Tina Weymouth names her five favourite movies
Tina Weymouth, the first lady of the Talking Heads, is a legend in the music world. A leading light as one of the most influential bass players in alternative music, the musical impact of Talking Heads and the Tom Tom Club is immeasurable.
As a band, Talking Heads regularly delved into the world of cinema. Their 1986 album, True Stories, was written as a soundtrack for lead singer David Byrne’s film of the same name. Similarly, their own concert film, Stop Making Sense, was a pioneering release, pushing the boundaries of what a music film could be as they merged movie magic and theatrical details with a traditional live show.
Weymouth’s own tastes are as eclectic as the music she makes. In conversation with Letterboxd, while her bandmates pick out more predictable choices for their favourite films, the bass player highlights a mix of chick flicks, modern releases and old forgotten pictures. While David Byrne spotlights Star Wars or Jerry Harrison picks Apocalypse Now, Weymouth isn’t afraid to reject any notions of what might be expected from the cool band.
First up, however, Weymouth celebrates a legend. “I love the Fellini movie Juliet Of The Spirits,” she says, dedicating her first pick to the 1965 fantasy flick. The comedy-drama from Federico Fellini is a cult classic starring some of the biggest names in 1960s Italian cinema. The film picked up Oscar nominations for its costume and set design, possibly appealing to Weymouth through its alluring aesthetics.
But the bass player refuses to stick to classics or cinematic masterpieces; she celebrates the cringe and the lightheartedness too, as she confesses, “I love a real chick flick.” In particular, she chose one 2003 romantic comedy, stating, “I love that movie with Diane Lane called Under A Tuscan Sun.” A kind of Eat Pray Love style film about a divorced woman buying a villa abroad, Weymouth is unashamed of her choice, adding, “It’s just a feel-good movie.”
As a woman of eclectic tastes, her next choice wades into darker waters. “I loved Parasite,” she says, picking the acclaimed 2019 Korean thriller as a favourite. The movie swept numerous awards and accolades upon release, becoming the first non-English language film to win Best Picture at the Oscars. For Weymouth, it was the film’s consideration of class that captured her interest, adding, “That was such a great depiction of the dichotomy between those who have and those who don’t.”
Whether or not it’s one of her favourite films of all time or merely a movie she recently rewatched on TV, her fourth and final pick went to a 1988 crime comedy by the same director that made their film, Stop Making Sense. “Just the other night, Jonathan Demme’s Married To The Mob was on with Michelle Pfeiffer,” she told Letterboxd with no additional rationale beyond, “She was just so cute.”
As a bonus fifth favourite, she agrees with her bandmate and husband, Chris Weymouth, as he chooses the 1957 classic Old Yeller as one of his picks, exclaiming, “Oh my gosh, I loved Old Yeller!”
Tina Weymouth’s favourite films:
- Juliet Of The Spirits (1965)
- Under A Tuscan Sun (2003)
- Parasite (2019)
- Married To The Mob (1988)
- Old Yeller (1957)
