Greendale

I realize how it is with fans and super-fans. They love their artist and wish to find anything good or redeeming in their latest work. Even when it isn't really there. I've loved Neil's music since the olden days, yet I was not very entertained by this movie.

The music was essentially a one-off. He went into a studio with Crazy Horse (minus Pancho) and just dashed off a bunch of songs, recorded them, done. This has worked well for him on some of his past record albums, but all the electric songs sound the same here, and not really very good at all by NY-CH standards. The acoustic tune "What You Were Looking For" is OK, and the electric finisher "Be The River" is rousing and enjoyable (in large part thanks to the kids doing the chorus refrain).

The Story? It's there if you pay close attention, but I soon found myself not caring enough to try. As I felt that he didn't care enough either.

I'd seen the concert version of Greendale (rock opera?) in Phoenix, AZ, and was impressed. The film was shot all in Super 8 which I think fits perfect with Neil Young's style over the decades. It's rocky, rainy day feeling goes hand in hand with Neil's music. The original way in which the characters mouth the lines that Neil sings (the albumn Greendale plays through the whole film) made me think that the film would be boring in the beginning. But the images on the screne, along with the music, complete the story nicely. Young focuses on the Green family and their stuggles in the town of Greendale. Basically, their a family of hippies dealing with the media, law enforcement, and environmental destruction. Young expresses his opinions though song and the characters act them out. I recommend this film to anyone, especially if you're a fan of Shakey...

Neil Young's companion film to his concept album of the same name is rendered in a grainy color 8mm silent film -- accompanied by the music of the album. The hook is that while the cast acts out the events of the songs, they lip sync to Young's vocals. The effect is at once strange, startling and somewhat boring. The production values are quite low, but the fidelity in image and setting is interestingly contrasted within the editorial content of the film. The story involves a family that is riven by violence and the gathering forces of media and government that exploit it. Young uses this situation and the bucolic town of "Greendale" to make an argument about the evolution of American life, the march of conservative politics and most particularly, the plight of the environment. After an hour of watching what mostly feels like Young's home movies, bumbling and blurry, he violently cuts to the razor sharp video images of the media descending upon the town. It's easy to dismiss this film as cheaply made and lazily conceived. But the film closes with the image of a newly-politicized young couple driving to Alaska to "save the Caribou" -- with the Devil hitching a ride. Young may be suggesting that in the end the terrible forces that rain down on "Greendale" ascended from there as well.

Neil Young's music is deceptively simple. At first there doesn't seem to be a lot going on...however in the end you'd be hard pressed to find more powerful or meaningful songwriting. If you agree with this statement, then there is a good bet that you will enjoy this film. If not...well you might wanna steer clear. I've seen a lot of negative comments on this film, and I guess it can be said that it is either a movie that you will either love, or be confused and put off. I personally loved it. You don't have to be a fan of Young's to enjoy this, but it would sure help,as there is no spoken dialog whatsoever...the story is told exclusively through the songs on the album. It is a bit confusing at first, but as Neil wrote in the liner notes "Don't feel bad if you feel a little out of it...I mean I wrote it and I don't know what the hell is going on" The grainy film seemed annoying at first, but quickly fits the mood of the film. And admittedly the "lip syncing" of the dialog seems a bit corny at first, but that is something you get used to as well. What you are left with is a story beautiful in it's simplicity. Can I explain why? I'm not sure...I found myself completly mesmerized by the film. The music never gets complicated, but is so damn addicting, I found myself bobbing my head througout the film. I had the album since it came out, but never fully appreciated it until I had the visual companion. Now the songs take on new meaning. It's hard to judge the cast since there isn't really any acting, but everyone plays their parts well. (I personally would like to see more of Sarah White) In the end, it's a simply shot movie about simple folk in a simple town, told entirely by "simple" songs...however like his albums, at the end of it all I was left sitting in awe at what I had just experienced.

I turned this on last night, fully intending to watch something else within the half hour.

I had no idea what it was about or that it was a Neil Young musical. It did exactly what Neil Young's music has always done for me, start me off slow and suck me right in. By the end I could NOT sit down, I had to get up and dance. Great theme, wonderful message, terrific music. I can't wait to see it again. The filming itself was well done, a kind of perfected 8mm which reminded me of the era in which the director and myself were raised. I'm encouraging all my friends to see this, and already planning a group viewing.