Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me

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.

This documentary follows Glenn Campbell on his last tour, as he deals with the effects of Alzheimer's. It's an absolutely fascinating documentary. In spite of the depressing subject matter, Campbell is funny and charming and he and his family are so likable that it's far more entertaining than you might expect. This is not to say it doesn't get awfully sad - you do see the disease progress and that can be hard to take - but overall it's a pretty positive movie even though it's dealing with something so grim.

There are a lot of interesting things in the film. I was fascinated by Campbell acting as though being unable to recall who the first president was his own decision - that he'd just tossed out extraneous information. It's amazing how well he was able to perform even as lost the ability to find his own bathroom. The family does a good job of dealing with Campbell; they're very nice (and strikingly attractive) and you feel really bad for them.

Unfortunately, some misguided choices keep this from being as good as it could have been. A big problem is a section in the middle in which a bunch of politicians blather on about how important a problem is, one of a number of times where the movie's advocacy goal played out in ham-handed tediousness. Even though the movie kills its own momentum in the middle though, it manages to get it back again.

There is also a monologue by the wife that is surprisingly defensive, since in the movie no one is criticizing her for taking Glenn on tour. I saw a premier with the filmmakers, the wife and daughter, and the wife said there were critics of the plan in the family, and I don't know why the movie didn't show that (or didn't get a less defensive monologue that wouldn't suggest there was more to the story than you'd seen).

Some things feel a little extraneous. There are brief chats with celebrities about how cool Glenn is that often seem pointless (although some, like Bruce Springstein, did have something worthwhile to say). Glenn's security head also seems poorly integrated into the story. And there are clips of a young Campbell that in some cases work and in some don't.

While it's clearly not the work of a truly masterful documentarian, it is still entertaining and powerful and well worth watching. I just wish an editor with better instincts could fix the weak parts. It's good, but with a few changes here and there it could be great.

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.

It must have taken incredible courage to make this film. It exudes love, compassion and hope. It was a brave decision to undertake a farewell tour after Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and an even braver one to produce a documentary about it. Just imagine the production and logistical problems in shooting the many intimate scenes with a man who already was unable to cope, unable even to remember where the bathroom was in his own home. Why was it done? Certainly not for profit. Probably to extend a lifeline to the ailing Campbell. Definitely to publicize the ravages of this horrible disease. Campbell had it all. Incredible good looks. Immense success. A wonderful family. Yet it all was gradually and cruelly snatched away by Alzheimer's. I found it quite fascinating that even though most of Campbell's mind went blank, the part of it involved with music remained vibrant. This is a very sad but very honest motion picture, full of love and respect but without false hope.

Document of singer-guitarist Glen Campbell's farewell tour in the States, following a diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease. Director James Keach has crafted a moving testament to how music affects a fading mind; when all else fails, Campbell still remembers how to perform, so deeply embedded is the music in his brain. Why ask a man with Alzheimer's to perform a concert on-stage week after week? Loyal spouse Kim says he wanted to tour one last time, although we don't see Glen attest to this. Kim is able to get her husband up, showered, dressed, rehearsed and ready to go, but a point comes when no more dates can be scheduled, so weak is Campbell's memory (if he did declare he wanted to do a goodbye tour in support of his final album, he's already forgotten it by the time he and his family are on the second-leg of their venture). Keach weaves poignant home movies quite nimbly with doctors visits and backstage business, and nothing seems to be off-limits for the camera. The results might have been harrowing and depressing, but Keach somehow manages to make the journey one of hope, for Campbell's loved ones, his fans and for everyone touched by the disease. *** from ****