Film Reviews

Neil Young: Heart of Gold

• Rating:
• Director: Jonathan Demme
• Starring: Emmylou Harris
• Details: US / 103mins (G).

Filmed as a tribute just in case Neil Young's impending brain surgery didn't go as well as he hoped (turns out he's okay), Jonathan Demme's Heart Of Gold documents Young trawling through his best 'hits' while including songs from his new album, Prairie Wind. It lacks the excitement of Stop Making Sense, Demme's other live concert documentary on Talking Heads, but that's not the director's fault. Neil Young's music doesn't lend itself to jogging on the spot, running around the stage and wearing a big white suit; Heart Of Gold is a more contemplative affair. Where as Stop Making Sense cut straight to the chase, Heart Of Gold kicks off with ten minutes worth of interviews of engineers and various backing singers and musicians - unfortunately no Young himself. With no crazy David Byrne to aim his camera at, Demme, here, tries to be as inventive as possible, using various cutaways on stage, but for the most of it the camera remains stationary. This doesn't give the viewer a wealth of visuals to tune into but then we're here for the music - not the fireworks. Young is joined by a backing band but is a solitary figure during 'The Needle And The Damage Done' and 'Harvest Moon'. It's a must see for Young fans, but it won't gain him any new ones.

Review by Gavin Burke