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Lou Reed's Berlin [Blu-ray]

Julian Schnabel (Director) Rated: Suitable for 12 years and over Format: Blu-ray
4.3 out of 5 stars 128 ratings
IMDb7.3/10.0
£10.25
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27 Oct. 2008 		—
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Genre Rock, Music Video & Concert, Music Video & Concerts
Format Anamorphic, PAL
Contributor Emmanuelle Seigner, Julian Schnabel, Antony Hegarty, Sharon Jones, Jon Kilik, Tom Sarig, Lou Reed, Fernando Saunders See more
Language English
Runtime 1 hour and 25 minutes

Product description

Live stage performance of Lou Reed's 1973 album, recorded at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn, New York over five nights in 2007. When it was first released, 'Berlin', Reed's third solo outing, received a critical mauling, especially since it followed his earlier triumph, 'Transformer', with its hit single 'Walk On The Wild Side'. 'Berlin' is a tragic rock opera which deals with the drug-addled relationship of a doomed couple, and all its attendant depression and angst. The use of orchestral arrangements, horn sections and top session musicians alienated a large section of Reed's fanbase on release. However, over time the album has been re-evaluated, and is now regarded as one of Reed's best solo works, ranking 344 on 'Rolling Stone' magazine's 500 greatest albums of all-time.

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 16:9 - 1.78:1
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 17 x 13.5 x 1.2 cm; 66 g
  • Manufacturer reference ‏ : ‎ 5021866001401
  • Director ‏ : ‎ Julian Schnabel
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ PAL, Anamorphic
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 25 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ 27 Oct. 2008
  • Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Artificial Eye
  • Producers ‏ : ‎ Jon Kilik, Tom Sarig
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B001EBO94M
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 128 ratings

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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • ACIDMOTHER
    5.0 out of 5 stars LOU REED'S MASTERWORK
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 March 2010
    Verified Purchase
    Berlin was a hard slog for me way back in the 70's...I am now older and a little bit wiser so appreciate what a great piece of work this is. The Berlin Blue-ray DTSHD sound was excellent with the bonus of a superb candy says with a lead vocal from Lou and Antony.. Strangely I thought the live performance in Nottingham of Berlin was actually better than the performance here but it is still a great statement to a masterwork.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Ms. S. E. Bruce
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lou Reed live DVD
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 December 2009
    Verified Purchase
    What can I say? This is Lou Reed at his best! I've always loved Berlin but was never able to see Reed perform the entire set when I used to go to see him live, back in the '70s, when the album came out. I'm so glad I've finally gotten so see and hear the entire thing - a true classic!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Mr. John Kirtley
    5.0 out of 5 stars A live performance of probably Lou Reed's greatest work. Berlin is a highly emotional journey into ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 November 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A live performance of probably Lou Reed's greatest work. Berlin is a highly emotional journey into the lives of a drug addicted couple living and loving against all odds. It is wonderfully brought to life by an on form Reed and superb musicians. Well worth adding to any collection.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Medway Man
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not the greatest performance
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 January 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I love Lou but have always been frustrated by he's far from great live performances. Again unfortunately he struggles with the vocals and the original song structures and sound, which is a shame as it would have ben nice to have a near perfect performance of such a great album. However, this is Lou, he has always been the same. You will search long and hard for a video clip of any performance where he does the studio versions justice (there are a few). Its the nature of the beast I guess. Its great to have it all the same as a souvenir of such a monumentally great work of art.
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  • Caspersozza
    4.0 out of 5 stars Incredible concert, despite the director
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 September 2010
    Verified Purchase
    First the bad stuff. Director Julian Schnabel's attempt, in his onstage intro, to ingratiate himself with Lou's yiddishe mama is as creepy as its inclusion in this film is self-indulgent. Nobody cares, Schnabel - get over yourself and get on with it! His idea of creating visual atmosphere is also a little iffy: cameras go in and out of focus and sway around too much, with the edit all-too-often missing the person who is actually playing at that point.

    Lou Reed's voice is also noticeably weaker than it used to be in his heyday, and his always-idiosyncratic phrasing is occasionally self-defeatingly eccentric to the point where you think he has forgotten the words.

    All that said, this is a fantastic concert, a really warm, vivid realisation of these extraordinary songs. Reed's electric guitar playing is surprisingly fired-up, and the control he visibly wields over this exemplary group of musicians is very impressive - sensitive to his and Bob Ezrin's wonderful arrangements while also allowing them the freedom to really cut loose at times. The result is a performance that throbs with passion and commitment, with the empathetic conviction of Lou's delivery (despite the vocal issues mentioned above) making the emotions behind these heartbreaking, defiant, compassionate, angry and tragic songs come to life in a way that reaffirms your faith in the power of music.

    The encore version of 'Candy Says' has been widely praised, but it might be worth noting that Antony Hegarty's vocal style is a marmite affair, and certainly won't be to everyone's taste. Some will be incredibly moved by his tremulously emotional delivery, while others won't be able to listen to that mannered warble with a straight face. Oh yes, and the DTS HD sound mix is superb.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • js mckay
    5.0 out of 5 stars An intense masterpiece.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 July 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Great! A true rock experience. Unique Lou,proves his point and the world catches up,hopefully! A classic rock album,way ahead of its time. Will watch/listen to this album forever.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great performance, and Lou looks like he's having a ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 March 2016
    Verified Purchase
    What a dream to see this album come alive! Great performance, and Lou looks like he's having a lot of fun.
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  • Bernard Glazier
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 April 2009
    Verified Purchase
    Little more to say. The man is justifiably a legend and Schnabel capture his escense brilliantly. If you know that Lou Reed is one of the principal contributors to contemporary music, then this film reinforces that position.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • GEPY STEWART
    5.0 out of 5 stars CAPOLAVORO
    Reviewed in Italy on 9 April 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Un capolavoro, punto e basta.
    Questo è tutto quanto c'è da dire su questa opera straordinaria.
    BERLIN è una tragedia, quindi in quanto tale è un opera triste ed opprimente, ma di un intensità emotiva unica ed eccezionale.
    REED ha atteso trent'anni per proporci dal vivo questo capolavoro ed a giudicare da quanto si può apprezzare in questo DVD, è valsa la pena di aspettare.Le immagini, come al solito si concentrano in massima parte sull'artista, il pubblico lo si sente negli applausi, ma non lo si vede mai. Le immagini sono scure, in perfetta sintonia con l'opera, l'esecuzione dei musicisti è a dir poco magistrale, alla solita formazione: chitarra, basso, batteria vanno aggiunte tastiere, una sezione di fiati, archi e lo splendido "Brooklin Youth Chorus".
    Su tutti i brani, eccelle per intensità l'accopiata 'The Kids' e 'The bed' nelle quali a Caroline (la protagonista dell'opera) viene prima privata la custodia dei figli e poi si taglia le vene per il dolore. Il coro che riproduce il pianto dei bambini in 'The Kids' è roba da far venire la pelle d'oca.
    Solo nei bis(Candy says, Rock minuet e Sweet Jane), appendice ad opera già terminata, si respira un aria più leggera. In candy says è possibile apprezzare la sublime voce ed interpretazione di "Antony".
    Lo scarno booklet, oltre ad alcune foto, ha il grandissimo pregio di regalarci i testi di tutti i brani eseguiti.
    BERLIN è e resta il più maturo, il più intelligente e il più intensamente emotivo album di tutta la storia del POP.
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  • Enrique
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muy recomendable
    Reviewed in Spain on 7 March 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Tiene un error tipográfico, en la parte trasera pone que está en 5.1 canales, no es correcto, no está en multicanal, solo está la pista estereo pero es muy suficiente, suena muy bien, las imágenes son bastante buenas y tiene subtítulos en castellano, la historia es muy buena. Muy recomendable, a disfrutar.

    Corrección: Sí está en 5.1 canales, es un concierto magnífico.
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  • Jerome Lefeuvre
    5.0 out of 5 stars Berlin où que vous soyez
    Reviewed in France on 12 September 2009
    Verified Purchase
    Enfin l'oeuvre sombre mise en lumière au vingt et unième siècle.
    Lou Reed s'était vu méprisé des critiques lors de la sortie de ce diamant noir et n'avait pu mettre en scène son projet.
    c'est fait. C'est beau.
    C'est définitif.

    Le Blu Ray offre une sonorité et une image précieuses.
    j'ai vu le concert live. Ici ce n'est pas "Stop mkaing Sense". Le montage ne cherche pas à rendre l'ambiance réelle.
    Le Blu ray est d'avantage monté pour offrir une video musicale avec des images du film de Schnabel que nous ne voyions guère en live car elles étaient pauvrement projetées.
    Ce n'est pas que ces images soient géniales, mais du coup, j'ai là une chance de mieux voir ce qui a été tourné.
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  • Steven Rheault-Kihara
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lou does right by his lost masterpiece
    Reviewed in Canada on 20 September 2013
    Verified Purchase
    In 1973, Lou Reed followed up his hit album "Transformer" with his dark tale of lost love and abuse Berlin, possibly the most depressing album ever made. Not surprisingly it was not a commercial success, and Lou never really returned to it after the gorgeous "Lady Day" on his followup album, Rock'n'Roll Animal. Now in 2007, he returns to the material to perform the album live for the first time ever, and there to capture the moment is Julian Schnabel. This is no "Last Waltz" in terms of film-making, but Schnabel doesn't get in the way here; rather, he keeps us focused on the action on stage, capturing the strings and horns when they're in full flight, but not missing the searing riffs that Lou exchanges with Steve Hunter. The band is not as tight as Brian Wilson's Smile, but they bring a very visceral feel that underlines the material well. Caroline Says II is every bit as devastating as the original, so if it's the darkness that's bringing you here, the atmosphere is suitably grim. Lou obviously felt this material was worth resurrecting meticulously, and it evokes the heartbreaking performance that the story demands. Good for him, and lucky for us.
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  • BSH
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highlight
    Reviewed in Germany on 4 January 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Der Konzertfilm ist, um das vorweg zu sagen, ein zu Lou Reed und seiner Biografie, passendes Gesamtkunstwerk, das meines Erachtens zum Besten gehört, was er je geschaffen hat und schwer zu beschreiben ist.

    Und - mit dem Originalalbum möchte ich es eigentlich nicht vergleichen. "Berlin" von 1973 ist Kind seiner Zeit (bezogen auf den Zeitgeist und Lou Reed persönlich).
    Zeiten ändern sich und Menschen auch.
    Der Konzertfilm macht den Eindruck, als sei er eine Erinnerung an Gewesenes, gefärbt durch das, was im Moment Tatsache ist.

    Lou Reed hatte noch eine Rechnung offen, mit dem 1973 gefloppten, weil zu düsteren Album "Berlin" und führte über 30 Jahre später das Konzeptalbum in New York live auf.

    Lou war schon immer Perfektionist und überließ gerade jetzt nichts dem Zufall. Die gesamte Crew besteht aus hochkarätigen Künstlern. Und so enstand über 5 Abende hinweg, unter der Regie des Malers, Regisseurs etc., Julian Schnabel, eine 78 Min. dauernde Fahrt durch die Abgründe der menschlichen Seele. "Das verlorene Paradies" steht auf der Innenklappe der Hülle, als Überschrift über dem Text und tatsächlich handelt "Berlin" vom tragischen Verlust der Liebe, von physischer und psychischer Misshandlung, Leere, Drogen und Selbstmord.

    Die Musik ist dementsprechend mal zärtlich, fragil bis hin zu aggressiv und rockig. Ein Kinderchor kommt zum Einsatz und geniale Backgroundstimmen (Antony!).

    Neben dem Geschehen auf der Bühne, sieht man auch immer wieder Teile der Filmszenen, die während dem Konzert auf den verhängten Bühnenhintergrund projeziert werden und die wirken, als seien sie tatsächlich in den 70-ern gedreht worden.
    Als fester Bestandteil des Gesamten und nicht etwa nur als Staffage, verstärken sie die Wirkung von Musik und Text.

    Andy Warhols Geist und die seiner schillernden Factorypeople wehen durch den Raum und The Velvet Underground, insbesondere Nico lassen grüßen.

    Diese Assoziationen drängen sich spätestens dann auf, wenn Antony, der "Hermaphrodit mit der Zauberstimme" (Süddeutsche) zusammen mit Lou Reed den Velvettitel Candy says (...I've come to hate my body...)interpretiert.

    Zusammen mit "Rock Minuett" und einem lockeren "Sweet Jane" sind sie die Zugaben, die jede einzelne neben "Berlin" bestehen können.

    "Berlin" ist anspruchsvoll, zeitweise anstrengend und auf der anderen Seite so faszinierend, berührend, aufwühlend, dramatisch... dass man wie gebannt dasitzt und schaut und hört.

    Ansonsten gibt es auf der CD, außer einem Trailer, keine weiteren Bonbons.

    Der etwas sentimentale Touch längst vergangener Jahre von "Berlin", wird durch das Cover der "RollingStone Music Movies Collection" wunderbar aufgenommen. Der Karton, der noch nicht mal 1 cm breiten Hülle wirkt, als hätte er die Jahrzehnte über, in einer verrauchten Kneipe gestanden - ziemlich vergilbt.
    Die CD sieht witzigerweise aus wie eine MiniaturLangspielplatte. Geschmackssache - aber ich finde es sehr passend.

    Wo der Verlag ARTHAUS "Berlin" einordnet sieht man an den übrigen Preciosen der Collection u.a.: The Doors - Regie Oliver Stone, Shine a light (Rolling Stones) - Regie Martin Scorsese, The Blues Brothers etc.
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