Title: American Utopia
Year: 2020
Director: David Byrne
Country: US
Language: English
Spike Lee is one of my favourite directors and when I heard a film of his would debut at Toronto International Film Festival I jumped at the chance to see it. This will be my seventh feature, one of three in a single day (these festivals can be tiring). The film, hosted by former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne, is an extravagant concert doc that is both much needed escapism and a reminder that we need to speed up progress on important things like climate change.
Spike Lee documents the former Talking Heads frontman's brilliant, timely 2019 Broadway show, based on his recent album and tour of the same name.
"The pope don't mean shit to a doooog" Bryne sings more than halfway through the picture. I enjoy concert docs- and this may be my favourite. American Utopia a more scaled down intimate outing than his Stop Making Sense concert directed by Jonathon Demme. It is an incredible treat; eccentric acting, wacky dancing (choreographed by Annie B Parson) and both the host and supporting cast are full of charm and charisma.
American Utopia is a wild ride that one can escape in, while also being full of messsages about voting (when you leave the broadway show you're given a voter id card) , climate change and the future of America. There is a tribute to the NFL star and civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick, and Byrne also does a tremendous cover verson of Janelle Monáe’s Hell You Talmabout. The concert leaves you with plenty to think about, perhaps expanding your own political views.
David Byrne's spectacle is a concert picture that demands not to be missed. I found myself tremendously enjoying the many hits Bryne sang, leaving a big smile on my face as the film ended. "Burning down the house". People talk about "They don't make pictures like those anymore!." well... they didn't make films like these 30 years ago!
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