hartley65 i saw this film at Hot Docs and then a new sound mix/ edit and i must say it has truly come alive. a film that was a great idea with a wonderful heart has become a beautiful film about love and life and what people need. the intimacy of some of the scenes really makes the film's quiet qualities involve the viewer. the connection between the impersonators and tribute bands, the first and 2nd generation fans all seemed to be wrapped up in a single word: LOVE. a very nice theme for a documentary nowadays. as it was ending i thought "would i like to see the outtakes?" and the answer was yes. that's the greatest compliment i can give the film! though it is not a perfectly filmed movie the experience was well worth it.

dancingpartofme What a treat this film turned out to be. I enjoyed the information on different people who make a living impersonating and performing Neil Diamond. Jay White was especially insightful as was Rick Pierce and Tom Sadge. I have seen all three perform and it was entertaining to see information on their real lives. Feel Neil, has such raw and true comedy throughout, I enjoyed this. The fans were not portrayed negatively and yet I could laugh genuinely and identify with their adoration for Neil Diamond. The birthday party was so entertaining and it made me make my reservation for this years celebration. The object of the director/producer/filmmaker,David Sarich,was to let us come away "Felling Neil" I definetly did!

[email protected] Director David Sarich has succeeded in doing what would seem to be an impossible task: making the kitschy underworld of Neil Diamond look-alikes not only interesting but memorable. Who knew there was even an underworld of Neil Diamond look-alikes? Shaky and improvised from the beginning, Sarich's film has the look of being shot on a shoestring and a handshake. The angles and locations are unreliable and often as unusual as they were probably unplanned. This fits in admirably with the nature of the project: Sarich is exploring an unknown realm, charting an expanse of kitsch that is known only to those live there. Had he gone in, cameras and lights blaring with pre-planned studio-set interviews the doors would have shut immediately. By bringing the camera along more as an accoutrement than a tool, Sarich has enabled the characters on screen to drop their guard and really lay themselves open for who and what they are. The comments from the interviewees seem natural, genuine and completely unguarded. David Sarich is one to look for in the future. Who would ever have thought not only to find interest in these characters but also in the strange land they inhabit? What else will Sarich find interesting in the future?

JefferyDCombs Much like its director, David Sarich, this is a quirky and fun film. David followed several Neil Diamond impersonators, tribute bands and fans. I never knew that he was the 3rd most impersonated celebrity after Elvis and Madonna. It is funny, weird and sometimes frightening. The Diamondhead subculture is unique, but the bottom line is that the people are having a great time. David must have enjoyed putting this film together. It was screened at the Tidal Wave Film Festival in Fredericton, November 2003.