Neil Young: Heart of Gold
"Neil Young: Heart of Gold" is every bit as laid-back and genial as the musician is himself.This is an enjoyably no-frills concert film that serves as a more folk-driven counterpoint to his considerably more rock 'n' roll 1979 film "Rust Never Sleeps."
Obviously, your enjoyment of the film depends on your enjoyment of Young's music. Longtime fans will consider it a must-see experience, though it's enjoyable enough to perhaps make a few new devotees as well.
The 60-year-old musician's career has seen him ping-pong back and forth between rock and folk, but "Heart of Gold" sees him exploring his country side (the album he's shown premiering, 2004's "Prairie Wind," certainly leans that way).
To get the necessary concert footage, Young and filmmaker Jonathan Demme staged a pair of late 2004 shows in Memphis's Ryman Auditorium. He's joined onstage by several of his long-time musician friends, some of whom he's been playing with for nearly 30 years, such as bluegrass/country star Emmylou Harris.
The set includes songs from "Prairie Wind," as well as some of Young's chestnuts. In fact, the second half is dominated by such Young favorites as "Old Man," "Harvest Moon" and "Heart of Gold."
And he's never sounded better.
It would be unfair, though, to neglect the contributions of the talented supporting musicians, as well as the crisp, clean sound mixing.
And director Demme has already proven his aptitude for making concert films, having also helmed the Talking Heads movie "Stop Making Sense" and the little-seen "Storefront Hitchcock," which spotlights oddball British singer/songwriter Robyn Hitchcock.
"Neil Young: Heart of Gold" is rated PG for some brief references to drug use (featured in song lyrics), and glimpses of some nude artwork (statues). Running time: 103 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com