David Byrne (center) in American Utopia
HBO has begun streaming American Utopia, which was filmed live during the show’s original Broadway run Oct. 20, 2019, to Feb. 16, 2020, at the Hudson Theatre. The creative team includes David Byrne and Brian Eno (lyrics and music), Daniel Lopatin (addl. lyrics and music), Spike Lee (direction), Ellen Kuras (cinematography), Adam Gough (film editing), Annie-B Parson (musical staging, choreography), Rob Sinclair (lights), Pete Keppler (sound), and Karl Mansfield and Mauro Refosco (musical direction). The cast includes David Byrne (guitar), Jacquelene Acevedo (percussion), Gustavo Di Dalva (percussion), Daniel Freedman (percussion), Chris Giarmo (vocals), Tim Keiper (percussion), Tendayi Kuumba (vocals), Karl Mansfield (keyboard), Mauro Refosco (percussion), Stéphane San Juan (percussion), Angie Swan (guitar), and Bobby Wooten III (bass). In April, the New York Drama Critics’ Circle awarded American Utopia a special citation, and the show plans to reopen Sep. 17, 2021, on Broadway.
Entertainment Weekly (Leah Greenblatt): Lee’s hand in all this seems to be a light one; aside from his clean, low-key camerawork, the show appears essentially as it did in the live performance. … Mostly he just lets the night unfurl itself, with Byrne as ringmaster, host, and resident sage — neatly soft-shoeing through the tuneful detritus of a wild, wild life. B+
The Guardian (Peter Bradshaw): Everything is brought off with perfect synchronicity and charm. And the hits keep coming. … There is no moment where Byrne dramatically opens up, either on stage or off, but perhaps that’s not the point. It’s a treat for Byrne fans, and could well make converts. 4 of 5 stars.
The New York Times (Manolha Dargis): One of the pleasures of this movie is how well it works (plays) scaled down. It’s a handsome, intelligently visual entertainment. … Using a variety of camera angles … Lee shows you parts of the show that normally only the theater crew would see. At other times, when a camera dives in alongside the musicians and dancers.
Roger Ebert (Brian Tallerico) American Utopia is a joyous expression of art, empathy, and compassion. … Byrne’s music and Lee’s craftsmanship work together to shake people out of complacency in multiple ways — find your joy, find your outrage, find something. … Seeing something this vibrantly alive feels like a miracle. 4 stars.
Variety (Owen Gleiberman) Spike Lee’s playful and entrancing big-screen version of David Byrne’s American Utopia is better than the next best thing — it feels more like a whole new thing. … There’s nothing ironic about the title of American Utopia. It’s David Byrne and Spike Lee reveling in the majesty, and hidden magic, of the here and now.
The Washington Post (Ann Hornaday) With his assembled troupe of artists from around the globe, representing a range of looks and sensibilities, he’s created his own perfect world onstage, one that Lee and his longtime cinematographer Ellen Kuras make intimately accessible to filmgoers. American Utopia is just the kind of healing, inspiring balm that the audience needs right now.