Neil Young, though he be the writer of some of the finest, most trenchant, angriest political songs of the last fifty years, has no skill at marshaling arguments in a cinematic context.
CSNY Déjà Vu (2008)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:39
Fresh:26
Rotten:13
Average Rating:6.1/10
Consensus: Half concert doc, half political exposition, CSNY: DeJa Vu straddles the old and new slant on politics in music with diligence and not a little self-promotion.
Theatrical Release:Jul 25, 2008 Limited
Box Office: $32,910
Synopsis: If you grew up, as I did, with your dorm room full of albums by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young and antiwar activities as part of your daily agenda, you may approach the Freedom of Speech Tour with... If you grew up, as I did, with your dorm room full of albums by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young and antiwar activities as part of your daily agenda, you may approach the Freedom of Speech Tour with preconceptions about its motivations and content based on the band you remember. Although the chronicle of that tour, CSNY Déjà Vu, is indeed a look back at the politics and anti–Vietnam War sentiment, its real value lies in its rejection of simple nostalgia and its ability to focus on the present day. As both a portrait of a band and an examination of artistic process, CSNY Déjà Vu is filmmaking that is self-centered, yet fresh and critical. Today's generation must be as tired of hearing about the '60s as we were of an earlier era, and this depiction of the tour is anything but preaching to the converted. Part performance, part commentary, and very much a call for activism, CSNY Déjà Vu is relevant because we ignore the lessons of history at our peril. Featuring music from Neil Young's controversial Living with War CD, this evocative and edgy film documents reactions from fans to a band that has remained committed to issues of politics and art for more than four decades. Since history seems to repeat itself, perhaps our artists best illustrate what we need to remember. -- © Sundance Film Festival [More]
Starring: David Crosby, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, Stephen Colbert
Starring: David Crosby, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, Stephen Colbert
Director: Bernard Shakey
Director: Bernard Shakey
Screenwriter: Mike Cerre, Neil Young
Producer: Neil Young
Studio: Roadside Attractions
Reviews for CSNY Déjà Vu
Much like the album it's promoting, it's both urgent and regrettably cacophonous.
The movie makes you glad that CSNY is still out there rocking in the free world. It makes you doubly glad they're not leading it.
One can't help finding it funny that the most poorly positioned elements in the film are musical ones, yet the uniquely raw and under-produced sound of the band does find itself a comfortable home in this raw and under-produced doc.
CSNY: Déjà Vu brings back glimmers of the old glory and touchingly suggests that the body may age, but the spirit of the Woodstock nation endures.
The film avoids discussing politics directly, and instead discusses the right to discuss politics.
It will doubtlessly end up preaching to the choir -- Bush backers beware -- but that choir should enjoy it.
It presumably won't change many minds and those not already predisposed to the music of CSNY but those with a predilection for either the singers or the sentiments will likely finds this film to be a valuable document indeed.
An exceptional rockumentary which features riveting political debate and good tunes.
Will send most viewers running, not to war protests, but to Woodstock '69 DVDs or rentals.
The combination of music with the performers' dedication makes this more moving than a concert souvenir, though they are almost upstaged by touching moments with veterans.
A melodious howl of protest against the Iraq War from one of rock's greatest bands.
The problem isn't what it's communicating. It's the awkward structure and tendency toward redundancy. The film's a hodgepodge of songs, old footage and stories of the Iraq War that just doesn't come together with any sense of narrative cohesiveness.
Even if the opening riff of "Teach Your Children" makes you want to stab an incense stick in your eardrum, there are enough detours to make the doc surprisingly compelling to anyone with an interest in the state of the union.
Recent and archival interview, news, war and music footage, which often juxtapose the Vietnam and Iraq conflicts, round out this unflinching, well-constructed picture.
The only surprising element is that anyone would be surprised when things get political at a CSNY concert.
Young, who directed the movie, compares today's climate with the Vietnam era, and doesn't bother hiding his disappointment in the present.
It’s fun to see these four guys back together, hair a little grayer, paunches a bit more pronounced (though, weirdly, David Crosby looks exactly the same), fighting and harmonizing just like the old times.
Latest News for CSNY Déjà Vu
September 29, 2008:
CSNY fires up this rousing rockumentary, the camera's rough cut tendencies not withstanding. In other words, call me stuff like geriatric and bloated - as malice-minded talking head reporters do - but whatever you do, don't diss my peace activism. ![]()
More...
September 21, 2008:
NeilYoung.com: CSNY fires up this rousing rockumentary, the camera's rough cut tendencies aside. In other words, call me stuff like geriatric and bloated - as malice-minded talking head reporters do - but whatever you do, don't diss my peace activism. ![]()
More...
July 24, 2008:
Critics Consensus: File The X-Files Under "Disappointing"
This week at the movies, we learn that the truth is out there (The X-Files: I Want to Believe, starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson) and that step-sibling rivalry can be... More...
June 29, 2008:
Trailer & Poster review ![]()
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