David Byrne's American Utopia
First screened in August 2025
Director: Spike Lee. Documentary capturing David Byrne's Broadway transfer of his American Utopia touring show.

   
Photo © 2020 HBO Documentary Films/Participant
40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks
In Brief: Lively, committed job of filming a concert both familiar and innovative, in a complex happy/sad key.

VOR: ④  Engaging on its own terms, and a revealing comparison/contrast to Stop Making Sense. Lee follows Byrne's lead and echoes Demme but stays himself.

Grade: B+

Primetime Emmy Awards:
Outstanding Variety Special
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special: Spike Lee
Outstanding Music Direction: Karl Mansfield
Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control for a Special: Ellen Kuras, Gregor Tavenner, Peter Agliata, Charles Libin, Declan Quinn, Sam Levy, David Waterston, Tim Ives, Kerwin DeVonish, Yousheng Tang
★Outstanding Lighting Design for a Variety Special: Robin Sinclair, Brian Spett
★Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special: Paul Hsu, Michael Lonsdale, Pete Keppler
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