Quality control has never been Neil Young's strength. For every three gems (Zuma, Harvest, Comes A Time) there is usually one dud (Hawks and Doves). His prior concert movies (Rust Never Sleeps, Year of the Horse) failed to captured his essence, and his attempts at being theatrical (Journey Through the Past, Greendale) were equally forgettable. So for his latest escapade to the big screen, Young hooked up with director Jonathan Demme (Philadelphia, Stop Making Sense, The Silence of the Lambs) to capture his recent "Nashville phase" for Heart of Gold during two nights in August of 2005 at the hallowed Ryman Auditorium.
Following a brain aneurysm, Young was flushed with a creative spark that would soon become Prairie Wind. In the need to get certain emotions off his chest, Prairie Wind visits themes of mortality ("Falling off the face of the Earth"), love for his children ("Here for You"), a tribute to his deceased father ("Far From Home") and respect for his elders, "This Old Guitar." These shows would be the debut for these poignant tunes, so in addition to Young strumming Hank Williams’ old acoustic, he also brought together some of his old friends to play including: Ben Keith, Spooner Oldham, Rick Rosas, Karl Himmel, Chad Cromwell, Wayne Jackson, Grant Boatwright, Larry Cragg, Pegi Young and Emmylou Harris.
With a stage set-up specifically for film and the musicians colorfully decorated in country-hues, Demme captures the pure down-home tone of Prairie Wind. Emmylou and Pegi Young wear it well as backup singers, giving songs like "No Wonder" and "Heart of Gold" a classy touch with their seductive harmonies. From the goose bump sincerity of the opening sequence featuring "Only A Dream," Demme hones in on Young's calling card - his gut wrenching vocals - watching his steady concentration, jaw and eyes jarring.
The eight camera package provides a nice mixture of close-ups and medium view shots, proving that although Young has never sounded better, the 59 year old is finally showing his true age. With graying hair, pudgy features and more rigid movements, Young is no longer the black haired flannel thrasher who was rocking in the free world with Pearl Jam ten years ago.
But it’s the timing of the shots that give the film its grace. From close-ups of steady Ben Keith pouring the lonesome prairie out of his lap steel, to guitar tech Larry Cragg sweeping a broom on time during "Harvest Moon" and Young's tender glances to his wife Pegi during "Come a Time," Heart of Gold indirectly highlights Young's loyalty to his friends and family. Other highlights include some live obscurities like "Old King," complete with dog sniff and howl effects, stellar versions of "Heart of Gold" and "Old Man." However, it's the ode to lost friends in "One of These Days," complete with horns and a choir that makes Heart of Gold's theme of friendship and intimacy come full circle.
