Okay, all of you poets and music lovers, here's my Christmas wish...a copy of the new DVD Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man.... Like many, I've been aware of Cohen for a long time, have a taste for his songs, but can't quite get the mystery of his darkness. I also have a copy of his selected poems and have ordered his new Book of Longing... Well, the intimate and philosophical interviews with him just ring with his character and truth...and his songs move me more than ever now. He testifies to what it means to be a poet (and singer song writer, Zen lay priest, etc.). And he refuses to be defined...is what he is each day. I strongly recommend it to you. I have added him to the list of "rebel poets" that I sent out because he's so darn important. The singing in this DVD only has one sung by the man; most are wonderfully interpreted by today's troubadours...chiefly Rufus Wainwright. My wife promises to buy me the new DVD, so you can save your money to get your own...or just rent it when I return it. Peace Larry Smith

A touching, satisfying reflection on the life and work of the fine Canadian poet and lyricist. With obvious care and admiration, the filmmakers have woven together performances of several of Cohen's songs, interspersed with segments from a recent interview with Cohen, who is 72, occasional comments by others, and archival footage and stills that reach back to Cohen's early childhood in Montreal. All but one of the songs – both older and newer numbers - are performed by various artists during a concert in Sydney, Australia, in early 2005. Usually I prefer concert films that are pure, i.e., with the music uninterrupted by talking heads. But in this case, Cohen's reminiscences and reflections are sufficiently intriguing and deeply soulful that the Cohen interview segments nicely complement the songs.Among a dozen performers, those whose numbers stood out most for me were Rufus Wainwright (Everybody Knows, Hallelujah), Nick Cave (I'm Your Man, Suzanne), Anna and Kate McGarrigle (Winter Lady), Beth Orton (Sisters of Mercy), and Julie Christensen and Perla Batalla (Anthem). At the end, Cohen himself sings Tower of Song, backed by U2, in a performance staged at an intimate New York nightclub. Along the way we learn about Cohen's long embrace of Zen (and see old footage of him with his teacher, Roshi), discover how long and hard he works to create the lyrics for a song, and get some notions about how his mind operates. He is not nostalgic or sentimental. He doesn't look backwards, claiming to indulge in neither regrets about past mistakes nor pride about accomplishments.Good as it is, the film could have been better. With a single exception (Rufus Wainwright's delightful account of his first meeting with Cohen), brief interview segments with Bono, The Edge and several other performers contribute little to the flow of things. Better to have added more songs, especially a couple more by Cohen himself. Still, this work does seem to capture the essence of this enigmatic, brilliant, incisive and altogether unique contributor to the world of pop music. The "stench of enlightenment," to borrow a Zen phrase, seems to have dissipated from Cohen. Indeed, he comes across as calm, candid and wryly self deprecating. If his early work seemed to emanate from a being torn by spiritual angst, it does appear that Cohen has faced his demons and moved on. My grade: 7.5/10 (low B+)

Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man is part concert, part interview, and in-between are all these amazing musicians (Rufus Wainwright, Bono, Jarvis Cocker, etc.) waxing philosophical on the musical genius that is Cohen. I, however, learned absolutely nothing about Leonard Cohen from this pretentious and arrogant documentary.I'm not a Cohen fan, personally. I think he's one of those musicians who's worshiped by other musicians so that they can sound really cool and pompous when they say, "You don't know who Leonard Cohen is?" All the musicians talk about Cohen's music being so spiritual and transcendental, and they describe Cohen more like a messiah than a musician.We never see a full facial shot of Cohen during the interviews, always keeping a part of him secret. Cohen spends more camera time reading his poetry than talking about his life. It's as if we're not worthy of seeing and truly knowing "the great" Leonard Cohen. Or maybe he's just too great and mysterious to be understood by the simple lay people.However, I did enjoy the Rufus Wainwright rendition of "Hallelujah" with the three-part harmony. That was pretty. The rest was a highbrow bore.

First of all, this documentary focuses on a concert that was a tribute to Leonard Cohen, an artist and a poet that has been influential to countless others. This Sydney concert gathered a lot of talent that came together to celebrate his music. Lian Lunson, an Australian director, has taken the best tracks of the historical presentation that mixes well with the man it's paying homage to. Let the viewer be clear that for a better picture of who this man is and what he has done in his life, it will not be found in this movie. For that, anyone interested in Cohen's life must go somewhere else because of the limitations this medium had.The life of Leonard Cohen is examined briefly as an on camera interview with him at his Los Angeles home. Several biographical bits of information are revealed during that conversation, but of course, it only covers the highlights of his life in sketchy details. One gets to know, for instance, about his early life in Montreal. The death of the father when Cohen was nine. His New York stay, at the legendary Chelsea Hotel, home of the cool people that influenced a whole generation. Then one learns about Mr. Cohen's introduction to Zen Buddism and his becoming a monk.A curious note arises from the lips of Leonard Cohen's lips about being a notorious ladies' man, something he was always notorious for, and yet, how far from the truth it was. There is also a moment in which the poet reads for our benefit the introduction he prepared for one of his books being translated into Chinese, a culture that always fascinated him.The concert itself is an excellent way to hear Leonard Cohen's songs as others interpret them. Rufus Wainwright sings three numbers to great effect. Antony makes a poignant appearance belting "If It Be Your Will", all tics and mannerisms, yet making the song seem new. Nick Cave has also two good moments interpreting "I'm Your Man", and "Suzanne", two of the songs closely associated with Mr. Cohen. Perla Batalla and Julie Christensen who back up most of the songs, are perfect in "Anthem". Martha Wainwright's take on "The Traitor" has a different edge when she sings it, yet it's one of the highlights of the evening.The best is left for last. Bono, and Edge, who have been praising Mr. Cohen throughout the film come together to back him as he sings his "Tower of Song" in his own inimitable style. It shows a lot of generosity on his part leaving his own material to be reexamined by a younger generation that clearly loves him.Lian Lunson shows she had the right idea in how to bring the concert into a movie that gives relevance to a man that had it all, Leonard Cohen.