David Byrne

The Last Emperor -- Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor won nine Academy Awards, unexpectedly sweeping every category in which it was nominated.

True Stories -- Comedic musical vision of contemporary life and the directorial debut of Talking Heads leader David Byrne; looks at life and unique qualities which make ordinary people special. Based on Byrne's collection of human interest pieces from tabloids

Those of us who had to suffer such "instructional" films as Dating Do's and Don'ts in high school will be especially entertained by Heavy Petting. In the visually sarcastic manner of the nuclear-age documentary The Atomic Cafe, the film assembles masses of information and misinformation about teenage dating rituals of the 1950s. Clips from contemporary movies, TV programs, commercials, and "sex hygiene" short subjects are used throughout; perhaps once upon a time these vignettes could have been taken seriously, but here they're only good for howls of laughter. Interspersed among the vintage footage are interviews with such children of the 1960s as David Byrne and William S. Burroughs. One look at the 1950s as depicted in Heavy Petting, and it's easy to see how the sensuous, psychedelic '60s came to be.

This comedic musical vision of contemporary life marks the directorial debut of Talking Heads leader David Byrne ("Stop Making Sense"). Written by Byrne and Pulitzer Prize-winner Beth Henley ("Crimes of the Heart"), this film looks at everyday life and the unique qualities which make ordinary people special. Based on Byrne's collection of human interest pieces taken from tabloid newspapers, and starring multi-Emmy nominees John Goodman ("The Flintstones," "Roseanne") and Swoosie Kurtz (TV's "Sisters"). The music video "Wild Wild Life," performed by the Talking Heads, is available for promotion.