Heart of Gold

Go!

What do you get when you take a body of superb music and perform it in a classic venue with accomplished musicians? You get this fine Jonathan Demme film featuring Neil Young with family and friends. That last part is important because the songs and vibe of this film project true traditional values: hope, optimism, genuine human relationships, and one song even depicts a relationship with a beloved pet. So there you have it--a beautiful film full of live music without artifice, cynicism, irony or any of that postmodern crap. It's a pleasure and you should treat yourself if this is in a nearby theater.

Neil's last album, "Prairie Wind", was just ok but the songs shine in a live setting. Furthermore, even the Neil hits are invigorated here -- to the point "Old Man" made me teary-eyed. How many thousands of times have I heard that song? "Heart of Gold" is not a concert film in that cameras were brought along on a tour, this stand at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville was created in order to make the film. Perhaps that accounts for the rich ensemble laying it all out there to see hear and see. I might even go see it a second time this weekend.

I can't wait for the DVD in order to overcome my picky objections to the theater presentation (right side of screen out of focus, bad framing of the image so that feet are cut off, etc.)