Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man, 2005

I’m wasn’t that familiar with Leonard Cohen before watching this film. I’d heard of him and heard some of his songs but never become a devotee. I feel somewhat different after seeing this film, learning about his life and hearing some of the songs performed by other artists. The soundtrack to this film is a must have for fans, in my opinion. Rufus Wainwright is excellent, but so is Nick Cave, Beth Orton, The Handsome Family, Teddy Thompson…there really aren’t any bad performances.

The film is part documentary part concert. It was interesting to learn that Cohen spent many years studying Zen Buddhism in a secluded California monastery. I guess I wasn’t really aware the Cohen was also a poet. In the interviews, Cohen gives insight into his personal life, which seems really lonely in some respects, but it seems as he likes it that way. He’s someone dedicated to his art, who puts everything into it and makes no apologies for doing so. That is something that I admire him for. Definitely pick it up if you get a chance.