American Utopia (film)
American Utopia | |
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Official poster | |
Directed by | Spike Lee |
Written by | David Byrne |
Produced by |
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Starring | David Byrne |
Cinematography | Ellen Kuras |
Edited by | Adam Gough |
Music by | David Byrne |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | HBO (United States) Universal Pictures (International)[1] |
Release dates |
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Running time | 105 minutes[2] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $275,304[3] |
American Utopia is a 2020 American concert film directed and produced by Spike Lee, from a screenplay by David Byrne. The film is a live recording of a Broadway performance of the show adapted from the touring show that supported the album of the same name. The film features selections from that album, as well as songs from throughout Byrne's career. Byrne performed alongside eleven musicians, all of whom used wireless or portable equipment. Frequent collaborator Annie-B Parson served as choreographer.
It had its world premiere at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2020. The film received critical acclaim.
Cast
[edit]All provide percussion; all except Byrne provide backing vocals.
- David Byrne – lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
- Chris Giarmo – dancing, melodica
- Tendayi Kuumba – dancing
- Karl Mansfield – keyboards, musical director
- Angie Swan – electric guitar
- Bobby Wooten III – bass
- Mauro Refosco – drums, musical director
- Tim Keiper – drums
- Gustavo Di Dalva – drums
- Jacquelene Acevedo – drums
- Daniel Freedman – drums
- Stephane San Juan – drums
Songs
[edit]- "Here" (from American Utopia)
- "I Know Sometimes a Man Is Wrong" (from Rei Momo)
- "Don't Worry About the Government" (from Talking Heads: 77)
- "Lazy" (from Muzikizum by X-Press 2)
- "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" (from Speaking in Tongues)
- "I Zimbra" (from Fear of Music)
- "Slippery People" (from Speaking in Tongues)
- "I Should Watch TV" (from Love This Giant)
- "Everybody's Coming to My House" (from American Utopia)
- "Once in a Lifetime" (from Remain in Light)
- "Glass, Concrete & Stone" (from Grown Backwards)
- "Toe Jam" (from I Think We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat by The Brighton Port Authority)
- "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" (from Remain in Light)
- "I Dance Like This" (from American Utopia)
- "Bullet" (from American Utopia)
- "Every Day Is a Miracle" (from American Utopia)
- "Blind" (from Naked)
- "Burning Down the House" (from Speaking in Tongues)
- "Hell You Talmbout" (by Janelle Monáe)
- "One Fine Day" (from Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
- "Road to Nowhere" (from Little Creatures)
- "Everybody's Coming to My House: Detroit" (End Credits)
Production
[edit]In June 2020, it was announced Spike Lee had directed a filmed version of the Broadway performance American Utopia by David Byrne, with HBO distributing.[4][5]
Release
[edit]The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2020.[6] It screened at the New York Film Festival on October 3, 2020,[7][8] and the BFI London Film Festival on October 14, 2020.[9][10] It was broadcast in the United States and Canada on HBO and made available for streaming through HBO Max (U.S.) and Crave (Canada) on October 17, 2020.[11][12] Universal Pictures distributes the film in all other countries.[1] The film received a limited theatrical release in the United States throughout September 2021.
Reception
[edit]American Utopia received critical acclaim. It holds a 98% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 135 reviews, with an average of 8.6/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Helmed in elegant and exhilarating style by Spike Lee, David Byrne's American Utopia is a concert film that doubles as a joyously cathartic celebration."[13] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 92 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[14]
Erik Adams of The A.V. Club devotes a lengthy review to American Utopia as "the right movie for 2020", noting how Byrne balances hope in a tumultuous world, writing, "The key to American Utopia's resonance isn’t so much one of joy versus despair as it is connection versus isolation".[15]
Accolades
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Grater, Tom (September 22, 2020). "Spike Lee-Directed 'David Byrne's American Utopia' Heading To Universal PCG For International". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- ^ "American Utopia". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on September 6, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ "David Byrne's American Utopia (2020)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ Kim Murphy, J. (June 16, 2020). "Spike Lee-Directed Filmed Version of 'David Byrne's American Utopia' to Premiere on HBO". Variety. Archived from the original on July 22, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ White, Peter (June 16, 2020). "Spike Lee-Directed Film Version Of 'David Byrne's American Utopia' Heads To HBO". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ Lang, Brent (July 21, 2020). "'American Utopia,' Spike Lee's David Byrne Concert Film, to Open Toronto Film Festival". Variety. Archived from the original on July 22, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ Welk, Brian (August 27, 2020). "Sofia Coppola's 'On the Rocks,' Pedro Almodovar's 'The Human Voice' and Orson Welles Doc Added to NYFF Lineup". TheWrap. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ^ "American Utopia". New York Film Festival. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ "American Utopia". BFI London Film Festival. Archived from the original on October 5, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (September 8, 2020). "'Nomadland,' 'American Utopia,' 'Soul' Added as Rejigged London Film Festival Unveils Full Program". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 9, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (August 24, 2020). "Watch the New Trailer for David Byrne's American Utopia, Directed by Spike Lee". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
- ^ Evans, Greg (August 24, 2020). "'David Byrne's American Utopia' Teaser: HBO Releases First Look At Spike Lee's Film Adaptation Of Broadway Smash". Deadline. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "David Byrne's American Utopia (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on January 19, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
- ^ "American Utopia". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- ^ Adams, Erik (October 19, 2020). "David Byrne and Spike Lee Made American Utopia the Right Movie for 2020". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
- ^ "Chloé Zhao's Nomadland Leads Chicago Film Critics Association 2020 Award Nominations". Chicago Film Critics Association. December 18, 2020. Archived from the original on December 18, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ "2020 Florida Film Critics Circle Award Nominations". Florida Film Critics Circle. December 17, 2020. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
- ^ Anderson, Erik (January 11, 2021). "San Diego Film Critics give love to 'Promising Young Woman,' 'Sound of Metal'". Awards Watch. Archived from the original on March 23, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ "Nomadland Leads 24th Annual TFCA Awards". Toronto Film Critics Association. February 7, 2021. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ Lewis, Hilary; O'Connell, Mikey (March 8, 2021). "DGA Awards: 'Ted Lasso,' 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Score Two TV Nominations Apiece". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ Giardina, Carolyn (March 11, 2021). "'Minari,' 'Trial of the Chicago 7' Among American Cinema Editors' Eddie Awards Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ "David Byrne's American Utopia". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ "2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Nominations List". Grammy Awards. November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
External links
[edit]- 2020 films
- American documentary films
- American rock music films
- Concert films
- Films set in a theatre
- Documentary films about Broadway theatre
- Films directed by Spike Lee
- Participant (company) films
- HBO Films films
- Universal Pictures films
- Special Tony Award recipients
- 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks films
- 2020s English-language films
- 2020s American films