Featured Blogs:

 

Cannes Film Festival 2013

Tony Bennett talks Britney Spears, Lady Gaga and ‘The Zen of Bennett’

Review: Tribeca Film Festival debut of 'Zen' is as much about age as it is entertainment

By Katie Hasty Friday, Apr 27, 2012 6:36 PM

  • Critic's Rating B+
  • Readers' Rating n/a
Rate It
<p>Tony Bennett in "The Zen of Bennett"</p>

Tony Bennett in "The Zen of Bennett"

Credit: Dion Beebe

Most of Tony Bennett’s family, Lady Gaga’s parents, Amy Winehouse’s parents and even Harry Belafonte were on hand for the premiere of “The Zen of Bennett” on Monday night, making a one-show-only bow at the Tribeca Film Festival. It was a temperate all-ages event, but it's fine if it wasn't too flashy: “Conceived, created, and produced by his son,” the documentary was what Danny Bennett described as a “love letter” to his 85-year-old father. 

The 84-minute portrait covers the period during which Bennett collaborated with more than a dozen popular artists for his “Duets II” album, his most commercially successful full-length studio album in his 70 years performing. While it tries to encompass a lot of personal history – like his dad’s origins in Podàrgoni, Italy, or his front-lines experience with death in the service during WWII – most of Bennett’s “Zen” unfolds like an archival, of-the-moment record of Bennett, Octogenarian. 
 
The singer recounts little stories told to him by Duke Ellington or zingers from Fred Astaire, as he shrewdly negotiates tempos with the band and amps up his other passion and pasttime, painting. His “I remember…” moments were balanced out with the minor trifles of the modern music business: like an older family relative, Bennett would repeat himself in order to get a joke about his tie to land. He shows cranky impatience when Andrea Boccelli keeps him waiting and when Michael Buble vocally steps on his toes. He'd always wanted to record duets with Louis Armstrong but never got to.
 
In one scene, Bennett haggles with Danny and his other handlers when he felt slighted by perpetual mid-careerist John Mayer, who made some comment about his mother’s admiration for the multi-generational star. But even before moment unfolded, I couldn’t but help to think to myself, “Man, my dad’s gonna love this movie.”
 
It’s not that “The Zen of Bennett” isn’t for me, or my generation. It’s not that Bennett doesn’t have a grip on younger generations, because he does. “Zen” is built around an entertainer whose ageless talent for ageless songcraft was discovered and prospered in a different era in the biz. Whoever said “yes” to helping complete “Duets II,” they agreed to participate in making records in that same old way – live, together in a studio, with Bennett calling the shots. The young men would try to bro-down with Bennett, while women like Lady Gaga, Norah Jones and Carrie Underwood would nothing less than swoon, expressing their admiration by touching their hair and their faces. The oft-hyped collaboration between Bennett and the drug-ailed Amy Winehouse offered the most stunning disparity, of her nervous tics, bubbling admiration and hobbling gait; and of his cool, statesman-like awe and his shuffling steps to the mic.
 
Bennett’s handle on the material is as evident on the album as it is in the movie. What the viewer gets from the flick, however, is the additional fly-on-the-wall view of age and aging in the arts, with one of the most beloved entertainers worldwide. The singer’s children make multiple appearances in the film, as he works with many of them in his career, giving Bennett room to boast about his own family legacy as much as his creative one. His team would fill him in on the young stars that would stride into his studio, and in turn, he’d provide only the most accommodating, kindest words to their talent. It was all very classy, a little nepotistic, and a persuasive, gentle argument for love ongoing, as Bennett climbs in years.
 
After the movie played, Bennett took the stage with Danny, “Zen” director Unjoo Moon and others responsible for making the film. As per usual, he gushed about working with Lady Gaga, calling her one of “the greatest singers ever.” He applauded Winehouse, in front of the late singer’s family, applauding her “got it or you don’t” ability to sing jazz and improvise. But then, minutes later, made an curiously passionate plea for the legalization “of all drugs.”
 
After that, he was asked by an audience member if he would ever work with Britney Spears. “No,” Bennett dryly replied, “I don’t know what she does.” Coming from Bennett, you can’t tell if he meant that as a sarcastic commentary on the state of pop music or if he quite literally doesn’t know what one of the best-selling artists of this generation does. Coming from his world, maybe it doesn’t really matter.

Netflix has bought the rights to "The Zen of Bennett," and will make it available soon.

Related Searches: Tony Bennett, the zen of bennett, danny bennett, Tribeca, tribeca film festival
Trending Now on HitFix Boards
Topic Started By Latest Post Replies
SXSW Initial Line-Up Announcement
drew
over 1 year ago
1
Do you like seeing films with established stars at film festivals or is it more fun to discover new talent?
dave1279
over 1 year ago
1
Discuss Film Festivals on HitFix Message Boards »

Comments

  • Option 1

    Comment instantly as a guest Guest

  • Option 2

    Connect

  • Option 3

    Login or create a HitFix account Login Signup
  • Default-avatar

    Chris

    I don't know what he does either...they call it speak-singing, right?

    April 27, 2012 at 9:11PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    c

    Britney was a running gag in his live show for years (my parents have seen him a LOT...and I've seen him twice). He used to comment that he was "the Britney Spears of [his] generation." Then when Britney was going through her down-and-out phase, he would mockingly dedicate the song "The Good Life" to her.

    April 27, 2012 at 11:03PM EST Reply to Comment
    • Default-avatar

      petra Wow i'm really sad to hear this. It's never cute to mock the mentally ill. I really enjoy his (earlier!) work, but 'even' a legend should remain professional...you really can't buy class as they say.

      April 28, 2012 at 2:13AM EST
  • Default-avatar

    Pedro

    poor thing... must be senile :/

    April 28, 2012 at 9:13AM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    ICYNDICEY

    Who the fu** is Tony Bennett? Wasn't he that guy with the big nose on that old TV show, Happy Days?

    April 28, 2012 at 10:08AM EST Reply to Comment
    • Default-avatar

      Bee You poor thing......and why with the angst ?!

      April 28, 2012 at 11:30AM EST
  • Default-avatar

    Aldrin

    shut the f***

    April 28, 2012 at 5:25PM EST Reply to Comment
  • Default-avatar

    i said it

    Who gives a damn what Tony Bennett thinks?

    April 29, 2012 at 3:03PM EST Reply to Comment

News From Our Partners

Get Instant Alerts on Music News

Latest Posts
More Posts
Recent Activity on Facebook
Most Popular on Facebook
Top Stories From Around the Web
About HitFix

HitFix delivers the Movie, Music, TV and Awards and general entertainment news that fans care about most, without the gossip or celebrity scandal. Our nationally-recognized, tastemaker journalists provide the latest breaking news, analysis, reviews, recaps, interviews and exclusives 24 hours a day while our proprietary localized Event Calendar and mobile apps allow consumers to stay up to the minute while managing their entertainment lives. Find out What’s Next In Entertainment with HitFix.

Advertise on HitFix
Subscribe to HitFix

Get the latest headlines & updates in your inbox

Popular Topics

© Copyright HitFix.com. All rights reserved. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy