David Byrne’s American Utopia review- byrne and lee deliver 2020’s greatest cultural event
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God bless David Byrne and Spike Lee! On paper, this seems like ‘The Odd Couple’. The wholesome icon of 80s new wave combined with the James Baldwin of filmmaking is not the most obvious of pairings. Now, they seem as inseparable as bread and butter. Byrne’s energy through music and performance and Lee’s passionately political filmmaking create both a sense of euphoria and foreboding for America’s future.
Originating as a Broadway show from 2019, this seems like little more than a filmed concert at first (not that’s anything to complain about). But Lee is not interested in simply placing cameras around the auditorium and shooting coverage. It has the vitality and urgency of the best of his films, even surpassing his earlier 2020 effort ‘Da 5 Bloods’. Utilizing a mixture of both Talking Heads and Byrne’s solo work, it creates an intimate portrait of the artist that successfully frames him in the context of modern America.
Byrne is no stranger to cinema either. He directed and starred in the underrated True Stories, but his most famous cinematic contribution will always be as the centrepiece of Jonathan Demme’s 1984 concert film Stop Making Sense. It is rightly hailed as the gold standard of its kind, one that fully captures the exhilaration of a live gig. Byrne and Lee have achieved a similar calibre here. There is not a single song that feels out of place. Everything from ‘Once in a Lifetime’ to ‘Burning Down the House’ are all perfectly intertwined with some of the weightier, political themes of the production. Even Byrne’s newer discography fit perfectly with his signature tunes.
On the topic of politics, there is a strange sense of apprehension in Byrne’s performance. The young Byrne of Demme’s film was filled with a youthful and sprightly presence that fit in with 1980s hedonism. Here, he seems more anxious and worrisome about the USA’s present and future. One effective moment has Byrne talk about statistics relating to low voter turnout in America. He shines an actual light onto 20% of the auditorium, the same percentage of turnout in local elections.
Stop Making Sense was notable for focusing entirely on the music and performance, with Demme rarely ever shooting audience reaction. Lee is not interested in that. For him, the harmonious union that a live audience has through a show is key in getting his message across. The repetition of the line “same as it ever was” from ‘Once in a Lifetime’ is reflective of the consistent, divisive underbelly of America. Only through active participation can change occur.
A big shoutout should also be given to the other musicians, backup singers and dancers who fully bring Byrne’s music to life. The choreography and their immense musical talent are so key in getting Lee and Byrne’s message across to the audience. Perhaps the film’s most effective moment is a cover of Janelle Monáe’s ‘Hell You Talmbout’. It is a powerful sequence and one of Lee’s most profound scenes to date. And without the strength of Byrne’s performers, it would have likely lost its power.
It’s not all doom and gloom. And that is why American Utopia works so well. Art, and especially music is about the balance of entertainment with current socio-political themes. Its why everyone from Bob Dylan to Tupac to Byrne himself have remained such relevant cultural icons. During the pandemic, much has been talked about the state of arts, particularly live music, and theatre. Not just the intense economic pressures on struggling artists, but also the cultural hole of being in a crowded place and watching great performers at work. Whilst watching American Utopia might not satisfy that hole in the long term, it does an excellent job for 105 minutes.
