the Talking Heads were enjoying at the time.Overall it stands as a one-off, strangely dated curiosity but it is light weight, mostly enjoyable and is the only place to see David Byrne outside of a music video or interview.

blackmare That's what he told me, at the end of the movie. The sophisticated New Yorker, the witty Kubrick fan with his degree in film, sat there stunned on the floor; I could almost see the smoke coming out of his ears. To try and describe it is something like attempting to nail Jell-O to the wall. There's no plot, really; but there are a lot of things going on, threads of peoples' lives, loosely connected. The film describes itself as being "about a bunch of people in Virgil, Texas" and it is, but actually it's about the wonderful absurdity, lunacy even, of "normal" American life. David Byrne's Narrator character isn't condescending or snide. He's innocent, wondering, matter-of-fact. He looks at the cookie-cutter tract houses and asks, "Who can say it isn't beautiful?" This is a very unique little movie, and people either seem to get it, or not. I can never predict who will or won't catch the humor. But, if you're not smiling by the end of the intro sequence, this probably isn't the movie for you. Personally, I was laughing my butt off by then. I can't say that this movie made me a better person, but it did add something to my world and gave me a great appreciation for the mind of David Byrne.

katecwatt-1 This movie is a work of poetry and genius. It's funny, poignant, weird, cinematically gorgeous, and very American. It has beautiful performances by the young John Goodman and the late great Spaulding Gray. If I had to introduce America to men from Mars or anthropologists from the future, I'd show 'em this movie! It may seem disjointed on a first viewing, but just let go of the expectation of a linear narrative and let it flow over you like a poem. It's all there, adding up to a powerful meditation on the American dream in a time of isolation, materialism, and corporate identity. Plus, it's really funny. It's worth watching just for the fashion show, the lobster dinner, and Pops Staples' ritual/musical number. And John Goodman's song at the end is an anthem for middle America.