DVD Mini Review - Lou Reed's Berlin

In 1973 Lou Reed recorded the concept album Berlin. It dealt with love, breakups, drug abuse, hatred, etc. It was very emotional. But the critics didn't like it and it was a commercial flop. He never performed the album.

33 years later Julian Schnabel, who loved the album, makes a film of Reed performing the album at St. Ann's Warehouse in NYC. What you have is a wonderful, visually stunning music documentary. It is a concert film and there aren't any interviews at all. But you don't need them because everything is so good.

Reed is very emotional as he sings. And his band is perfect. He has great backup singers and a marvelous choir. In one song he duets with the wonderful singer Antony (who was a standout in Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man). Schnabel adds amazing footage in the background. His daughter Lola helped with this. During some of the songs we see actress Emmanuelle Seigner. She is playing the part of a woman named Caroline.

This film is a must for Reed fans. If you are not a fan then don't see the film. I have always liked him and think he is very underrated. And I am also a big fan of Schnabel and wanted to see what he did with this genre. He did not disappoint, that is for sure.