Review of A Poem Is a Naked Person

This free-form documentary from idiosyncratic filmmaker Les Blank that's ostensibly about famed rock'n'roll singer/songwriter Leon Russell was filmed over the course of several years, but never given a proper wide release until 2015. Was it worth the wait? The answer is a resounding yes, for Blank thankfully eschews the standard cliched talking heads format and delving into a subject's past instead to zero in on the here and now when the documentary was shot, with a noted and refreshing emphasis on not just Russell and his insanely groovy music, but also on the Deep South and the colorful individuals who populate the area that have a profound influence on Russell and his music. Naturally, we do get plenty of choice footage of Russell live in concert where he puts on a lively and thrilling show for his cheering fans as well as lots of terrific downhome country songs complete with special appearances by George Jones, Willie Nelson, and Charlie McCoy. (Look fast or you'll completely miss Mama Cass Elliott in a concert sequence.) However, it's the way Blank just observes Russell making his music and interacting with all kinds of other (often eccentric) people that in turn gives this documentary its own offbeat charm.