Episode 115 - NYFF Vol. I: Journey to Jarmusch (ft. Emmett Cruddas)

Reel Politik Series Seven kicks off with the kind of staggering indulgence only RP would dare to get mired in: it's the 90+ min first volume of a two-parter on legendary rocker Neil Young's *ahem* divisive side-career as a director. Welcome to the Neil Young Film Festival! Joining Jack (@gapesology) to go where no self-respecting film critic has gone before is Emmett Cruddas (@roof__access) - musician, broadcaster, DJ and lifelong Neilologist (Neilist? Youngian?), known for the band Phil Graves and the podcast Film Graze, plus a myriad projects including Frank Ocean's Blonded radio show. We talked for more than two hours so as to cover every one of Young's directorial projects and major Neil Young films by other directors, and this first instalment takes you from Young's directorial debut, the fragmented Godard-influenced avant garde 'Journey Through The Past' in 1972, through his next feature film, the bizarre "nuclear comedy" Human Highway (1982), culminating in his 1990s collaboration with legendary alternative filmmaker Jim Jarmusch on the lo-fi tour documentary 'Year of the Horse'. Neil Young & Crazy Horse have a new album - 'Colorado' - out in a few days, and we wanted to celebrate the legacy of that great band and their esteemed leader. Neil's films seemed like a more manageable entry point than trawling through his infinite - but far more rewarding - discography. Stay tuned for the NYFF volume two: Demme to 'Deja Vu'.