Director Jonathan Demme and Canadian folk singer-songwriter Young clearly get along really well. Neil Young Journeys is their third collaboration together, and it tracks a literal journey out of Young’s past as he drives from his idyllic hometown of Omemee, Ontario for the last two nights of his 2011 solo world tour in Toronto’s iconic Massey Hall. The film blends Young’s reminisces about his childhood with intimate performances of his classics (including Down By The River) and songs from his 2010 album Le Noise (Love And War, Sign Of Love).
There’s no denying the strength and quality of Young’s musicianship – his songs are full of power, emotion and lyrical beauty. Demme has immortalised some truly stirring performances by Young. But the film drifts when it should entrance, and doesn’t feel quite like a fully-connected story the way Demme clearly intended. He also uses a disconcerting new filming technique that pretty much captures Young from his microphone’s point of view – which will come across as either startlingly intimate (their intention) or jarringly disconcerting (the actual effect).
Extras: A making-of and two extended talkbacks with Demme and Young, which allow them to share anecdotes and insights about their collaborations, right from the point when the director asked Young to write the title song for his classic 1993 AIDS drama Philadelphia.
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Written for F*** Magazine
shawneofthedead 