Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me

This is not your typical documentary which is directed by James Keach, as it places a glaring spotlight on the horrific and progressive disease of Alzheimer's, and its effects on the enormously talented musical icon Glen Campbell, as well as his family. Going public with the diagnosis, the film focuses on Campbell's "Goodbye Tour", which began in 2011 and extended through 2012.

Although there are, of course, references and film clips of Campbell's extraordinary career, which include his beginnings as a most talented studio musician for The Wrecking Crew, his sale of over 50 million records, his numerous awards including 5 Grammys, and his TV show "Glen Campbell's Goodtime Hour", the movie places its main emphasis on how Alzheimer's is affecting Campbell on the tour, and on a day to day basis. There's also much feedback from those closest to Campbell, namely his wife Kim, his daughter Ashley, and sons Shannon and Cal who are playing with him on stage in his performances. Finally, there are tributes from many superstars in the field, some of who movingly share how Alzheimer's has affected their own family members.

One important aspect of the documentary is that Campbell's doctors fully support his tour as they demonstrate how doing what he loves to do can strengthen certain parts of his brain and slow the progression of the disease. His wife Kim recognizes that some will object to allowing Campbell to be so vulnerable in a public setting, but it's clear his adoring fans at his concerts will give him all the slack he needs just to see him in what will most likely be his final performances.

All in all, this can be a difficult film to watch, and I'd have to say it affected me quite deeply, but it can also be inspiring and illustrate how urgently we need to find a cure for this terrible disease.

We went to a showing of this movie last night, thoroughly enjoyed it. I never really followed Glen Campbell's career but growing up in the 60's and 70's his hits received wide exposure and they were the kind of catchy songs that repeated themselves in your brain when you didn't expect it. This movie showed us that Glen Campbell really was the happy go lucky country boy who rode his singing abilities into the limelight but didn't become an obnoxious jerk.

The treatment of his Alzheimer's condition is powerful, sad yet tinged with Glen's humor. Kim Campbell's explanation of the choice to tour is critical to the involved viewer and to those of us who have dealt with an Alzheimer's patient. Without, the ubercritical would accuse the family of dragging Mr. Campbell on the tour to wring dollars from his fading celebrity. So not the case. Glen Campbell's performing ability endured and the shows appeared to be sold out.

Kim Campbell came to our town for the screening and took questions. She warmed to the crowd and explained how her family has worked against the awful progression of this horrid disease. How they still take joy in Glen every day.

Unfortunately this film has received little attention from the general public. In our generation, it seems that everyone knows someone who is dealing with Alzheimer's. The movie going public doesn't want to pay good money to watch a movie about anyone who is suffering from a cruel disease. But this movie is so much more than that. The music, humor and love rise above the undeniable pain of Mr. Campbell's suffering.

This is a very valuable movie for anyone who knows someone suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and for anyone who may encounter it in their family. Which means just about everybody. It will help to further erase the stigma of this disease, which doctors are still loathe to diagnose. Go see it for the educational value and be entertained by the music and the story of the love of the Campbell family, instead of watching yet another formula movie from Hollywood. You will be glad you did.

Country musician Keith Urban describes life in Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me quite simply and whimsically, saying it's a culmination of experiences and events but, above all, memories of those experiences. All we have in life at our fingertips is the very-recent past and the very-near future, with little idea of the present other than in a momentary sense. We rely on our memories, positive and negative, to take us back to times that have came and went, possibly days, weeks, months, or years ago.

Alzheimer's disease is such a cruel and unforgiving disease because it robs a person of their memories and, in turn, themselves, which takes away their knowledge of their footprint on life. Country musician Glen Campbell is the perfect example of a high-profile Alzheimer's case; following his heartbreaking diagnosis in 2011, Campbell didn't resort to seclusion, living his life in permanent confusion, but instead, with the help of his patient family and loving children, gave the world one final tour and beared his condition with us all. He reminds me a lot of Roger Ebert, who, following thyroid surgery that robbed him of his ability to eat, drink, and speak, decided to become socially active, appearing on numerous talk shows to raise awareness about his illness, in addition to writing more than he ever had before in his life.

Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me focuses on Campbell's Alzheimer's diagnosis, subsequent tour, and ongoing battle with the disease. An early scene in the film has him watching old home movies with his current wife Kim, where he mistakes his second wife for his daughter, cannot recall the names of any of his children, and sits in awe of the memories as if he's watching them for the first time. When Kim takes him to a neurologist to analyze his condition, resulting in the Alzheimer's diagnosis, Glen states that he thought his forgetfulness was a way the mind "cleanses" unnecessary information. When a doctor gives him four basic terms for Glen to try and recite back to him, Glen simply shrugs it off and says something like, I already heard them, I don't need to repeat them; he even responds to the doctor's simple question of "what year is it?" by saying, "the 1870's" before giggling shortly after.

Kim and Glen's numerous children decided that, following the decision to make Glen's battle with Alzheimer's public, they'd orchestrate a farewell tour across the United States. They'd arm Glen with extensive rehearsals and a teleprompter, in addition to being there on-stage with him playing instruments, in order to give his fans one last show for the books. Unheard of and completely out of left field, Glen went on stage, performing his classics, like the soulful "Wichita Lineman" (which he apparently played twice in a row on occasions without even knowing) and the infectious "Rhinestone Cowboy," which ended up being the song he performed before the Grammy's when he receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. A clearly ecstatic Glen performed it before an energized and fully supportive crowd, in a performance that might even bring tears to your eyes; he even makes Paul McCarthy complete swoon over him backstage.

When Campbell sings, you can see a joyfulness wash over his face, as if he's channeling his old self and returning to who he once was. But even with that, whatever world Glen's in, he seems content most of the time, almost always smiling, cracking jokes, or being playful with his family. Of course, there are the heartwrenching times; consider when Glen mistakes individual doorbells on hotel guests' doors for elevator buttons, pushing each one without knowing any better, or when he can't find his golf clubs and blames one of his sons for tampering with them.

I'll Be Me doesn't spend even a third of its runtime wallowing in the sadness of circumstance or the cruelty that Alzheimer's brings to its victim and their family; there's too much more life to live and profile. Rather than being a mopey and emotionally mawkish depiction of the disease, the documentary is incredibly energized with Glen's simple but impacting songwriting, his calming and amiable smile, and the unconditional love and support of his family. It features a plethora of live performances from his final tour, all of which, similar to Michael Jackson's dedicated rehearsals in Michael Jackson's This Is It, reflecting not a sick soul but one who isn't through with life yet.

The documentary ends with Glen writing, composing, and performing "I'm Not Gonna Miss You," his final song before walking away from everything related to music. The song is a moving yet soul-crushing tune, which serves as a message to Kim that he won't know when she cries, when she's sad, and when she's hurting because "one thing selfishly remains" and that is his inability to miss her or remember her in a long-term sense. Glen's voice is crooning and silky smooth and, as it plays during the end credits, concludes a wonderful celebration of life through certain calamity and sends Glen riding off in the sunset like a real Rhinestone Cowboy.

Directed by: James Keach.

And listening to his music and knowing something about his life's travails, mostly self inflicted as usual, I'll Be Me is an endearing and exceptionally touching film This is not so much about Alzheimer's as the general affliction of growing old and seeing the familiar pass whether from memory or life. As noted in the heart wrenching finale it is Campbell's family that bears the weight of his illness.The depth of their suffering may not be presented in wails and screeches but is always present. And there is our loss, of a family friend as only TV can make of someone who was never met and known otherwise. I really like it.

I wanted to make just a brief comment on how much I enjoyed the documentary on Glen Campbell, but because of the ridiculous guidelines, I'm forced to write at least 10 lines....absurd! Takes too much of my time, please rewrite the guidelines, if you want more reviews.

I disagree with the first reviewer, Cherold. He's exceptionally picky! I enjoyed every minute of the movie. Obviously, Cherold hasn't had to deal with this issue personally. I have, so it's nice to see that it's getting political attention...even if it's politicians that I disagree with and thankfully are no longer in power.

I just watched the Documentary on CNN tonight. Thank you to Lilly, CNN, and the Campbell family for bringing it to our living rooms! What a sweet and touching story about Glen Campbell's struggles with Alzheimer's disease. It's nice to see the loving, compassionate care his family and friends are helping him to remember, even though he can't. It's amazing how his musical talent and wit endures while other memories are lost. It's very insightful to see how certain minds deal with the disease. At least he seems happy with a positive attitude. Glen is being Glen, just with a forgotten past. The music is so touching.

I think this is a must see for Glen's fans or anyone caring for loved ones with memory issues.