True Stories (1986)

73% of critics liked it
(15 reviews)
79% of users liked it
(5,041 ratings)

Director David Byrne (of Talking Heads) takes an outside-looking-in glance at Texas and Texans in True Stories. Casting himself as the protagonist/narrator, Byrne adopts what he thinks is "standard" western garb and drives his red convertible into the small town of Virgil. Here he observes the… More Director David Byrne (of Talking Heads) takes an outside-looking-in glance at Texas and Texans in True Stories. Casting himself as the protagonist/narrator, Byrne adopts what he thinks is "standard" western garb and drives his red convertible into the small town of Virgil. Here he observes the town's preparations for celebrating Texas' sesquicentennial, taking time out to introduce us to several of the local oddballs. Swoosie Kurtz plays Miss Rollings, the Laziest Woman in the World; Alix Elias is The Cute Woman, who decorates her home in the most hideously "sweet" manner imaginable; John Goodman is talent-contest entrant Louis Fyne, who harbors dreams of being a C&W star; Spalding Gray is Earl Culver, a vegetable-obsessed civic leader; Jo Harvey Allen is The Lying Woman; and so it goes. The script by Southerners Byrne, Beth Henley and Steven Tobolowksy strives to avoid subtlety. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: David Byrne
Written By: David Byrne, Beth Henley
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Art House & International, Comedy, Cult Movies

In Theaters: Oct 10, 1986 Limited
On DVD: Mar 30, 1999
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Byrne has made his version of Our Town for the 1980s, a glorification of commonplace--and kitch--and the resilient, inventive spirit of ordinary Americans wherever they are.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
A very quirky but not unkind take on American life that's Byrnian through and through.
Luke Y. Thompson, LYTRules.com
Absolutely amazing. If there is such a thing as the perfect American movie, this certainly comes close.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
good soundtrack, but smothered by a condescending attitude
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
If this was even half as hip and smart as it thinks, it'd be a classic.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
The bottom line is that Byrne and company offer us nothing more than another patronizing view of small-town America.
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)
Post-modern pastiche on the then-hip American West; fun, strange, and distinctly a product of its time.

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Robert C

A quirky, comic and insightful look at "Americana" through the eyes of one of the musical geniuses of our lifetime, Mr. David Byrne. Sountrack by Talking Heads. What more could you ask for?
Lafe F

Quirky is right! Some of it rings of truth. I liked the songs about watching too much television, corporate religions and the kids in a suburban wasteland. The family dinner table communication rituals were bizarre. There is some nice imagery about American oblivion. I felt empty… More
Quirky is right! Some of it rings of truth. I liked the songs about watching too much television, corporate religions and the kids in a suburban wasteland. The family dinner table communication rituals were bizarre. There is some nice imagery about American oblivion. I felt empty after watching a society so bent, but was never bored. Michael Moore and Christopher Guest probably drew some inspiration from some of this.
Brett W

True Stories is a heartwarming, genuine, sometimes abstract look at the change taking place in Texas (and US in general) during the mid-1980's. David Byrne plays himself (sort of) as the narrator who looks upon the fictional town of Virgil and its odd inhabitants with a sort of… More
True Stories is a heartwarming, genuine, sometimes abstract look at the change taking place in Texas (and US in general) during the mid-1980's. David Byrne plays himself (sort of) as the narrator who looks upon the fictional town of Virgil and its odd inhabitants with a sort of child-like wonder as they prepare for their "celebration of specialness" anniversary celebration. Incorporating music from their album of the same name the Talking Heads (Byrne mostly) take us on a wondrously bittersweet adventure that weaves through the extraordinarily ordinary lives of Virgil's town folk. More than just a snapshot of the particular time and place this film captures the essence of American optimism, those intangible dreams and vapid pursuits that we are so fortunate to be able to undertake.

Cast

            David Byrne as Narrator

            John Goodman as Louis Fyne

            Swoosie Kurtz as Miss Rollings

            Spalding Gray as Earl Culver

            Alix Elias as Cute Woman

            Annie McEnroe as Kay Culver

            Roebuck "Pops" Staples as Mr. Tucker

            Umberto Larriva as Ramon

            John Ingle as Preacher

            Jo Harvey Allen as The Lying Woman

            Matthew Posey as Computer Guy

            Amy Buffington as Linda Culver

            Capucine de Wulf as The Little Girl on the Road

            Chris Douridas as Ventriloquist

            Richard Downlearn as Larry Culver

            L.T. Felty as Duck Hunter

            Ed Geldart as Grandfather in Mall

            Scott Valentine as Member of Air Band

            Tina Weymouth as Lip-Syncher

            Chris Frantz
            
            Jerry Harrison as Lip-Syncher

            Rex Taylor Smith as Member of Air Band

            Andrew Barach as Laughing Headline Reader #1

            Christopher Johnson as Mr. Tucker's Son

            Liz Moore as Teenage Girl in Field

            Frank Smith as Man in Church

            Pops Staples
            
            Tito Larriva
            
See full cast