Directed by Bernard Shakey NEIL YOUNG’S GREENDALE MOVIE COMES HOME
(TO DVD)
Sanctuary Records Group Set to Release DVD on June 22nd
After a successful theatrical run in over 40 North American cities, Neil Young’s Greendale is set for DVD release on June 22nd. In addition to the Greendale film, the DVD comes with the documentary The Making of Greendale, which contains interviews with Neil and the cast plus behind the scenes footage. Additional extras include a live performance of “Be the Rain”, full lyrics of all ten songs, and a complete Neil Young discography. The DVD, distributed by Sanctuary, will carry a list price of 24.98.
Greendale, arguably Young’s crowning achievement, is a multi-media mosaic consisting of the music CD, live concert production, feature film, DVD’s of Neil’s solo acoustic performance of Greendale in Ireland and of Inside Greendale which captures Young and Crazy Horse recording the CD and now the DVD of the recently released, critically lauded feature film. A big Greendale picture book with extensive text is slated for publication later this year.
In Greendale, Neil Young has made what he calls a “musical novel,” telling the story of a three generational family, a cop’s inadvertent murder and the sociopolitical evolution of a girl named Sun Green. Not a concert film, Young directed actors on locations on his Northern California home turf to create his Greendale, a rural town microcosm of a world in crisis. He shot the film himself on a German Super 8 underwater camera he loves. Then it was blown up to 35mm, giving the film a rough-hewn, almost Seurat-like look.
Greendale is a humanist fable told through ten interlocking songs performed by Young, who never appears in the film, but whose distinctive voice is heard singing the story and the dialogue of his lip-synching actors.
In reviewing the concert, Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune, notes Greendale is “…stuffed with ideas, in many ways a summation of everything Young has stood for in his fascinating career: the nurturing strength of family, respect for elders, the sacredness of nature and youth, the corrupt invasiveness of political and economic institutions, and the power of a really loud guitar to cut through all the distractions.”
What the critics have said about GREENDALE:
"Part Thornton Wilder. Part John Lennon" --Robert Hilburn, Los Angeles Times
"Hauntingly memorable." --Elvis Mitchell, New York Times
"One of the most potent mergers of music and film that rock has ever produced! A more successful and complete artistic vision than 99% of even the most ambitious videos aired on MTV or VH1. BRAVO, NEIL. LONG MAY YOU RUN!" -Jim Derogatis, Chicago Sun-Times
"Charming and moving… very likely the peak of his career thus far. One must hand it to Young for his ambitious achievement. Greendale grows richer the more one visits it. HALLELUJAH FOR A TRULY INDEPENDENT FILM!" -Gregory Weinkauf, New Times
"Wondrously eccentric." -A.O. Scott, New York Times
"MASTERPIECE!…Those who tumble into Young’s allusive, passionately political fable are in for an adventure." -Ray Pride, New City Times, Chicago
"A LOW-FI MASTERPIECE!… The perfect marriage of music and images." -Glenn Whipp, LA Daily News
"’Greendale’ is somewhere between the true-believer sincerity of John Sayles and the oddball eeriness of David Lynch…If film had feedback, it would look like this." --Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times
"I loved this film… so honest, spontaneous and unique. Neil Young is a genius." -Cynthia Parsons, In Style Magazine
"A TRIUMPH!… Splendiferously primitive." -J. Hoberman,Village Voice
"A topical film in a year in which most American directors remain allergic to presenting a political point of view." -Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune
"Poignant and heartbreaking! Young’s voice is a marvel… Sitting through "Greendale" in a Dolby-equipped theater, at high volume with bone-penetrating bass, is an ideal way for Young fans to experience the rustic grandeur of the master’s latest album, a serious achievement." -Joe Brown, SF Chronicle
SYNOPSIS
In Greendale, Neil Young has made what he calls a "musical novel" which tells the story of a family, the murder of a cop and the evolution of a young girl named Sun Green. Not a concert film,Young himself shot actors on locations on his native Northern California home turf to create his Greendale, a rural town that is a microcosm of a world in crisis. In essence, Greendale is a tale of collective awakening told through ten interlinking songs performed by Young and his longtime amigos Crazy Horse, who never appear in the film, but Neil’s distinctive voice is heard singing the story as well as the dialogue of his lip-synching actors.
It opens on the front porch of the Green family farmhouse, where Grandpa and cousin Jed are reading the morning paper and chatting, as Young begins to reveal his Greendale - "a little love and affection in everything you do – makes the world a better place." As the story unfolds, a policeman is gunned down and Jed is taken to the jailhouse. A family and a town grieve. Grandpa fatally confronts the media’s intrusive onslaught in times of human misery. The old man’s granddaughter, Sun Green, moved by Grandpa’s idealism, becomes an activist on the day of his passing – first taking on the energy conglomerate Powerco, then heading off to Alaska to apply her passion to help save the wilderness. The film ends with an inspired, kick-ass performance of a rockin’ humanist anthem that urges us towards the vision: "Save the planet for another day… Be the river as it moves along… Be the Rain." In his review of the concert, Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune notes that Greendale is "…stuffed with ideas, in many ways a summation of everything Young has stood for in his fascinating career: the nurturing strength of family, respect for elders, the sacredness of nature and youth, the corrupt invasiveness of political and economic institutions, and the power of a really loud guitar to cut through all the distraction."
MUSIC
Music by Neil Young
Performed by Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Music Produced by Neil Young and L.A. Johnson
Guitar/Organ/Harmonica/Vocals Neil Young
Drums/Vocals Ralph Molina
Bass/Vocals Billy Talbot
Additional Vocals The Mountainettes
Songs
(in order of appearance):
falling from above
double e
devil’s sidewalk
leave the driving
carmichael
bandit
grandpa’s interview
bringin’ down dinner
sun green
be the rain
SPECIAL BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:
• "The Making Of Greendale"
- Contains brand new interviews
with Neil and the cast plus behind the scenes footage!
• 3 live performances of "Greendale" songs.
• Lyrics
• A complete discography
After a successful theatrical run in over 40 North American cities, Neil Young’s Greendale is set for DVD release on June 22nd. In addition to the Greendale film, the DVD comes with the documentary The Making of Greendale, which contains interviews with Neil and the cast plus behind the scenes footage. Additional extras include a live performance of “Be the Rain”, full lyrics of all ten songs, and a complete Neil Young discography. The DVD, distributed by Sanctuary, will carry a list price of 24.98.
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