Neil Young: Return To Greendale is a concert film chronicling the 2003 tour of Neil Young and Crazy Horse, performing their album Greendale in its entirety. The film captures the electric energy of their live shows, featuring electrifying performances of each of the album's ten tracks. The concert film begins with an introduction to the fictional town of Greendale, the album's setting, and the characters who inhabit it. Neil Young provides narration and performs songs as the story unfolds.
The film is shot in black and white, which only adds to the raw, gritty feel of the music. The performances are stunning, with Neil Young's iconic voice and Crazy Horse's powerful instrumentation coming together in a forceful and beautiful way.
One of the highlights of the film is the performance of "Devil's Sidewalk," a blistering rock number that features a searing guitar solo from Young. The crowd is visibly pumped up by the energy of the song, and the band feeds off their fervor, delivering a spectacular performance that will leave viewers breathless.
Another standout moment is the performance of "Be The Rain," a haunting and beautiful ballad that showcases Neil Young's songwriting prowess. His voice is plaintive and emotional, and the instrumentation from Crazy Horse is lush and gorgeous.
The concert film concludes with an encore set of songs from across Neil Young's career, including "Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)" and "Rockin' In The Free World." These songs are classics for a reason, and the performances in the film show why they've stood the test of time.
Throughout the film, there are brief interludes featuring footage of Neil Young driving around town or sitting in front of a burning barrel, providing a sense of the kind of rugged, Americana aesthetic that made the Greendale album resonate so deeply with fans.
Neil Young: Return To Greendale is a must-see for fans of Neil Young and Crazy Horse, as well as anyone who appreciates the raw energy of a live concert. The performances captured on film are electric, and the black and white cinematography only adds to the gritty, powerful feel of the music. Viewers will walk away from this film feeling like they've been to a rock concert, and that's the highest compliment one can pay a concert film.
Neil Young: Return To Greendale is a 2021 music movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes.
