44 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
C,S,N & Y rail against military madness one more time, thank God., September 29, 2008
This is a documentary film,not a concert or musical. There are parts of songs but no full song is shown apart from the "Find The Cost of Freedom" video and the "Living with War" videos that are "extras".
A powerfull and thought provoking document, this film is set against the Iraq War and shows both sides of the political argument, whilst enforcing the band's belief that the war should end now. Filmed during CSN & Y's "Freedom of Speech" tour the film shows reactions from the audience both for and against the band's songs. From veterans themselves and, something I found truly heartrending, from the families of those killed in war. It also shows members of the community, media and politicians campaigning.
The film is an honest account of the tour, even showing a fall by Steve Stills on stage and the rough edges still evident during the early part of the tour.It shows some audience members booing and walking out of concerts. However, one must ask what these people were doing at a CSN&Y concert in the first place given their long history and repetoir of anti war material together with Young's well publicised Living With War album.
There are three moments from the film that are still imbeded in my mind. The first, a veteran who has lost both her legs in battle now fighting in the political arena. The second, a mother who has lost a son in Iraq. Seeing her son's photo with thousands of others, on the screen behind the stage, she reflects that this has been the first time she has seen any public recognition of her sons sacrifice. Finally an audience member advises us that the Government is smarter than us so we should not question it!! Now that is scary.
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25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A LIFE WITH WAR, October 11, 2008
My son Joshua was a senior in high school on that fateful morning of
September 11th,2001.The next day he and his best friend went
to the local Army recruiter and enlisted.Like all Americans,he felt helpless in this terror-filled new universe we all woke up to
on the morning after.Nothing would ever be the same.Americans were
facing a "faceless" enemy;my son and thousands of young Americans like him,felt they had to "do something". In the spring of 2003,Josh
entered Iraq and would not come home until January 2004. America had finally put a face to our enemy;Saddam Hussein had to be taken down.
Mission accomplished...but was it the right mission?
CSNY/DEJA VU chronicles the aftermath of Bush's decision to topple Saddam.
The "liberators" suddenly became "occupiers" and our brave young men and women were no longer soldiers but were thrust into becoming policemen.
It is this new role of the American soldier that is the underlying basis for this Bernard Shakey film and THIS is a Bernard Shakey film like no other.There are intercuts of folks that do not share CSNY's view
of Dubya's policies and those folks do not mince words.Everyone has heard
what happened at the Atlanta concert and it's hard to watch. There's an
interview with some cat who walked out and he makes the comment that the
people in Bush's government are smarter than CSNY.I bet he wishes he could take that comment back now!!!This is NOT a performance film;it is a
documentary of four aging icons who could no longer stand on the sidelines and let the game go on without any regard to the rules.Crosby has stated on numerous occasions that Bush and Co highjacked America's
principles and turned them into policies. It is these policies
that have killed thousands of our soldiers and tens (if not hundreds) of
thousands of Iraqi civilians.Maybe CSNY made money off this tour...I've
read some criticism of that.Who cares? They did put their music where their mouth was and I thank them for it. My son Josh went back to Iraq again in the spring of 2005.I had to live with war all over again.He came back
in early 2006 but he was a changed young man.At 21, my son had seen things
most male baby boomers will never have to experience. Seeing CSNY
sing "Find The Cost Of Freedom ", beneath the backdrop of thousands
of photos of young soldiers killed in action,is chilling. I know we were blessed that Josh came home safely after two tours.
This film was made over two years ago...OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS ARE STILL DYING today in a country that will not pay their share for their cost of freedom.CSNY still preach that love is better than hate,understanding is better than confusion and peace is still better than war. Carry on!!!!
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17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
They're Right: 'We Have All Been Here Before', September 30, 2008
"CSNY / Déjà Vu" documents a politically charged reunion tour of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. While you may not have realized it by listening to classic rock radio, the band always had a political conscience. In particular, "
Déjà Vu" (1970) featured 'Ohio,' a protest song about the Kent State shootings. Fast forward thirty-five years to the "Déjà Vu" film. The concept of déjà vu is used as a poetic device to make a connection between the wars in Vietnam and Iraq. So on one hand, this is a film about a musical tour but it is also a highly critical piece about George W. Bush and his handling of the Iraq War. Exclusively political segments show band members participating in rallies to support the election of anti-war candidates. There are heartfelt profiles of military personnel and their families. At one point Neil Young jams with
Josh Hisle, a military veteran turned anti-war rocker. One of the most emotionally charged moments happens when the band is heckled in Atlanta. Scenes from the Colbert Report add humor to an otherwise heavy film. Musically, the 2006 Freedom of Speech tour featured a combination of material off the original "Déjà Vu" album and Neil Young's "
Living with War" (2006). Old favorites like 'For What It's Worth' and 'Déjà Vu' find new significance along side newer songs like 'Let's Impeach the President' and 'Living with War.' The
soundtrack is a good accompaniment that features songs played in their entirety. As a musical flick that deals with Iraq, "Déjà Vu" works well along side "
I Know I'm Not Alone" and "
Heavy Metal in Baghdad." Combining great music with leftist politics, "CSNY / Déjà Vu" is an entertaining, thought proving and powerful film.
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