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Antony, Beth Orton, Jarvis Cocker, Julie Christensen, Kate & Anna McGarrigle ... see more see more... , Linda Thompson , Martha Wainwright , Nick Cave , Perla Batalla , Rufus Wainwright , Teddy Thompson , The Handsome Family , Leonard Cohen , Bono , The Edge , Larry Mullen Jr. , Adam Clayton , Janice , Joan Weldon , U2 , Rupert Wainwright

Leonard Cohen is widely regarded as one of the finest and most influential poets and songwriters of his generation, a writer whose artful mélange of love, eros, and despair has earned him a passionate... read more read more... international following and the respect and admiration of artists ranging from R.E.M. to Johnny Cash. In 2005, music producer Hal Wilner staged an all-star tribute concert in Australia in which a handful of major artists offered their interpretations of Cohen's songs, including Nick Cave, Jarvis Cocker of Pulp, Rufus Wainwright, Beth Orton, Kate and Anna Mcgarrigle, and many more. Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man includes highlights from this concert and thoughts on Cohen and his work from the participants as well as an extensive interview with Leonard Cohen himself as he talks in detail about his life and his art. The film also includes a special performance of "Tower of Song," in which Cohen is accompanied by U2. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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39% liked it

20,551 ratings

Critics

70% liked it

74 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 43 min.

Directed by: Lian Lunson

Release Date: July 14, 2006

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DVD Release Date: November 14, 2006

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Flixster Reviews (586)

  • brooklynspo
    February 7, 2009
    brooklynspo
    Loves the Leonard but the movie just weren't all that. Dominated by ho-hum guest artist concert footage.
  • flickfever
    July 7, 2006
    flickfever
    This documentary on Leonard Cohen is a very good analysis of who this singer/songwriter/poet really is. It showcases many great performances of Cohen's songs by many of today's alternative artists. Some highlights include "If It Be Your Will" by Antony and "Halleluijah" by Rufus ... read moreand Martha Wainwright; as well as a rendition of "I'm Your Man" at the end of the movie by Leonard Cohen himself (accompanied by U2.) Watch if you like great songwriting and the man behind a great song.
  • merillupin
    November 9, 2008
    merillupin
    Fantastic music, though I was expecting more of an emphasis on the music/concert than on Cohen (they interrupted every song with interviews; I wish they could have been separate). Also, there was no sign of Teddy Thompson performing The Future, even though it's on the CD...
  • wbgoose13
    December 7, 2006
    wbgoose13
    Sure, these musicians love the guy, but why and how exactly is he a legend?
  • sportsphenom1
    April 11, 2008
    sportsphenom1
    What a disappointment. A critic wrote a review that went "Moments so beautiful, it brought me to tears." Well, this movie brought me to tears all right, I was bored to tears that is. Is this a documentary? Or a concert movie? Half of this movie, no exaggeration, are close-ups of ... read moresecond rate (with the exception of U2) performers defiling Cohen's songs. The other half is old footage, new footage made to feel old (mostly Cohen walking about his home) and Bono going on and on about how he worships Cohen. There were a bits of pieces of clips of Cohen telling some stories, but the style is very plain. Don't get me wrong, I love Cohen, but I didn't learn much about Cohen through this experience. I learned much more about him by spending 5 minutes on the Internet (youtube, wikipedia, etc). There is a lot of interesting things to say about Cohen, but this movie fails to convey any of these. For instance, some of his best songs, "Bird on a Wire" and "Famous Blue Raincoat" (which aren't even mentioned here) were considered "unfinished" by Cohen. I would have liked to seen some of these interesting nuances examined, and I would liked to have heard Cohen's original versions sung by him as part of, shall I say it, a score to the movie. And there is plenty of old concert footage, from when Cohen was in his prime, that could have been included in a chronological telling of his life and career. But this movie has no direction, little organization, and to say that this movie does an injustice to Cohen is an understatement.
  • rshults2
    June 14, 2007
    rshults2
    For some reason or another it's super difficult for me to watch a lot of performances, and there's quite a bit of other artists performing Leonard Cohen's songs. A few are notable however, both of Nick Cave's, and all of Rufus Wainwright's. Bono's appearences throughout the movie... read more are a bit obnoxious, but that may be because I have an unfounded dislike of Bono. This movie was worth at least a watch, at least when Cohen speaks between songs it's interesting.
  • dooritor
    May 5, 2007
    dooritor
    cant anyone do a succesful documentary of a poet?! not as bad as dylans encounter with scorsese but this really lacked substance. even made me never want to listen to bono again. poor dumb kid. but cohen, is very interesting. they didnt do his best songs, or his best quotes or in... read moreterviews.. kind of a B material. but they thru it together, tied in a weak interview current and they got this waste of time for those who dont know his music alot. i enjoyed it, but i expect im the only one.
  • cinder1973
    March 4, 2007
    cinder1973
    if you've never heard of leonard cohen, or if you've heard him but don't think you like his music, you must watch this film. if you're already a fan, well, u get it. various artist describe wht the songwriting talents of cohen have done for them; some of the bands i didn't pers... read moreonally care for, but the overall feeling of his work is magical & the love these artists feel for his music comes across as genuine & remarkable.
  • wainwrightfan01
    February 28, 2007
    wainwrightfan01
    Haven't seen all of it, but Rufus' performance of 'Chelsea Hotel Number Two' and 'Everybody Knows' are fantastic. Plus, Martha sings too, although I just blanked on the name of her song. Very good!
  • danwentz
    December 16, 2006
    danwentz
    I love Leonard Cohen, but watching people (even Nick Cave whom I also love) singing his songs and talking about him is boring. The best parts of this film were the interviews with Cohen himself.

View All Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore
October 27, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

It's not a deep documentary. We learn precious little about the real man underneath his sharp-dressed pose. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
July 28, 2006
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

I'm Your Man may be as close as we'll ever get to Cohen on film.

Bruce Newman
July 20, 2006
Bruce Newman, San Jose Mercury News

I'm Your Man never quite gets its man in a coherent frame, but for all its zigs and zags outside the lines, the portrait of Cohen that emerges is a fascinating one.

Kyle Lawson
July 20, 2006
Kyle Lawson, Arizona Republic

An odd but enjoyable concoction of biography, music commentary and concert. Full Review

Joel Selvin
July 14, 2006
Joel Selvin, San Francisco Chronicle

In the end, it's Cohen's songs that are what this loving musical portrait is all about. Full Review

Bruce Westbrook
July 14, 2006
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle

We hardly get to know Cohen from the biographical shorthand melded to a worshipful tribute show in which the Canadian singer-songwriter never even appears. Full Review

Terry Lawson
July 14, 2006
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

A tribute concert with earnest but mostly average performances gussied up with fawning if passionate praise from admirers and occasional bits of self-deprecation from Cohen himself. Full Review

Ty Burr
July 14, 2006
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Whatever the approach, the songs are sturdy enough to support it while remaining resigned and elusive, their words practically glowing in the dark. Full Review

Joe Morgenstern
July 14, 2006
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

The strength and beauty of Cohen's songs is, if anything, enhanced by the treatment they get from such folk legends -- and legends in the making -- as Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and Kate's son and daug... Full Review

Tom Maurstad
July 13, 2006
Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News

Mr. Cohen is funny and charming while being brilliantly observant, so it's especially frustrating that this film about him is so reverent and humorless. Full Review

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