I'm Your Man [DVD] [2006] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Most of this DVD shows live renditions of Cohen songs by a variety of performers. The results are mixed. Rufus Wainwright just about gets away with camping up Everybody Knows, but does Chelsea Hotel more justice. Antony's If It Be Your Will is superb, he dives fearlessly for the heart of the song. But while Nick Cave is good, most of the rest are merely okay, the only disaster being Martha Wainwright's overwrought, terribly mannered performance. Despite some great moments, I found these versions at best interesting, and Perla Battala & Julie Christensen's eerie, perfectly sung version of Anthem is the only track I'd actually want to own, and hear again.

Between songs (and sometimes cutting into them), Cohen gives anecdotes, and spins a witty, warm, and mythic view of his life that lets him get away without ever having to answer any hard questions. We also see clips of him as a boy. The singers also appear as talking heads, and praise Cohen's work.

Finally, Cohen performs Tower Of Song with U2. Where the other singers all performed at a special tribute concert, the Man himself is in a studio. The Edge's guitar fills are show-offy and ruin the song. There are also close ups of Bono, despite him not doing much. This is presumbably in deference to U2's mega-fame, but their fans probably won't care about Cohen, and Cohen fans won't enjoy The Edge showboating all over a rare chance to see new footage of their favourite singer.

Worth a rental for fans, it doesn't require a purchase unless you are a fan of all the acts featured - something that seems doubtful.

I had the pleasure of seeing Hal Wilner's production of `Came So Far For Beauty' live in Brighton a couple of years ago. The line up of performers was much the same as those presented on this film. The whole performance was stunning, a great tribute to Leonard Cohen which this film undoubtedly captures in parts. So you can imagine I awaited the release of this DVD with the anticipation that the combination of Leonard Cohen commenting on his life experiences linked with the performance of `Came So Far For Beauty' would be an informative, interesting, extension and celebration of the original stage set. Unfortunately the inclusion of footage featuring banal comments from members of U2 and in particular the inane mutterings of the self abuser `Bono' really hacked me off - his profession to recognise great poets with the work of Cohen includes comparison with plumbers and observation of artists (cringe) looking into the `chasmm' . The sleeve notes suggest... `This is one of the greatest music films of all time' - it could be, but only if U2's contribution were to be (apologies for using a Bono type pun) 'depth charged' without trace by editing and preferably thrown down a `chasmm' along with Mr Mephisto and his intolerable ego.

This film is part concert tribute, part documentary tribute to Leonard Cohen. What is undeinable about it is director Lian Lunson's enthusiasm for her subject: the word and music of Leonard Cohen, and the man himself. The words and music are given admirable voice by various performers: Teddy Thompson, the Wainwrights, Perla Batalla, Beth Orton to name but a few. Each performer brings gives their own take on the song in question (you'll either like it or not, but the same could be said about any Leonard Cohen cover version). What Lunson does very well is give a flavour of Leonard Cohen the man. Here, the documentary does not seek to be comprehensive or didactic: it merely reflects the various facets of Leonard Cohen. Indeed, this is the film's strength: Lunson seems to have take her cue from Leonard Cohen himself, and has not tried to 'pigeon hole' him into this or that category.

The result is a more fluid film, which captures the mecurial nature of the Leonard Cohen. If it seems like at the end, there are still loose ends to tie up, that's because there are, because - thankfully - Leonard Cohen is still giving us great poetry and songs. SOme other reviewers have taken issue with the contributions of U2 and others. I think their contributions are fine, and what is undeniable about them, particularly Bono, is their enhtusiasm for Leonard Cohen and his songs. It's refreshing to see Bono be humbled (as he himself admits he is) by Leonard Cohen. It's great to hear the likes of Edge admit that U2 owes a debt of gratitude to Cohen, without whom, it seems, there would have been no U2. And that's where this film succeeds in pointing out that a lot of the bands beloved of younf people today were initially inspired by this poet from Montreal.

As for the DVD, there is a good director's commentary (from a quirkily cute Lian Lunson), a trailer, and Teddy Thompson rehearsing "Tonight will be fine" in black and white. For those new to Leonard Cohen, this is a great initiation. For those who know his work, this will be a refreshing look at that work, and will give an abiding flavour of one of the most important voices (musically and poetically) of the 20th Century.