Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man

2006

Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man

Critics Consensus

A moving, if somewhat uneven, look at the legendary singer-songwriter, I'm Your Man treats Cohen's body of work with the reverence it deserves.

69%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 75

60%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 20,807
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Movie Info

This documentary on the legendary singer-songwriter features performances by those musicians he has influenced. Woven through a riveting tribute is a career-spanning interview with the man himself. Sprinkled with his own artwork and personal photos, Cohen speaks of his stately writing process; "savage criticisms" exchanged with fellow Montreal poets; the scene at the Chelsea Hotel; tea and oranges with the real Suzanne; his retreat to Mt. Baldy and more.

Cast

Antony
Jarvis Cocker
Antony Hegarty
Kate & Anna McGarrigle
Linda Thompson
Beth Orton
Julie Christensen
Martha Wainwright
Linda Thompson
Nick Cave
Kate McGarrigle
Perla Batalla
Rufus Wainwright
Anna McGarrigle
Teddy Thompson
Perla Batalla
The Handsome Family
Bono
The Edge
Larry Mullen Jr.
Adam Clayton
Janice
as Burlesque Beauty
Joan Weldon
as Burlesque Beauty
U2
Leonard Cohen
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News & Interviews for Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man

Critical Consensus: "Click" Doesn’t, Ahem, Click; "Waist" Isn’t Deep Enough
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Critic Reviews for Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man

All Critics (75) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (23)

  • Cohen is clearly a songwriter's songwriter, and the resulting movie brims with an infectious passion for the man's melodies and sardonic wit. Unfortunately, the performances are interspersed with interview footage that is much less captivating.

    Nov 28, 2006 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    David Jones

    BBC.com
    Top Critic

  • At various times poet, consort of beautiful women and Zen monk, his biog's intriguing too, all of which makes this doc highly welcome, even if it's at best a partial view.

    Nov 23, 2006 | Full Review…

    Trevor Johnston

    Time Out
    Top Critic

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

    Oct 27, 2006 | Rating: 3/5

    Roger Moore

    Orlando Sentinel
    Top Critic

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

    Jul 28, 2006 | Rating: B+

    Robert Denerstein

    Denver Rocky Mountain News
    Top Critic

  • 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.

    Jul 20, 2006 | Rating: 3/4

    Bruce Newman

    San Jose Mercury News
    Top Critic

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

    Jul 20, 2006 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Kyle Lawson

    Arizona Republic
    Top Critic
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Audience Reviews for Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man

  • Feb 07, 2009
    Loves the Leonard but the movie just weren't all that. Dominated by ho-hum guest artist concert footage.
    Bob S Super Reviewer
  • Apr 11, 2008
    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 second 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.
    Richard F Super Reviewer
  • Mar 04, 2007
    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 personally care for, but the overall feeling of his work is magical & the love these artists feel for his music comes across as genuine & remarkable.
    Cindy C Super Reviewer
  • Nov 14, 2006
    Sure, these musicians love the guy, but why and how exactly is he a legend?
    William G Super Reviewer
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