Jonathan Demme’s love of rock ‘n roll and an uncanny ability to capture the spirit of individual artists has been evident throughout his career. He revolutionized the concert film, used soundtracks to drive his films, and turned non-musical stars into performers.
Here’s ten videos that capture just one side of this amazing artist’s brilliance.
Read More: Jonathan Demme, Oscar-Winning Director of ‘Silence of the Lambs,’ Dies At 73
“Pyscho Killer,” Talking Heads
Arguably, the greatest and most important concert film of all-time, “Stop Making Sense” not only showcases the uniqueness of the Talking Heads, but their theatricality, invention and sense of cinema – referencing a number of classic films. The introduction to the movie is a pure Demme and David Byrne creation, with a gentle nod to “Dr. Strangelove.”
The Big Suit in “Girlfriend is Better,” Talking Heads
David Byrne emerging in the big suit in “Stop Making Sense...
Here’s ten videos that capture just one side of this amazing artist’s brilliance.
Read More: Jonathan Demme, Oscar-Winning Director of ‘Silence of the Lambs,’ Dies At 73
“Pyscho Killer,” Talking Heads
Arguably, the greatest and most important concert film of all-time, “Stop Making Sense” not only showcases the uniqueness of the Talking Heads, but their theatricality, invention and sense of cinema – referencing a number of classic films. The introduction to the movie is a pure Demme and David Byrne creation, with a gentle nod to “Dr. Strangelove.”
The Big Suit in “Girlfriend is Better,” Talking Heads
David Byrne emerging in the big suit in “Stop Making Sense...
- 4/26/2017
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
[Editor’s Note: Our own Scott Drebit hosted panels last weekend at the sixth annual Calgary Horror Con. At the three-day event, Scott caught up with Ari Lehman, the first actor to ever play Jason Voorhees, to discuss his years in the ’80s New York City music scene, performing onstage in Africa, and singing and playing the keytar in his punk rock/heavy metal band First Jason.]
Congratulations on melting everyone’s faces off Friday night with your solo performance as First Jason.
Ari Lehman: Thank you! That’s why we’re there, to melt faces, to melt brains. That’s kind of you to say. I love playing First Jason’s songs on the electric keytar; it has a certain kind of sound, it’s very loud. But usually I have the emotional and musical support of my bandmates; my drummer, whose name ironically is Bass Amp, and our guitarist, Eddie Machete—they give me so much support, and it just makes me feel great having them there. So I felt that it came off well; but it was an adjustment. The audience was so receptive and it was a great experience for me, too, playing that way.
I was there with my niece, and I knew of the band, but I assumed it was just you.
Congratulations on melting everyone’s faces off Friday night with your solo performance as First Jason.
Ari Lehman: Thank you! That’s why we’re there, to melt faces, to melt brains. That’s kind of you to say. I love playing First Jason’s songs on the electric keytar; it has a certain kind of sound, it’s very loud. But usually I have the emotional and musical support of my bandmates; my drummer, whose name ironically is Bass Amp, and our guitarist, Eddie Machete—they give me so much support, and it just makes me feel great having them there. So I felt that it came off well; but it was an adjustment. The audience was so receptive and it was a great experience for me, too, playing that way.
I was there with my niece, and I knew of the band, but I assumed it was just you.
- 6/17/2016
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Sometimes it's interesting to just try and figure out why a film is included in the Criterion Collection. While mainstream audiences may be aware of Criterion releases, I think it's safe to say the Collection is still primarily known for bringing us classic works from the likes of Kurosawa, Bergman, Godard, Melville, Malle, Bunuel, etc. rather than the more infrequent inclusions of mainstream works such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Armageddon, The Rock and RoboCop. Even when they do stray into mainstream territory it infrequently is a film most general moviegoers would recognize or have seen, such is the case with Jonathan Demme's Something Wild a little seen 1986 feature that generated a modest $8.3 million back in 1986 and is in fact Ray Liotta's first feature film, but even I had never heard of it before it was announced as part of the Collection.
- 6/7/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
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