Lou Reed Berlin
starring: Lou Reed
directed by: Julian Schnabel
directed by: Julian Schnabel
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Product Description:
Studio: Genius Products IncRelease Date: 09/30/2008Rating: Pg13
Amazon.com:
How do you adapt a record once described as "the most depressing album of all time" into a multi-media stage performance? Rather well, when it comes to Lou Reed's Berlin. The former Velvet Underground mainstay was already established as a solo artist, buoyed by the hit "Walk on the Wild Side," when he released the Berlin recording in 1973. That it was not a commercial success, to say the least, is unsurprising, given its relentlessly grim lyric content and music that, while often very appealing, is hardly the stuff that Top Ten dreams are made of. Still, it made sense when Reed revived the work some 35 years later for a single world tour and concert DVD. Working with film director Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), Reed brings a quiet power to his weary tale of hopeless junkies Caroline and Jim, whose lives, already bound for the gutter when the performance begins, completely bottom out little over an hour later (the 81-minute DVD includes a few encores, notably the Velvet Underground classic "Sweet Jane"). The songs, played by a standard rock band but with subtle touches of horns, strings, and choir (Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons adds vocals as well), are for the most part strikingly prosaic; Reed has never been much of a singer, and his words are anything but flowery, closer to prose than verse (many lines, like "All of her friends call her Alaska when she takes speed," are more spoken than sung). Schnabel does a superb job matching the downbeat mood, relying primarily on the use of low, filtered lighting and film (in which Caroline is portrayed by Emmanuelle Seigner). Not for everyone, certainly, but Berlin is a work to be admired. --Sam Graham
Studio: Genius Products IncRelease Date: 09/30/2008Rating: Pg13
Amazon.com:
How do you adapt a record once described as "the most depressing album of all time" into a multi-media stage performance? Rather well, when it comes to Lou Reed's Berlin. The former Velvet Underground mainstay was already established as a solo artist, buoyed by the hit "Walk on the Wild Side," when he released the Berlin recording in 1973. That it was not a commercial success, to say the least, is unsurprising, given its relentlessly grim lyric content and music that, while often very appealing, is hardly the stuff that Top Ten dreams are made of. Still, it made sense when Reed revived the work some 35 years later for a single world tour and concert DVD. Working with film director Julian Schnabel (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly), Reed brings a quiet power to his weary tale of hopeless junkies Caroline and Jim, whose lives, already bound for the gutter when the performance begins, completely bottom out little over an hour later (the 81-minute DVD includes a few encores, notably the Velvet Underground classic "Sweet Jane"). The songs, played by a standard rock band but with subtle touches of horns, strings, and choir (Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons adds vocals as well), are for the most part strikingly prosaic; Reed has never been much of a singer, and his words are anything but flowery, closer to prose than verse (many lines, like "All of her friends call her Alaska when she takes speed," are more spoken than sung). Schnabel does a superb job matching the downbeat mood, relying primarily on the use of low, filtered lighting and film (in which Caroline is portrayed by Emmanuelle Seigner). Not for everyone, certainly, but Berlin is a work to be admired. --Sam Graham
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Excellent DVD, incredible sound (even if "Berlin" is not a favorite of yours)
I'm going to assume that if you've clicked thru to this product description, you are at least familiar with Lou Reed's "Berlin" album, so I'll dispense with a critique of the album itself.While it was never one of my personal favorites in his catalogue (I favor "Transformer", "The Blue Mask" and "New York" over "Berlin"'s exceptional bleakness/depressing themes, but that's my own opinion), if "Berlin" IS one of YOUR favorites, then you should consider this review to be a five-star rating, and go ... Read More
Rating: 
- Uncle Lou
Have long beenLou fan. This album was pretty hard to get in to way back. to see it performed live with his great band [ Fernando Saunders is so cool], backing vocals, strings and the angelic voice of Antony, is a sound and visual delight
Rating: - Excellent!
I'm not going to go into any deep anaylsis of Berlin or it's creator Lou Reed. Let me just say this is the best rock and roll dvd I've seen in a long time (and I've seen a lot!). Do yourself a favor! Go get this one!
Rating: - Mr.New York is still rockin'
Short and sweet.This DVD is excellent from start to finish.Berlin is done with brilliance.Lou has a top notch band behind him,along with the director Julian S.,who is as intense as the music.I'm so glad Lou did this live DVD because it is truly a remarkable piece.If you are familiar with the original.Get it,you definately will not be disapointed.I watched it from start to finish 4X already,with the surround sound cranking(My B&W's never sounded better)Lou is the original Transformer.Cheers..............
Rating: 
- Zero stars - very disappointing, regretably.
Preface: I appreciate Lou Reed's music; I have all of his studio work (MMM & Hudson inclusive), and I also regard the 'Berlin' album as an exceptional album. Review: This dvd is a dud. The main reason being that this Schnabel (the director) did an extremely lousy job of directing the concert. He is one of these directors-of-concerts who goes in for close-up's of performers' faces instead of letting viewers enjoy the opportunity of watching musicians actually playing the music we are hearing. During the guitar ... Read More
- Excellent DVD, incredible sound (even if "Berlin" is not a favorite of yours)I'm going to assume that if you've clicked thru to this product description, you are at least familiar with Lou Reed's "Berlin" album, so I'll dispense with a critique of the album itself.While it was never one of my personal favorites in his catalogue (I favor "Transformer", "The Blue Mask" and "New York" over "Berlin"'s exceptional bleakness/depressing themes, but that's my own opinion), if "Berlin" IS one of YOUR favorites, then you should consider this review to be a five-star rating, and go ... Read More
- Uncle LouHave long beenLou fan. This album was pretty hard to get in to way back. to see it performed live with his great band [ Fernando Saunders is so cool], backing vocals, strings and the angelic voice of Antony, is a sound and visual delight
- Excellent!I'm not going to go into any deep anaylsis of Berlin or it's creator Lou Reed. Let me just say this is the best rock and roll dvd I've seen in a long time (and I've seen a lot!). Do yourself a favor! Go get this one!
- Mr.New York is still rockin'Short and sweet.This DVD is excellent from start to finish.Berlin is done with brilliance.Lou has a top notch band behind him,along with the director Julian S.,who is as intense as the music.I'm so glad Lou did this live DVD because it is truly a remarkable piece.If you are familiar with the original.Get it,you definately will not be disapointed.I watched it from start to finish 4X already,with the surround sound cranking(My B&W's never sounded better)Lou is the original Transformer.Cheers..............
- Zero stars - very disappointing, regretably.Preface: I appreciate Lou Reed's music; I have all of his studio work (MMM & Hudson inclusive), and I also regard the 'Berlin' album as an exceptional album. Review: This dvd is a dud. The main reason being that this Schnabel (the director) did an extremely lousy job of directing the concert. He is one of these directors-of-concerts who goes in for close-up's of performers' faces instead of letting viewers enjoy the opportunity of watching musicians actually playing the music we are hearing. During the guitar ... Read More
