Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast and Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com and The Hollywood Reportershare some weird secrets and talk about True Stories! Co-writer/director David Byrne's 1986 film is hard to classify. It's not strictly a comedy; it's kind of a musical; and whether or not it's a love story about people or a love letter to America--well, that's debatable.
Whatever it is, the guys' first experience with the oddball residents of Virgil, Texas, was revelatory. In this free-wheeling discussion, Ian and Nick look at the movies that might have been inspired by Byrne's cult gem (The Talking Heads front-man's first--and so-far last--feature); wonder how it would play today; and open up about some not-so-flattering gaps in their own movie knowledge (and entertainment centers)!
Also, Ian recommends Rober Zemeckis' 1978 Beatles-fandom comedy, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, which hits Blu-ray tomorrow from The Criterion Collection (True Stories was a Criterion release last fall); and remembers the impossibly influential, criminally under-appreciated filmmaker Larry Cohen, who passed away over the weekend.
Episode 393 is real country--not that fake Hollywood country!
Show Guide:
A Word from Olivia Jade: 0:00 - 0:07
Intro Music: 0:00 - 0:15
Intro/Larry Cohen Tribute: 0:15 - 7:48
True Stories Trailer: 7:48 - 9:46
True Stories Discussion: 9:46 - 50:30
Outro Music: 50:50 - 50:45
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