David Byrne,
John Goodman,
Swoosie Kurtz,
Spalding Gray,
Alix Elias
... see more 
Director David Byrne (of Talking Heads) takes an outside-looking-in glance at Texas and Texans in True Stories. Casting himself as the protagonist/narrator, Byrne adopts what he thinks is "standard" w... read more
DVD Release Date: March 30, 1999
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Stats: 317 reviews
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Flixster Reviews (317)
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February 25, 2008A quirky, comic and insightful look at "Americana" through the eyes of one of the musical geniuses of our lifetime, Mr. David Byrne. Sountrack by Talking Heads. What more could you ask for?
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February 17, 2008Quirky is right! Some of it rings of truth. I liked the songs about watching too much television, corporate religions and the kids in a suburban wasteland. The family dinner table communication rituals were bizarre. There is some nice imagery about American oblivion. I felt empty... read more
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February 15, 2010True Stories is a heartwarming, genuine, sometimes abstract look at the change taking place in Texas (and US in general) during the mid-1980's. David Byrne plays himself (sort of) as the narrator who looks upon the fictional town of Virgil and its odd inhabitants with a sort of c... read more
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March 8, 2009As a virtually plotless parody of everything and everyone, the film is fated to be a mixed bag, only worsened by its susceptibility to some tacky 80's cheese. It's obvious, though, that Byrne has created something significantly ingenious and worthy of the watch.
Thro... read more -
November 22, 2008I have something to say about the difference between American and European cities. But I've forgotten what it is. I have it written down at home though.
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June 8, 2008A virtually unknown early piece of indie cinema, mixed with Talking Heads. If you like obscure subversive humor and singer/songwriter David Byrne's filmmaking, see it.
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June 8, 2008Smug and relentlessly insulting to its subjects, this Texas travelogue turned me off forever to David Byrne. No no, don't even try to tell me. I don't want to know.
The most unforgivable to me, the segments featuring Esteban Jordan -- a musical treasure and a true Texas characte... read more -
February 7, 2008Rented this on a whim a few years ago after a suggestion from a coworker. Since then, it's become one of my favorite movies. David Byrne is such a gentle, sweet-natured narrator, and all the characters are so darn cute and likeable, you can't not smile when you're watching this... read more
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April 30, 2007This is the gist, David Byrne (Talking Heads) takes you to a fictional town in Texas that's getting ready to celebrate it's Sesquicentennial. Loads of cameos! And to warn you, it's a musical. The people in the town are weird, they just are, and they're happy being weird. You don'... read more
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March 12, 2007It has only been just recently that I've learned to appreciate musicals so I'm not sure I'm the most qualified to review them, but with that said, I did enjoy the catchy tunes and very, very odd story.
Critic Reviews
January 9, 2007
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
July 28, 2005
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
A very quirky but not unkind take on American life that's Byrnian through and through.
July 7, 2005
Luke Y. Thompson, LYTRules.com
Absolutely amazing. If there is such a thing as the perfect American movie, this certainly comes close.
March 11, 2005
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
good soundtrack, but smothered by a condescending attitude
October 31, 2004
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
If this was even half as hip and smart as it thinks, it'd be a classic.
August 25, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
The bottom line is that Byrne and company offer us nothing more than another patronizing view of small-town America.
March 17, 2004
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)
Post-modern pastiche on the then-hip American West; fun, strange, and distinctly a product of its time.
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True Stories
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