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Berlin

Play trailer Poster for Berlin 2008 1h 21m Documentary Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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78% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
In 1973, Lou Reed's album "Berlin" meets with hostile fans and critics, evidently because its precursor, "Transformer," was an upbeat, glam-rock hit. Despite the album's gradual critical acclaim, Reed never performs it live. This changes for five nights in Brooklyn, N.Y., as Reed performs the melancholy album in its entirety. The rock 'n' roll legend resurrects his doomed work, performing in front of projected images depicting scenes from the star-crossed romance the album narrates.

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Berlin

Berlin

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Julian Schnabel expertly captures the dark melancholy of Lou Reed's misunderstood concept album in this moving concert documentary.

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Critics Reviews

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Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard 07/25/2008
3/5
Those who admire Reed will find that Schnabel's film allows the music to speak for itself against its rather messy background. Go to Full Review Anthony Quinn Independent (UK) 07/25/2008
2/5
It's Reed's gruff and tuneless delivery that challenges one's enjoyment. Go to Full Review Mike McCahill Daily Telegraph (UK) 07/25/2008
For devotees only, I'm guessing. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 03/10/2010
B+
A Lou Reed concert film that I connected with despite it being a downer. Go to Full Review Leo Goldsmith Reverse Shot 08/08/2009
Schnabel's set design, onstage projections, and postproduction add a good deal of visual noise to Reed & company's aural variety, which reproduces the album with a mixture of professional exactitude and unpredictable cacophony. Go to Full Review Daily Mirror (UK) 07/25/2008
Reed, who's looking more and more like a Bond villain, comes close to smiling at one point, although the chances are you won't. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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11/12/2013 Lou Reed's passing gives even more resonance to one of his misunderstood albums. See more 10/28/2013 I saw Lou Reed play Berlin in London - sometime in 2007, I would guess. It was brilliant. This film of the New York concerts is likewise brilliant and is at least as good as the original album, if not better. Not much else to say other than I could not think of anything more fitting to play today.Lou Reed will be much missed. See more 01/10/2012 I was mostly interested in Reed's music and was not thrilled with Schnabel's distractions. See more 11/26/2011 I purchased this album in 1973 when it was released and have been delighted to see this artistic treatment of Lou Reed's work Berlin. It was amazing for it's poetry in 1973 and but misunderstood by critics. As lyrical and musical depiction of existence in a disintegrated culture post WWII, it's mood is haunting, disturbing yet real. Not for the faint of heart, but hey it's Lou Reed doing Rock and Roll. See more 05/19/2011 Lou's singing is almost comically bad but his lyrics are so good it doesn't matter. In fact, maybe it helps. His band is amazing and Julian Schnabel's visual additions are captivating without getting in the way. See more 03/15/2011 Berlin is probably one of the best albums ever made, and the film brings it alive in a very beautiful way. See more Read all reviews
Berlin

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Cast & Crew

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Julian Schnabel

Director

Emmanuelle Seigner

Caroline

Lou Reed

Actor

Anohni

Actor

Brooklyn Youth Chorus

Actor

Rob Wasserman

Actor

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Berlin

Berlin (2007) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 1973, Lou Reed's album "Berlin" meets with hostile fans and critics, evidently because its precursor, "Transformer," was an upbeat, glam-rock hit. Despite the album's gradual critical acclaim, Reed never performs it live. This changes for five nights in Brooklyn, N.Y., as Reed performs the melancholy album in its entirety. The rock 'n' roll legend resurrects his doomed work, performing in front of projected images depicting scenes from the star-crossed romance the album narrates.
Director
Julian Schnabel
Producer
Jon Kilik, Tom Sarig
Distributor
Third Rail
Production Co
Waterboy Productions
Genre
Documentary, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 18, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$29.7K
Runtime
1h 21m