Neil Young Journeys

Jonathan Demme's third and final Neil Young concert film is again, quite distinct from the previous two. The tour is in support of "Le Noise", kind of a loud singer/songwriter album with Young playing long, confessional songs accompanied only by himself on electric guitar. Correspondingly, this tour is just Young alone on stage playing either acoustic or electric guitar, or occasionally piano, and playing a mix of old favourites and material from the new album.

Demme films Young playing at Massey Hall in Toronto, and they use the opportunity to also film Young in Omemee, Ontario, the small town where he grew up. The film blends Demme's, by now, signature approach to filming concerts with the loose, hand held kind of documentary he likes to shoot, although there isn't much of the latter. The "Neil visits his hometown" stuff seems a bit undercooked, though you do get to meet his brother Bob, who looks just like a slightly older, fatter Neil.

Demme's an old pro at this kind of film, and he just delivers with only one bad choice. The idea of cutting to a camera literally on Young's mic and showing extreme close-ups of him singing is ... no.

Neil Young Journeys (2011)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Jonathan Demme's third film with Neil Young is yet another winner. What we basically have is a look at the hometown of Young who then drives to Toronto where he's set to perform in the history Massey Hall that night. In between the songs from the concert, we flashback to Young telling a few stories and giving his thoughts on some subjects. NEIL YOUNG JOURNEYS isn't quite as great as HEART OF GOLD but as someone who saw two shows from the Twisted Road tour, this documentary was a great reminder of what made the shows so special. I can understand if some are wanting more of a "greatest hits" concert or if they don't want any of the new material but I found some of the strongest work to come from the new stuff. 'Lela' was a touching song and we get a truly haunting version of 'Love and War.' We also get 'You Never Call,' 'PEaceful Valley Boulevard,' 'Hitchhike' and 'Walk With Me' from the recent stuff. Older classics include 'My My, Hey Hey,' 'Ohio,' 'After the Gold Rush' and 'I Believe in You,' which is certainly one of the highlights of the show. This really isn't a straight documentary or straight concert film but the majority of the show does go to the concert footage. There are some bizarre camera shots, which really get you right up in Young's face and I'm guessing Demme did this to show the passion and fire that he performs with. A couple songs appear to have a camera on the microphone so you really get up close. If you were a fan of the Twisted Road tour then I think you're going to enjoy this even though it's missing some songs that were played then (like Cortez the Killer and Cinnamon Girl). Still, Young and Demme are truly great together and make the film worth checking out.

Neil Young visits his hometown of Omemee, Ontario, and then drives to Massey Hall in Toronto for a concert. In Omemee and on the way to the concert he reminisces about his life and career. We also see the Massey Hall concert.

Really only for Neil Young fans (like me), and even then it is so-so. The non-music part should feel nostalgic and emotional, as it covers Neil Young retracing his childhood in his hometown, but just seems dull. There is no profound moment, and it just seems like one big ramble.

The music is the highlight, of course, but even that could have been better. Way too many recent Young songs, not enough classics.

This movie is unwatchable. I don't ditch out of movies very often but I could not slog through the boredom. Even the music is subpar.

I love Neil Young's music - at least much of his earlier catalog - but when it comes to pontification, Neil Young is no John Lennon...in other words, gems don't come from his lips. Maybe if I'd had a few beers I'd have been able to get through his rambling commentaries as he drives through areas that are of no interest. He almost seems as if he doesn't know what he's doing in this film - as if someone turned a camera on randomly and said, hey Neil, say something, we'll make a film! Doesn't work.

Jonathan Demme...what were you thinking, man? You seemed clueless in putting this movie together. A documentary needs to be thought out better. And what happened to the cutting room floor? You didn't seem to cut anything out of this film - and it's mostly warts!

I made it to 25-30 minutes and then I was bored to tears.

Sorry, Neil. You are not such a star that everything you do is interesting. How about some insights about your career, performance and song writing? Did you think at all about the people who'd pay good money to watch this flick?

It makes you wonder what the concept was here (if any thought at all was put into this movie). You can't just put a guy in a car and have him drive around to places only he cares about and call it a movie - nor can you take boring concert footage and make it work as a film.

Is this a documentary on a great songwriter on his way down? Even if that is what it is, it's too sad to watch.

This has the sadness of a Let It Be without the great music. But - as disappointing a film as it was - Let It Be provided us with insights into a band most of us idolized. Here, we get no insights whatsoever into Neil Young's musical life and he is not a man most of us idolize (if I can say so) - I believe most of us who like Neil's music simply tolerate him as a person (because the little I know about his personal life isn't all admirable).

The point is, Neil: what did you hope to accomplish here? And do you care about the audience? Narcissism is a drag. And that's the only thing that comes across in this film.

Neil Young proves he was a self-absorbed a-hole even as a young kind -- he blew up a turtle with a firecracker!!!!!! What a jerk.

Another example f those idiots who tell you to do as they say not as they do.

He drives around suburban Toronto in an old extremely gas guzzling old car that takes leaded fuel. Jerk.

Let's not forget the legion of fans he ripped off with his Pono scam.