True Stories: A Film About a Bunch of People from Virgil Texas (1986)

True Stories: A Film About a Bunch of People in Virgil Texas

• Let me clarify this: I’m a huge Talking Heads fan, and of course, David Byrne is one of the undisputed geniuses of our time. That being said, I’ve been meaning to watch this for quite some time, and finally got around to it (I got it from Criterion, of course). Well, Byrne’s mystery and wackiness seeps all throughout this film, and it’s very evident that he put a lot of love and effort into it. For starters, the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic, with Talking Heads having a massive role in its production. I was hoping that would be the case, and was extremely pleased to find out it was. The genre blends were great, with a country/Americana sound mixed with alt rock and blues. The story itself didn’t seem super elaborate, but it takes the approach of being so simple that it isn’t. You don’t have to dig deep or try to analyze themes; rather, you just listen to the words of the narrator and each character, and that’s all you need to do. It’s just about viewing everyday, carefree life, and having fun along the way. Even though the film is just under 90 minutes, I think the third act felt a tiny bit dull compared to the first two, but not enough to drag the whole thing down. It’s a trip, either way. Now, the visuals were some of the most enjoyable I’ve seen in quite awhile, and probably the highlight of the film. Probably 99% of the film could be a picture on a wall, with great color schemes and vivid shot compositions that put a spotlight on the characters and different emotions. Simply gorgeous. The costume design was eye popping, over the top, and detailed, especially anything Byrne wore. He absolutely owned every single outfit. Lastly, the performances were all pretty decent, though a bit exaggerated and goofy. That’s exactly what it needed to be, but it takes getting used to. Shoutout to John Goodman and Byrne for being absolutely awesome. Overall, this is a great film that showcases simple life, color, and music, though it’s not anything generational. I would recommend it to most musical/comedy fans, and especially if you’re a fan of Byrne and/or Talking Heads. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!