Chasing Cohen

Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man (Lionsgate) is not a documentary. Leonard Cohen obsessives learned this the hard way, flocking to jam-packed theaters only to encounter Bono's banal assertion that Cohen's religious imagery isn't all that religious. If I'm Your Man documents anything at all, it's that Cohen is loved most by other musicians, even those who, like Bono, are full of hot air. That said, this DVD is nothing more than a performance film — a recent tribute show in Sydney, Australia — interspersed with commentary from the musicians involved, and Cohen himself. Performances by Rufus Wainwright, Nick Cave, Beth Orton, and Jarvis Cocker are total tear-jerkers, and Cohen's one-time collaboration with U2 on "Tower of Song" is admittedly gorgeous. But despite all its incredible live footage, I'm Your Man offers precious little insight.