Ep704: Byrning Down the House: TRUE STORIES of AMERICAN UTOPIA with Armond White
Armond White returns with an episode he not only named but also suggested: A look at two films featuring The Talking Heads front-man, Davide Byrne!
Byrne's directorial debut, True Stories, turns 35 this year, and finds the aloof musician wandering the streets of fictitious Virgil, Texas on the eve of its sesquicentennial celebration. More than three decades later, Byrne emerged with 2020's American Utopia, the film version of his hit Broadway show, directed by Spike Lee.
Ian and Armond examine the sociopolitical themes in both films and offer a counter to some of the ideas they find unsettling. From Byrne's apparently elitist view of middle America; to an embarrassing self-flagellation in service of bumper-sticker activism, the guys track the bizarre twists and turns of an artist they'd once greatly admired.
NOTE: Due to some technical issues (possibly a bum internet connection), the audio and video aren't as solid as they could be. We're working on a fix for next time.
Show Links:
Watch the True Stories trailer.
Watch the David Byrne’s American Utopia trailer.
Follow Armond at The National Review.
Order the book that inspired this discussion, Armond's Make Spielberg Great Again.
Listen to Ian's earlier True Stories conversation with RogerEbert.com's Nick Allen on the Kicking the Seat Podcast #393.
Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!
