American Utopia (2020)- BFI London Film Festival 2020

Review

105min

Genre:       Drama, Music, Musical

Director:     Spike Lee

Cast:         David Byrne, Angie Swan, Bobby Wooten III…and more

Writers:     David Byrne

-Synopsis-

David Byrne gets the Spike Lee treatment as the veteran New York director captures the singular new wave star’s 2019 Broadway show in all its glory. An expertly executed minimalist concept featuring Byrne and a diverse selection of talented musicians playing and dancing their way through songs from his 2018 album, a selection of ‘Talking Heads’ hits, and other tracks, while threading a loose narrative about human connection which chronicles a detached and divided world, but leaves a message of hope you can truly tap your toes and shake your hips to.

When it comes to quirky melodic reflections of the world in which we live, and playful existentialist musical commentaries on the absurdities of 20^th century Western life, there are few more successful exponents than David Byrne and his hall of fame band ‘Talking Heads’, a perfect conduit for the Scottish-American’s eccentricities and creativity which led to an extraordinary artistic career, forged in the experimental pop-punk fires of 1970s and 1980s American new wave and avant-garde. And all that experience came together with a despair over the present but hope for the future in 2018 for his seventh studio album ‘American Utopia’—a musical creation forming part of a larger artistic project aimed at spreading positivity and promise—which was then gloriously expanded to the Broadway stage the year after, and now comes to our screens.

Byrne takes the stage alongside a troupe of eleven musician/performers from across the globe, led with funkadelic mastery by guitarist Angie Swan and bassist Bobby Wooten III, as they play, sing, dance and prance around the stage in carefully choreographed yet naturalistic fashion for the best part of two hours. Turning Byrne’s music and that of others into observational musings and a loose and heartfelt sermon on uniting humanity, while reminding us of society’s sins yet delivering a message of optimism—but most importantly entertaining and delighting us with a melodic tapestry you can’t resist.

‘American Utopia’ really is a jukebox musical for our times. A beautifully captured toe-tapping sing-along theatre experience which blends concert film and narrative piece while bringing plenty of joy and rhythmic energy. But it is at times poignant and tempered by the nature of the society in which it takes place, and has plenty to say about a divided world in turmoil and an American culture in peril, with social justice and the ethos of the BLM movement briefly taking centre stage. Even fleetingly pondering existential musings revolving around the concept of objective truth and perception, and the very nature of human existence and its evolution.

But Byrne frames his message subtly and with righteousness, but devoid of anger and without beating the audience over the head with it. Highlighting the quirkiness of the human experience and the absurdity of the systems in which we have become conditioned to live, deftly threading through that classic mantra of what unites us being far stronger and more plentiful than what divides us, ultimately delivering humour and an upbeat tone of hope . . . but encouraging vigilance too.

As far as filmed stage plays or indeed concert films go, it doesn’t get that much better than ‘American Utopia’. Byrne’s Broadway show is so vibrant and intricate, and his discography so quirky, melodic and ponderous that the film feels like more than the sum of its parts. Meanwhile Spike Lee’s cinematic mastery makes sure the energy of the performances and every nuance is captured from every angle—from an audience point of view and stage overheads to cinematic closeups and low angles—making full use of not only the entire stage but all of New York City’s landmark Hudson Theatre where the show took place.

Byrne’s message and declaration of hope is delivered through the music here, and the music is delivered in all its funky glory by the show’s band and co-stars. An eclectic group of musicians of every shape, colour, and size, who form a sort of dynamic barefooted uninformedly dressed orchestra which at times looks like a meticulously choreographed marching band and at others a conga line procession, as well as a freestyle performance art troupe. Meanwhile Byrne floats between joining them and stepping out as the frontman and narrator, displaying an energy which betrays both his years and introvertive personality, while raising the bar for himself as a lead performer.

Whether you’re a ‘Talking Heads’ fan itching for vibrant versions of ‘Once in a Lifetime’ and ‘Burning Down the House’ among other hits, an admirer of David Byrne’s solo work and the album on which this is all based, or completely new to the man’s unique artistic endeavours, it will be hard to resist the rhythmic charms of ‘American Utopia’. Ultimately though, as Byrne states himself, this is a show about people. About how we connect to each other and the possibility of change within and without, about the future not being set and our minds and behaviour not having to be either.

All of these are messages that the show layers with hope and promise rather than judgement and recrimination, which for some in these divided times will still be confronting and for others not aggressive enough, but for us in a COVID-stricken world in turmoil is just dandy. Wherever you sit on the political spectrum, and whether you’re open to the show’s socio-political leanings or not, it’s nearly impossible to walk away from the ‘American Utopia’ experience without feeling hopeful, energised . . . and thoroughly entertained.

The Bottom Line…

Spike Lee skilfully brings David Byrne’s socially conscious, gloriously melodious, thought-provoking life-affirming Broadway jukebox musical to the screen, as the singular frontman gathers consummate musicians and performers to deliver a unique blend of concert film and performance art which will delight and entertain both non stage musical fans and devotees alike—and will have you dusting off your ‘Talking Heads’ albums in no time.

‘American Utopia’ is out now in the US and on the 14th of December on VoD in the UK.

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