Neil Young - Heart of Gold
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Movie Reviews of Neil Young - Heart of Gold
Movie Review: Stunning...
Summary: 5 Stars
There are plenty of people who just don't get Neil. Crazy concept albums, wild style swings, lyrics about spaceships and Marlon Brando. You know, from a distance, he has given plenty of justification to his naysayers. I love Neil, but I haven't embraced his full body of work. I am partial to his acoustic stuff. Having said that, maybe it was my mood or the lack of time to invest, but the CD "Prairie Wind" just did not grab me when it came out.
I watched Heart of Gold the other night-how can you go wrong-Neil with his finest friends (on the acoustic side of his life), the Ryman, and Jonathan Demme (strange to think that Stop Making Sense and Silence of the Lambs are two of my favorite movies)... The results of this formula? Stunning, emotional, eloquent magic.
The Ryman Auditorium-been there, stood on the stage, got shivers from the ghosts of music and lives past. Neil and his band playing on this stage bring reverance and breathe life into many of the ghosts.
The music of Prairie Wind gets the added jolt of Neil's song introductions, the stories of his father, his ranch, his daughter and his life (don't forget Hank's guitar). There is great humor and poignancy in the introductions that had me choked up as he sang these songs.
The camera work, staging, sound and editing (beautifully explained in the DVD extras) are all incredible-complex logistically resulting in a simple beauty very appropriate for the man and his music. The incredible finish with Neil singing to an empty auditorium is THE best use of credits I have ever seen-
Now Prairie Wind really means something so much different and I will dedicate the time and ears to hear it all over again.
Be sure to dig into the extras and play the 1971 clip of Neil on the Johnny Cash show- a different and amazing bonus.
Movie Review: Outstanding performance
Summary: 5 Stars
I was fortunate enough to first see this movie in a small theater in Pleasantville, NY. It was advertised that Jonathan Demme would introduce the movie himself, so my wife and I headed down to a sold out showing. Mr. Demme came out, and shyly gave an all-to-brief explanation of how he came to make the movie, and what his objectives were. He wanted to capture Neil in a very natural state, and was pretty nervous, since he only had two perfomances to use for the film.
Well, the nevousness doesn't show, but he certianly captured Neil Young in his most natural state as a performer. It probably would have been quite simple to pack on the makeup, adjust the lighting, and have Neil appear 20 years younger. Hollywood does it all the time. But not here. Neil appears now as the elder statesmen, having nothing left to prove, only "inviting the muse" as he calls it.
And the music (the muse) does the real talking here, and the performace is superb. Relaxed yet intense, Mr. Young and company glide through a timeless collection of songs that are not out of place on the old stage of 'The Grand Ole Opry'. His vocals are perfect, at times defying his age, and the backing musicians all are in tune to exactly what Neil is doing.
And a big thank you for releasing this DVD in DTS 5.1 surround. I find it superior to Dolby 5.1 since it is not as compressed. The rear channels bring out the acoustics of the hall very well.
One of those rare occasions where everything is perfectly aligned - the performers, the sound, the song selection, the presentation - this is a music DVD for the ages. I remember thinking Mr. Demme's personal introduction of the movie was disappointing, but his skill behind the camera more than make up for this minor shortcoming.
Movie Review: A most enjoyable and moving film
Summary: 5 Stars
The movie is still doing a limited cinema season in Australia and is not listed for release here on DVD until mid August...have been twice to the cinema, once with a very good friend, and a couple of weeks later with my wife.
There is no doubt to me that this movie is (at least) 5 stars......I felt more emotion from this movie than most.
A young lady on a local Movie Show was disappointed that the movie did not reveal more on Neil Young's life......comment was the movie was only of a concert and comparison was made to Martin Scorsese's film on Bob Dylan.....
I think Heart of Gold revealed much about Neil Young's life... life, death, family, friends, childhood, illness etc...... it's a shame that the young lady missed all that.
The movie is so lovingly filmed and Neil Young is in the best of form, and looked great after an obviously trying year... the supporting cast was also outstanding....
The Painter, No Wonder, Falling from the Face of the Earth, Only a Dream, He for You, This Old Guitar......man, what great emotional songs......tears in my eyes at times...so much genuine love and passion....and the two songs less enjoyable for me on the album, Far from Home and the title track were seen from a new perspective and very enjoyable....
From Prairie Wind to some of the better known acoustic songs, Old Man, Comes a Time etc.....hey, what can you say......and the closing song....not a noise in the cinema......everyone was absolutely spellbound...
This is a rare movie worth watching many times...the movie does express the richness of life....
Movie Review: Young and Demme are equally brilliant
Summary: 5 Stars
I was pleasantly amazed by how ingeniously this film comes together. It is more than simply a "concert DVD," which are plentiful and often quite good. This takes the separate, yet equally appealling (When done properly) audio and video arts and masters them. The music; the actual concert, is brilliant. Sometimes, it's breathtaking. Neil Young is more than a mere rock star, performer or entertainer. He is the ancient tribal story teller. He's the philosopher who examines his soul on a daily basis and then translates it to words and music. This gift allows us to connect to him, not just because some music may be autobiographical, but because he digs deep down and shows us we aren't all as different, or alone as we think. I once had aspirations to write, but it was the tight, succinct, poignant voices of the great troubadors of our day that finally humbled me to where I finally gave up. People like Young and Dylan have the ability to say more in a sentence than the rest of us could in an entire book!
I'm rambling. If you've every enjoyed Neil Young at all, then just get this. Order it here, buy the used copy at your local video store, or down at your local Stuff-Mart. Just buy this DVD. It is outstanding, full of wonderful surprises and it has given me a much greater, more meaningful respect for this artist I've loved for so many years. The cinematography; the placement of cameras at the venue, the other elements beside the music and the way it was all put together was ingenious. I can not say enough about this movie. So I will shut up now and hope you enjoy it as I have.
Movie Review: Neil's Heart of Gold
Summary: 5 Stars
I was amazed by this DVD. A friend let us borrow it and we watched it three times before returning it. Then I ordered it from Amazon and we watch it all the time.
In the beginning you learn that Neil is going in for an operation soon and his friends are all coming to help record this video. By hearing all of them talk about Neil, you know the friendships are strong and longlasting.
The music begins with the Prairie Wind album, every song is meaningful and touching. I love the looks between Neil and his wife. He talks about the guitar he is using, how it used to be Hank's. The entire video is moving. Neil also talks about his father, who he lost shortly before the project started, and about different memories in his life. He seems to be reminiscing about his life and it is all so heartwarming. The second half is marked by a change of clothes and songs, no longer from the Prairie Wind album.
The cinematography is fantastic... it's as if the cameras aren't even there. The few times Neil looks directly at the camera it's as if he's looking right at you. It gave me chills. Sometimes I still get teary watching the last few songs. The special features are amazing and informative, a delight to watch.
I don't know what I would do if anything ever happended to this dvd... it is my favorite one. I like to have the music on in the background while I work or play games with my fiance. A must-have for any Neil Young fan... classic, heartwarming and different from anything else I have.