True Stories

Disappearing reappearing rearview mirror in the red convertible.

The movie supposedly takes place in the town of Virgil, Texas.

However, in one scene where little children in 4-H shirts are dancing in a field, a water tower is briefly visible in the background that clearly says "RED OAK".

As the narrator is walking through the mall, we see Waldenbooks more than once.

The amount of asparagus changes repeatedly during the dinner party.

A laid-back stranger (a nicely wry portrayal by David Byrne, who also directed and co-wrote the observant script with Beth Henley and Stephen Tobolowsky) visits the small town of Virgil, Texas, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary with both a parade and a talent show.Byrne shows a genuine bemused affection for the endearing eccentricity lurking right underneath the deceptively bland surface of plain old average middle-American existence.

Amazing cast, great music...great style.

True stories, while considered a comedy, should not be limited by that role.It is of course a comedy, but it is really so much more, because, as the film claims, it is a 'multi-purpous' movie.

Celebrated art rocker David Byrne introduces the citizens of Virgil, Texas, a typical American small town preparing to observe its sesquicentennial with a 'celebration of specialness'. The narrator/tour guide (and neophyte film director) cultivates an attitude of deadpan naiveté (through awkward postures and dry non-sequiturs), which in certain circles passes for the ultimate in cool behavior.

First the good things: I love this movie and it's soundtrack. I love David Byrne and Talking Heads.

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.

This is "True Stories", an American (very!) English-language movie from 1986, so this one is already easily over 30 years old and the director here is Scottish musician David Byrne, band leader from Talking Heads, and you could say this is his tribute not only to his band, but also to the state of Texas.

The original tag line of "True Stories" was: "It's a completely cool, multi-purpose movie." Yes it really is.

Imagine someone taking the script & characters of "Leave it to Beaver" and filming it in vivid color with some cool music. That's the feeling I got while watching this movie.