The Big Picture · Review · Top Five
September 26, 2023/ 103 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins · Rob Harvilla
Stop Making Sense returns to theaters in a 4K rerelease, and Sean, Amanda, and guest Rob Harvilla argue over the best concert film ever made before drafting their own top fives.
16 films across 4 segments.
AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.
Stop Making Sense at 40Jonathan Demme's 1984 Talking Heads concert film, rereleased in 4K by A24
Jonathan Demme's document of Talking Heads' 1983 tour, staged and shot as a fully constructed piece rather than a captured moment. Rereleased in 4K by A24 for its 40th anniversary. Both hosts call it the best concert film ever made, ahead of The Last Waltz.
Sean Fennessey's top five concert filmsbest to worst
Albert and David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin's document of the Rolling Stones' 1969 tour, ending at the Altamont Speedway show where a concertgoer was stabbed to death by a Hells Angel working security. Shot in the Maysles' direct-cinema style, including footage of Mick Jagger watching the violence back on an editing deck.
Sydney Pollack filmed Aretha Franklin recording her 1972 gospel album live at a small church, but the footage sat unsynced and unreleased for over 30 years until Alan Elliott finished it. Franklin blocked its release in her lifetime; it came out a year after she died.
Michel Gondry's film of the block party Dave Chappelle threw in Brooklyn in 2004, mixing performances from Kanye West, Erykah Badu, Mos Def, and a Fugees reunion with Chappelle putting the whole thing together.
Bert Stern's only film as director, shot at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival and intercut with footage of that year's America's Cup sailing races. Louis Armstrong, Thelonious Monk, and Mahalia Jackson all perform.
Chronicles LCD Soundsystem's announced-in-advance final show at Madison Square Garden on April 2, 2011.
Rob Harvilla's top five concert filmsbest to worst
Martin Scorsese's film of The Band's farewell concert on Thanksgiving 1976 at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom, with guest turns from Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Van Morrison, and Neil Diamond.
Beyoncé directed and stars in this document of her 2018 Coachella headlining set, built around a tribute to historically Black colleges and universities. A joint pick with Amanda.
Prince directed this concert film himself, staged with dialogue and comic interludes between songs; Sheila E. plays drums throughout.
Jem Cohen's document of Fugazi, split between concert footage and behind-the-scenes material shot over the band's decade together.
Michael Wadleigh's document of the 1969 festival; Rob watched the 1994 director's cut, which runs 224 minutes and was edited in part by Martin Scorsese and Thelma Schoonmaker.
Amanda Dobbins's top five concert filmsbest to worst
Peter Jackson's reedit and expansion of outtakes from the 1969 Let It Be sessions, ending with the band's impromptu rooftop concert.
Beyoncé's 2018 Coachella set, built around a tribute to historically Black colleges and universities. A joint pick with Rob.
Spike Lee's film of David Byrne's Broadway show, built around Talking Heads songs and staged in explicit conversation with Stop Making Sense.
Alek Keshishian's document of Madonna's 1990 Blond Ambition tour, shot in black and white behind the scenes and color on stage.
Chronicles Jay-Z's announced retirement concert at Madison Square Garden, intercut with studio footage of The Black Album sessions with Kanye West, Pharrell, Timbaland, and Rick Rubin.
Also mentioned raised along the way
Also part of the concert-film conversation Monterey PopFestivalSummer of SoulBackstage
Coming soon Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
In passing TrollsTrolls World TourTrolls Band TogetherWonkaDune: Part TwoRedsThe Super Mario Bros. MovieThe FlashBlue BeetleThe CreatorJustin Bieber: Never Say NeverKaty Perry: Part of MeLemonadeRenaissance: A Film by Beyoncé
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV MTV UnpluggedKelce (Amazon Prime docuseries)
Podcasts The Ringer Wrestling ShowThe Town with Matthew BelloniThe Watch60 Songs That Explain the 90s
Games FIFA World Cup Launch Edition
Ads Boar's HeadCarvanaFanDuel