...a mix of music and politics, outrage and respect, past and present that is both thoroughly entertaining and reflective.
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:18-07-2008
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
Wears its heart squarely on its sleeve for all to see and takes no prisoners in stating its political mind.
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.
Much like the album it's promoting, it's both urgent and regrettably cacophonous.
One of the great strengths of CSNY is how skillfully it deflects criticism of 'four balding hippie millionaires' taking to the stage to criticize American politics; the film is peppered with excerpts from some of the tour's earliest and nastiest critics.
Rather than keeping the camera aimed at the stage, Young collaborates with television journalist Mile Cerre to fashion several 60 Minutes-styled episodes on things he wishes to either promote or expose.
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 only surprising element is that anyone would be surprised when things get political at a CSNY concert.
As laudable as the idealism may be, the movie sometimes feels like a self-congratulatory victory lap.
Will send most viewers running, not to war protests, but to Woodstock '69 DVDs or rentals.
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.
Neil Young rolls the cameras on himself and geriatric bandmates David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash as they tenaciously cling to social relevance by generally preaching to the converted during their 2006 antiwar Freedom of Speech tour.
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.
Give Young credit for getting beyond the standard tour-bus and backstage environments, but the broad scope ultimately gives short shrift to both the veterans and the legendary discord among the bandmates.
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.
A melodious howl of protest against the Iraq War from one of rock's greatest bands.
Helmer Bernard Shakey -- a.k.a. Neil Young -- has constructed a chronicle of his old band's Freedom of Speech tour of summer '06 and come up with an aud-friendly, activist musical that seems sure to raise both political ire and major bucks.
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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