A Night With Lou Reed
This 1983 concert film was shot during Lou Reed's legendary stand at the  Bottom Line in New York City. Reed got his start in Greenwich Village, and  indeed this show has a strong air of a hero's return. The former Velvet  Underground frontman greets the crowd with a tidy-but-tough "Sweet Jane,"  then smoothly skips through his then-catalogue of pre- and post-solo career records. "I'm Waiting for the Man" takes us back to the well, while "Wild  Side," "Don't Talk to Me About Work," "Waves of Fear," and a stunning version  of "Kill Your Sons" reflects something of the scope of Reed's development. A  blistering "White Light/White Heat" reminds one of the Velvets' magnificent sting, and the show closes out with an epic take on "Rock 'n' Roll." Reed is  backed by a spare ensemble, including the outstanding Robert Quine on  guitar, Fred Maher on drums, and Fernando Saunders on bass. Clearly and  cleanly photographed, this performance is riveting to see and hear. Keep  watching after Reed leaves the stage; his post-show comments about some  special moments in front of the audience are well worth catching.--Tom Keogh