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Film review

The elements of Cohen

By STEVE PERSALL
Published August 17, 2006

Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man (PG-13) (98 min.) - Entering the theater with only passing awareness of Leonard Cohen's music is probably the best way to appreciate Lian Lunson's documentary. This tentative blend of prattling praise and tribute concert covers doesn't reveal much that Cohen (above left) hasn't already written in haunting lyrics and sung with more emotion than most of the guest performers.

The 71-year-old poet and songwriter is lauded by U2 front man Bono (above right) as "our Byron, our Shelley," which is the most memorable compliment Lunson records. The musical performances range from overly morose (Beth Orton's version of Sisters of Mercy) to loopy fun (Rufus Wainwright's Everybody Knows and Chelsea Hotel #2). That is, except for the last scene when Cohen proves he should have been the only singer onstage, impassively stealing attention from U2 on Tower of Song.

Cohen's raspy voice also provides the film's best nuggets of information, recalling a tryst with Janis Joplin at the Chelsea, describing his serene exile in a Zen monastery, and explaining his lifelong choice of natty attire over the denim and T-shirts of musicians he inspired. A few enigmas from his songs are given clues, and a sketch - rather than a portrait - of a quietly driven artist unconcerned with celebrity emerges. Lunson's decision to "paint" her subject's words with optical and audio effects is a mistake but not fatal.

The standouts among performers at the 2005 Sydney, Australia, concert include Nick Cave, whose title song rendition gets things off to a solid start. Antony Hegarty's take on If It Be Your Will leaves one wishing the song was longer. Martha Wainwright comes closest to matching Cohen's graceful swan dives into despair on The Traitor. Good stuff but more Cohen doing his material would make a better case for his genius. B

- STEVE PERSALL, Times film critic

[Last modified August 16, 2006, 11:07:22]