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| Lou Reed Berlin | 
| Director: Julian Schnabel
Actor: Lou Reed
Studio: Miriam Collection
Category: DVD
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $16.28
You Save: $8.67 (35%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $15.98
Avg. Customer Rating:  (12 reviews)
Sales Rank: 10311
Format: Color, Ntsc, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Subtitled)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 81 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: WEID81525D
UPC: 796019815253
EAN: 0796019815253
ASIN: B001AR0D4U
Release Date: September 30, 2008
Theatrical Release Date: September 16, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Studio: Genius Products Inc Release Date: 09/30/2008 Rating: 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: Read 7 more reviews...
 Zero stars - very disappointing, regretably. December 31, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
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 solos, the director rarely gives us an opportunity to enjoy seeing the respective guitar player's playing; instead, for the most part, we are zoomed-in on Reed's face whilst the solo plays on. The other reason this dvd is not worth one's time: the whole staging of the show is pretentious, and it suffers from overproduction. To conclude: while the original concept album is an excellent listen, this decades-later "staging" of it is a big snore, and the filming of it is third-rate at best. If you want to watch an unaffected, properly-directed concert of Reed, enjoy "A Night With Lou Reed," instead; if you want to enjoy 'Berlin,' listen to the original album on headphones, in the dark or outside on an overcast day instead of watching this disappointing dvd.
 One of Lou's best albums finally gets its due respect. December 26, 2008
Lou Reed brings his masterpiece Berlin album to the stage for all to appreciate. While the video aspects are respectful of Lou and his music with regard to professionalism, the dvd in no way comes off as a "movie" about the music. As previously noted in another review, the video clips that take over the screen during the concert add nothing to the music. In fact, they remove us from the intensity of Lou's performance and the excellence of his band and choir. He does talk through most of the songs, in contrast to his more singing style on the album though I'm not sure this is related to his voice deteriorating. Some might miss how in synch Lou's voice was with the music on the album compared to this video where he is repeatedly catching up to the music.
The sound quality is excellent with Lou's vocals being up front as they typically are on the album. I think most will find the highlight of this performance being the non-Berlin song, Candy Says, which Antony performs with Lou. It is quite moving and Lou acknowledges Antony after the song with a look of complete respect and appreciation.
While I do wish this would have been a standard video of his concert without the "film" aspects, it is a must buy for Lou Reed fans and all those that appreciated the Berlin album.
 Good music, but... December 5, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I hate to disagree with all the 5 star reviews. Berlin is probably Lou Reed's last great album. These musicians are top-notch and the music they create at this performance is extremely impressive. However, Lou's vocals are not up to the music. It seems absurd to say Lou Reed has lost his voice. He lost any vocal range after VU's Loaded album, but remained through the '70's, like Dylan, as one of the greatest rock "attitude" singers.
On this performance, he speaks many of the singing phrases and his vocal rhythm is so off that he barks out lyrics late or too early. I realize the guy is in his mid-sixties and in Keith Richard's years, is closer to 100, but still... The other problem is Julian Schnabel or his daughter's pretentious films, apparently illustrating the story. The woman in the film looks like some drugged-out contemporary model in SoHo, not a 1970's woman in Berlin. I prefer the '93 VU reunion or the Lou 1982 New York show DVD's, but musically and guitar-wise this is strong and will definitely make you want to get the Berlin CD out.
Incredible Performance by Reed and His Band November 19, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've always had a sort of take it or leve it attitude towards Lou Reed's music. I could appreciate it but would not go out of my way to listen or find it. Much of that attitude has changed since I've seen Julian Schnabel's Berlin. I have now joined the initiated and feel that the music when properly presented is terrific.
Filmed over five nights at St. Ann's Warehouse in New York, Reed performs in its entirety his failed 1973 concept album Berlin. Berlin presents a 10 song cycle that attempts to tell the story of a couple living in 1970's Berlin before the wall came down. Caroline is a speed freak party girl who spirals out of control and eventually loses her children and commits suicide by slashing her wrists. Jim is left to pick up the pieces and try to figure out her motivation if any.
When released in 1973 the album came across as a gloomy concept work that did not have the commercial success that Reed felt it should. He shunned the material and did not perform it live for 33 years. The december 2006 concers which mke up the film presents the music as it should be heard. Reed's delivery is raw and emotional. The band led by guitarist Steve Hunter is spot on and there has been added the Brooklyn Youth Choir and a horn section to the mix.
The concert plays against a backdrop of films of Caroline's life shot by Schnabel's daughter Lola that add to the mood in a fuzzy out of focus sort of way. This is not happy material and it is not presented as such. It is emotional and raw.
The concert ends with a three song encore featuring Candy Says, Rock Minuet and Sweet Jane.
This is one of the best concert films that I have seen in years and easily ranks with such films as Scorsese's Last Waltz. Do yourself a favor and see this one and experience the music as it should be seen and heard.
 How To Improve A Masterpiece November 8, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Saw the DVD last night. Very short review: 5 stars out of 5. I can't think of ANY other rocker in their mid 60's interpreting their early material from 1973 with this sort of INTEGRITY, power, musicianship, musicality & emotion.
This is MILES beyond anything the Stones, Who, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Deep Purple, Aerosmith, etc have done in the last 20 years.
The only artists I know who come CLOSE to making their early 70's material relevant like this in new performance are Bruce Cockburn & Bowie's 90's work with Reeves Gabrels, neither of whom pulled it off like Reed does here.
Doesn't hurt to have a CRACK band anchored by Steve Hunter & Rob Wasserman (the entire band is tremendous).
What both makes it so special & oddly also at the same time might be my only criticism is this is NOT a greatest hits show. The only song on Berlin that qualifies for ME as a "greatest hit" is Lady Day (though the feel of the song has nothing in common with Billie Holiday stylistically, this song catches her essence better then any book I've ever read!). Berlin has several other strong songs (Sad Songs, Caroline Says, Men Of Good Fortune; there are NO bad songs on it), but again; it's not a hits show. We do get Sweet Jane as an Encore.
There's just something about seeing Reed feel these songs about being a 31 year old love lorn junkie as much at 64 as he did at 31 that melts me.
Highly recommended.
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