Customer Reviews
like going to church 
2008-06-22
this DVD is so inspiring and enlightening that it is like going to church yet without the dogma. I was unaware of the depth of cohen's work and view it again when I need a spirit lift or a connection with reality. What a genius!
A Prized Purchase 2008-06-18
This video and the CD of the taping was an eye opener into the world of Leonard cohen. I had never really knew of his work before. What a treasure he is and the performances were top notch. I'll view this and listen to the CD again and again. What an heirloom!
A essoteric man 2008-06-10
He is very intriging to me as a woman....writes poetry and produces beautiful much for those that lend the ear to the kind of words and music that he leads...it does not lead him.
It's Not Worthy 
2008-06-06
It's true: It's not quite a documentary (as has been pointed out in other reveiws), and not quite a concert video--but it tries to be both, and instead of a graceful dive or an unassuming cannonball it belly-flops, flailing arms and all. With a subject like Leonard Cohen, this "documentary" would be hard-up to out-do itself in clumsiness, and overall anticlimax. It is mostly Leonard Cohen songs, played by other artists (some good ones, at that) as a tribute, with short interjections of comments about or by Cohen. There were a few good interpretations of songs (Nick Cave's was surprisingly one of my least favorite), but the slow motion effect as the artists finished the songs came off more as kitsch than appealing to any aesthetic sense. Where any one novelty or effect was added to this film, it inevitably took away more than it gave.
*Spoiler?* At the end, the part that attempts to tie this whole thing together, when Cohen is playing with U2, it almost seems mocking, or at seems contrived as if trying to evoke a false sense of something glorious.
To try to tie this whole review together *ahem* more constructively , it would have been better to choose this to be purely footage of the concert in tribute to Leonard Cohen (and maybe kept the artist interviews to be included as special features); or to have augmented the interviews with and about the man, and the archival pictures and footage, to flesh out the documentary tendencies that reared their face from time-to-time.
Three stars because, well, you could do worse than to hear Leonard Cohen songs re-interpreted with a side of commentary. For instance, maybe John Mayer songs reinterpreted with a side of commentary.
Leonard (When by. . . others) Cohen 
2008-05-26
There is reaction when I choose to play Leonard Cohen on the stereo at home:
"Please," my wife has said, "Not that again!"
"Chinese water torture," one of my sons has said.
They just don't get it. (And with some justification. Cohen's voice is not G-d's best instrument.) Yet his voice is usually the voice I want to hear perform his songs. I can't think of another voice for "The Future" or "Closing Time" or "Chelsea Hotel No. 2" or. . .Occasionally, however, there is the magic of a more talented voice (with considerable emotional involvement invested) performing a Cohen song. There is Joan Baez with "Suzanne". There is Roberta Flack with "Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye". And, of course, there is Jeff Buckley with "Hallelujah".
Throughout this evening with (or without) Leonard Cohen, I wanted to hear him perform, not others. But then came the magic. . . There was Martha Wainwright with "The Traitor". There was Antony with "If It Be Your Will" Their voices, their interpretations have added to the power of a Cohen song. Theirs are the performances I want to listen to again.
"I pray," Cohen says in interview, "to have a response to that which is clearly beautiful." That is what his poetic music is about. That is what everyone--and the artists involved in this tribute not specially mentioned above do--get. . . I'll work on the family.
Icons pay tribute to an Icon 2008-05-11
Sure to please both die-hard Cohen fans and the newly initiated this film is full of captivating music and offers an intimate portrait of a truly singular artist poet songwriter cultural icon.Special Features: Never-Before-Seen Musical Performances Readings and Conversations Director Commentary Delected Scenes (subject to change)System Requirements:Running Time: 103 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. Rating: PG - 13 UPC: 031398204343 Manufacturer No: 20435
The heart of human creativity 2008-04-26
Last night I watched a terrific film. I'm not usually much for documentary/tribute films about musicians, but I absolutely loved Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man, which is about, for, and with Leonard Cohen and a pretty amazing cadre of other musicians including Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Bono, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Beth Orton, Nick Cave and others. Cohen's a remarkable man, has been from his days as a novelist and poet in Montreal to a songwriting and singing career that reaches into and illuminates and gives texture to the most needful moments of so many lives to his own rekindling as a Zen monk at the still point of the turning earth, again and again. The film is a tour de force spiritually, musically, and as a filmed inquiry into the heart of human creativity. So I guess I have to give it a thumbs up.
Absolutely spectacular. 2008-04-06
This is such an amazing tribute to Leonard Cohen. With the exception of Nick Cage (whose voice is appalling to me), these songs are beautifully, soulfully performed. Extra kudos to Rufus and Martha Wainwright and Teddy Thompson. GORGEOUS music. Also, Bono's voice with Leonard Cohen's in the last track are remarkable together. This is a beautiful compilation--quite a tribute to Cohen's perfect poetry. Buy it. Then buy the CD and enjoy it forever.
"I was born like this, I had no choice" 2008-03-11
There is something about Leonard Cohen's music that seems just right for me. Lian Lunson's 2006 documentary titled Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man is about the life and career of Canadian song lyricist/poet Leonard Cohen, and it helps verify to me that my lifetime fascination with Cohen is because he seems to write and sing as if he has no choice. It is just part of who he is and what he must do. Cohen writes songs like we would need to eat, it is id-driven; he simply needs it for sustenance. In some ways listening to, understanding, and connecting to Cohen's words and music is as equally an aggressive impulse for me as a fan.
He was inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame last night. I gave up on the legitimacy of the Rock N' Roll Hall a Fame a while ago but they gain points for honoring Cohen, perhaps this means they finally give Tom Waits his due? Anyway, rather than sit through boring brown-nosing of what I see as mediocre talents like John Mellencamp and Madonna, I decided to just watch Lou Reed gloat over how great Cohen is and then see Damien Rice belt out a nice version of Hallelujah (a song best covered by the late Jeff Buckley). Then I opted to throw in this little documentary. To my surprise I was in the prefect mood for it and so I decided to review it after a positive viewing experience. The first time I saw this it seemed to drag at a snail's pace but still kept my attention, so take that for what it is and know it is my primary justification for a less than perfect rating.
It is very important to note that this movie really is for Cohen fans, or at least fans of some of the artists who appear in the film singing his songs at a tribute show at the Sydney Opera House. In fact, if you like Cohen but not some of the performers you may be frustrated because the film shows primarily covers versions of his songs. Some of the complete performances include Nick Cave singing the title track, Beth Orton singing "Sisters of Mercy", Rufus Wainwright singing various tracks, and perhaps my favorite performance, Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons singing "If it Be Your Will" with great passion. Cohen also performs with U2 at the end of the film and several additional performances that appear on the film's soundtrack are available as extras on the DVD. If none of that interests you then you might want to pass, but I happen to think Cohen is one of best song lyricists I've ever heard and this documentary really tries to focus on how he writes and what inspires him.
It's So Apropos! 2008-02-10
This was an amazing documentary, extremely well put together. People tend to idolize those in the limelight and sometimes forget they are human too, with weaknesses and self-doubt. This documentary certainly captured the human side of Leonard Cohen. I admire him even more. It is so nice to have these kinds of tributes to those that have made a difference in this world, while they are still amongst us. I just wish the same kind of effort was put into creating documentaries on non-English speaking greats; so that the world would know them too.
This is must.
