Greendale

Rating:
Summary: I love Neil Young, but. . .
Review: . . .this isn't the concert, which is what he SHOULD have released. I appreciate Neil's quirky artistic ventures, wherein this project clearly sits. I went to see the Greendale show in Kansas City at Starlight Amphitheater in Swope Park, one of the few sold out shows there in 2004. It was an amazing artistic spectacle. I have most Neil Young available on CD, and much available on CD. I also have several live DVD concerts. I love his songwriting, I love his performance, from solo work, to his drug-addled performance on The Last Waltz to his fabulous show at Red Rocks with "friends." I've seen him 5 times, each time excellent. I also loved his biography, "Shakey." This concert ranks as my favorite Neil Young performance, a close second to the "Worlds 3rd Greatest Garage Band Tour" and the tour captured on the "Arc/Weld" CDs.

Finally, I even enjoyed this video production of "Greendale." I think the story is great, it's impossible to pigeonhole Neil's politics/beliefs into any "mold" that exists in 2004. But, I felt like this video production lacked the emotional wallup that the live performance of the show produced. The guy behind me at the Greendale show kept "explaining" to his friends that Neil would play some "good" songs later: he clearly missed the point of this tour. But i LOVED it. And I would LOVE to get a copy of the live performance (encores included, of course!). The video/movie/whatever you call it is good. But not as good as the concert.

Carl Kincaid

Rating:
Summary: A New Kind of Film
Review: I decided to write this review because to me most of the others are quite lame and of little use - this film deserves better comment. One thing however is undeniable: Neil Young is a consummate musician and artist. Greendale welds both aspects together into a very interesting idea and worthy of more than just a simplistic review and cursory criticism. Many reviewers seem to miss quite a few nuances involved with this film that can potentially add to a deeper appreciation its uniqueness. First I must remark to purist that above all else, Mr. Young is an artist and has earned the right to experiment in music and in media other than music, so his "side projects" should respectfully be seen more than just quirky indulgences. Greendale represents a new chapter in his foray into film and stands alone with little need of comparison to any stage show or concert. Unlike his other film projects (Journey into the Past, Human Highway, Rust Never Sleeps, etc.), this is the first one in which Neil takes the role of director and camera man. He performs these two roles most adequately. Greendale was shot entirely on super 8 film, which explains the "graininess" of the final product (transferred digitally and then edited) and though I may be incorrect, I know of no other feature length film shot using that format. So perhaps Greendale represents a first in this regard. In its best moments, Neil's music has always been more about generating a certain emotion and feeling of place. First and foremost, Greendale's charm, interestingly enough, captures visually the feeling of much of how Neil Young's music sounds: raw, minimal, earthy, simple and honest.

Additionally, this establishes the film as an artistic expression on the level of something also more intimate, perhaps suggesting a story that could be very well our own. For many of us, a small portion of our childhood was captured and filmed on now old grainy 8mm and super 8 film. So Greendale in this respect suggests our own story, one that is familiar - just consider the characters in the film. On some level, we recognize some, if not most of them. Greendale is a place with which we are familiar and choosing to capture the story using such "low tech" means, Neil seems to want us to see ourselves. Certainly the environmental thrust of the film suggests this. In this respect, the film's appearance is as an essential part of the story as anything. And again, those criticizing Greendale regarding it's graininess and being out-of-focus are missing the point. Essential to the story is the feeling of place - set emotionally with music and established visually in filming approach. In these times of films like the Day After Tomorrow, Blade whatever and Terminator XXIV, Greendale's "special effects" are limited to several double exposures, fades and that's about it. If you are seeking a movie that is ladened with visual tricks and effects to keep your attention engaged, then Greendale clearly is not your flick. The pacing of the film is not perfect, but again the viewer is reminded that the music is the films driving force.

Greendale's storyline also holds up quite well and by it's conclusion, offers a sense of hope for and possibility of a better world. Just consider, during the beginning of the film, Grandpa's sentiment of simple mutual respect for each other and by the end of the film, Sun's new found purpose and call for action. Who is she speaking to after all? At the end of the film the performers on stage eventually merge with the actors and eventually, the stage crew thus erasing those arbitrary divisions. What might this signify for us as an audience? The characters and scenarios are real enough: community complacency, love within a family, a struggling artist dealing with his devil, a "tragic blunder" leading to a cop killed in the line of duty and his grieving wife/friends, the unrelenting and invasive media, and a daughters awakening and advocacy for a better world (among others). And there are very nice subtleties involved in each of these senarios if the viewer is attentive. One senario particularly intriguing to me had to do with the devil and the pair of glasses.

Neil successfully pulled together quite an effort here. Everyone that appears in the film are family members, associates and friends (Sun Green is played by a school friend of Neil's daughter). Shot up and down the California coastline lends a very consistent flavor to the film and kudos must also be given to the films editor. Greendale is an experimental film and succeeds on most, if not all levels. The music for Greendale was available well in advance of the films general release and frankly, I was quite happy with the long instrumental sections within each song and for me conveyed neither "filler" nor mere indulgences. Put together with the film, which was created afterward, those "jams" take on another dimension. It is true that the characters "mouth" the lyrics (and quite well, I might add), but again this is also unique in that overall, this film is closer to an opera rather than a musical or a standard rock and roll film. The "actors" performances are also quite adequate given the films context.

Greendale can easily be added to the great R n R film canon that includes Stop Making Sense, The Last Waltz, Don't Look Back, Woodstock and many others. So set aside immediate expectations of typical cinema while viewing this film - this ain't no Spiderman! Sit back, turn up the volume, indulge yourself in a beverage of your choice (or otherwise), and allow yourself into the Greendale world. Is it possible to experience something new without comparing it to something else? Try it. In it's own quiet way, this movie asks that you accept it on it's own terms. This DVD is worth your time and money especially if you are looking for something a few degrees from the norm. If you enjoy the music, if you are open to something a little different, and allow yourself the journey, you may ultimately find yourself looking for Greendale next time you visit northern California. But then again, you may also discover Greendale is closer than you think. "Be the rain."




Rating:
Summary: Greendale DVD: Sorry I love you Neil, but....
Review: I found this very difficult to watch all the way through-the actors mouthed the singing lines of neil exactly as they did on the summer 03 tour. It worked live because it was a supplement to the live show but on film it was downright annoying -even though I love the album (more the concept, actually). I couldnt stay interested and I seriously doubt if there's more than a handful of folk that will watch it even twice..Maybe this would work for someone who was experiencing the trip for the first time (i doubt it..too cheaply made) but for hard core fans who relished the acoustic boots from the UK and the electric shows (following up the album release)..it falls flat..neil is one of my all time faves but I wish he'd skipped this part and saved the money for another project..This is right on par with the production values of Human Highway and JTTP. I understand if you wanna buy it like I did to complete your collection but there's a reason Neil had to go to Sanctuary to put this out (the bunny wouldn't touch it).

Rating:
Summary: Still Speaks His Mind
Review: It took a few listenings a while back, but Greendale the CD has worn its way into my top 3 favorite albums by Neil Young. I bought Greendale the DVD more as a curiosity knowing, at worst, I don't mind having video to go with the music.

Greendale starts as a disarmingly-simple introduction to the Green family and ends with 2 powerful, wake-up-call anthems. The actors, who sync the lyrics, make it all interesting and watchable. The journey takes on a surreal quality in fairly short time. Statements about corruption in the White House, corporate greed and our responsibility to the environment are even stronger in the film than they are on the cd. It amazes me that time hasn't worn the edge off Neil Young to speak his mind. This is a day and age when we're supposed to be afraid.

I had a great time watching this dvd. I can't compare it to anything I've seen. Ideally a person might know the music before watching the film; and also just appreciate film as an art. The 5.1 sound is great.


Rating:
Summary: Despite the shortcomings, the movie works
Review: Overall, the movie is a mess with grainy film quality, bad acting, no dialogue, out of focus images, washed out images, cheesy visual effects, lip synching that doesn't always line up and sometimes appears silly, and no real revelations provided to the underlying story. BUT, and that is a big but, it all works together to present a quirky little movie that is watchable. The sound is tremendous though and makes up for some of the negatives. Despite all the shortcomings, you do get drawn into this little town of Greendale and the strange characters that live there.

The added features are nice - a great live stage version of "Be The Rain" really kicks and shows the power of the live show and how well Neil has combined the live show with the movie or vice versa. The Making of Greendale (about 25 minutes) segment is good and surprisingly clear and in focus as opposed to the movie. It does show that Neil and his team have some skills in making movies. Lyrics, Family Tree, and character bios are also included.


Rating:
Summary: IF NOT GREAT VERY, VERY GOOD
Review: This movie is a good movie with a lot of familiar faces including Ben Keith. The video goes good with the music but what makes the DVD worth the money is the live version of "Be The Rain". Ther is nothing better than a live version of a Neil song on video. Plus his daughter dances rather well in it! If you haven't seen this video it s worth the asking price.

Rating:
Summary: AS I was saying, characters from Pynchon....
Review: Young and Crazy Horse are basically characters from Pynchon (LOT 49, VINELAND) come to life, often with results that seem equally absurd, poignant, heartfelt, goofey, amateurish, honest. And all of that is on display in this film, particularly Young's anti-Spielberg aesthetics, which is cause enough for celebration. That mix of burn-out eco-hippie-polemics has served Young and the Horse well. One need only look at footage of some of their arguments in Year of the Horse, Live in Berlin, to realize just how comical they are when they are seriously pissed at each other.
This film, however, has a point, and is embraced by what is one of Young's best collections of songs in a very long while. Characteristically, it is as unprofessionally "acted" and shot as you can get, and therein lies its charm. The "actors" are basically road and musician colleagues assembled by Young to mouth the words of his songs, intercut with montage pieces reflecting the spirit or message of a song. It is the same approach he used with his classic JOURNEY THROUGH THE PAST film from the seventies (Hey, Neil, where's the DVD of that or even the soundtrack?).
I'm likely the only one who has ever seen JOURNEY 11 times, and I don't suspect that I'll attempt that with this film, but amid his goofiness as a filmmaker, Neil has quite a lot to say about the state of mind of the US, at least as seen through the prism of this one family. In doing so, he addresses greed, karma, the environment, and the nature of one's nationality set against this backdrop of violence that is all American Eagle, and none of the compassion of Liberty. Although others may state the theme more eloquently, Young gets across in so unaffected a manner that the silliness of the movie is its own metaphor for how we clutter what is essential with the temporal and effete.
Back in JOURNEY, Young had David Crosby articulate an observation that is as chillingly accurate today as it was at the end of the Nixon era. I do not doubt that 30 years on, someone will come across this odd film and laugh at first, and then think about what the comedian just said.
Young is a lot like the hero in VINELAND. Re-read Pynchon, listen to Neil: they paint an accurate picture of life under gravity's rainbow.