True Stories

David Byrne plays host as well as co-writer and composer for his sole directorial feature film effort, a whimsical tour through the oddball Americana of a small (fictional) Texas town. Dressed in a black ten gallon hat and a succession of nicely-fitted casual suits in an ice-cream-rainbow of colors while driving a red convertible through the endless plains, Byrne addresses the camera directly like a master of ceremonies as he leads us through the eccentric characters and curious activities of the fictional town of Virgil, TX, as it prepares to celebrate the state’s 150th anniversary. John Goodman (in his first major screen role) is the good-natured Louis Fyne, a man who just wants to fall in love and get married, and he’s the closest the film has to a main character as his story winds through that of others, including a happily married couple who haven’t spoken in 15 years, a pathological liar, and the laziest woman in the world, as well as the most surreal fashion show ever seen. Four of Byrne’s songs are performed by his band Talking Heads, while the others are sung by characters in the movie. But True Stories is not a musical in any conventional sense; rather, it is an affectionate satire of suburban culture and small-town quirks, filled with kitsch and deadpan gags but also warmth for its characters. Extras include a new documentary, a featurette on late graphic designer Tibor Kalman, a vintage behind-the-scenes featurette, an homage to Virgil, TX, deleted scenes, a bonus CD soundtrack, and a booklet with essays and production photos. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)