LEONARD COHEN UNDER REVIEW - 1934-1977
Leonard Cohen - Under Review 1934-1977 is basically a chronological review of the first four+ decades of Leonard's life largely via a journey through his albums: Songs of Leonard Cohen, Songs from a Room, Songs of Love and Hate, New Skin for the Old Ceremony, and Death of a Ladies' Man, which are critiqued and cooed over by a Cohen loving clan including:
Official biographer, Ira Nadel; Leonard's guitarist and band leader, Ron Cornelius; Producer on the New Skin For The Old Ceremony and New Positions albums, John Lissauer; Studio owner/engineer, Death of A Ladies' Man, David Gold; Cohen's backing vocalist, Ronee Blakley; Producer of Songs of Leonard Cohen, John Simon; Music Editor from Village Voice, Robert Christgau; Rolling Stone magazine's Anthony De Curtis and more.
The film weaves together musical performances, photos, videos, and interviews with Leonard. We see his background in Montréal, Canada and learn about his Jewish roots and love for his heritage. We learn how he was swept up by literature and poets Elliot, Keats, and Lorca and then follow his path to Greenwich Village in 1955 where he engaged with the folk music and beat poetry scene.
Then he discovered the Grecian Island, Hydra, a Bohemian artistic haven. In Greece, Leonard fell in love, wrote two novels, and then ended up back again in Greenwich Village where he began his music career. We see him move to Tennessee and immerse himself into his recordings there. Then there is the Phil Spector wall-of-sound bumbler, a non-harmonious marriage of musical worlds that birthed an album that Leonard couldn't embrace as his own.
A considerable part of the film is footage of the colleagues who praise him and twinkle at the mention of his name. I understand this, as when it comes to Leonard Cohen, I'm a teenager with a crush, infatuated with the totality of his being -- If you love Leonard like I do, this film will quench you like a cool shower on a sweltering day. In fact, I feel parched right now and must see this movie again.
Leonard Cohen - Under Review 1934-1977 is basically a chronological review of the first four+ decades of Leonard's life largely via a journey through his albums: Songs of Leonard Cohen, Songs from a Room, Songs of Love and Hate, New Skin for the Old Ceremony, and Death of a Ladies' Man, which are critiqued and cooed over by a Cohen loving clan including:
Official biographer, Ira Nadel; Leonard's guitarist and band leader, Ron Cornelius; Producer on the New Skin For The Old Ceremony and New Positions albums, John Lissauer; Studio owner/engineer, Death of A Ladies' Man, David Gold; Cohen's backing vocalist, Ronee Blakley; Producer of Songs of Leonard Cohen, John Simon; Music Editor from Village Voice, Robert Christgau; Rolling Stone magazine's Anthony De Curtis and more.
The film weaves together musical performances, photos, videos, and interviews with Leonard. We see his background in Montréal, Canada and learn about his Jewish roots and love for his heritage. We learn how he was swept up by literature and poets Elliot, Keats, and Lorca and then follow his path to Greenwich Village in 1955 where he engaged with the folk music and beat poetry scene.
Then he discovered the Grecian Island, Hydra, a Bohemian artistic haven. In Greece, Leonard fell in love, wrote two novels, and then ended up back again in Greenwich Village where he began his music career. We see him move to Tennessee and immerse himself into his recordings there. Then there is the Phil Spector wall-of-sound bumbler, a non-harmonious marriage of musical worlds that birthed an album that Leonard couldn't embrace as his own.
A considerable part of the film is footage of the colleagues who praise him and twinkle at the mention of his name. I understand this, as when it comes to Leonard Cohen, I'm a teenager with a crush, infatuated with the totality of his being -- If you love Leonard like I do, this film will quench you like a cool shower on a sweltering day. In fact, I feel parched right now and must see this movie again.
