Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me

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.

Probably the best documentary on Alzheimer's you will watch. It also makes the perfect companion piece to the music documentary, "Alive Inside" which also highlights the interaction between music and dementia.

I'm only a mild Glen Campbell fan - enjoy about half a dozen or so of his songs. But I have always had a lot of admiration for him as a fellow musician - one of the best. His work as a session musician with the wrecking crew in the 1960s was phenomenal in itself - and it was such a touching moment, that when in this film, they got some of those guys in to record Glen's final song with him.

It doesn't matter if you're a Glen Campbell fan or not, this is a well-made documentary, predominantly about Alzheimer's. The fact Glen was a world famous musician was almost just a footnote to the overall feel of the film. Amazing that the "music part" of his brain was one of the last areas to be affected. Inspiring to see him perform intricate guitar solos when he can't remember lyrics. Heartbreaking to see him have Alzheimer's meltdowns onstage and off.

Rest in peace, Glen. Rest in peace, my Nan.

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.

A first hand look at the effects of Alzheimer's, not just on the individual but the family and friends. Usually when it hits someone, they always go into seclusion and no one wants to interact with them because they always want to remember them as they were. Thanks to Glen and his family for sharing this with us and informing the public on this dreaded disease, as he says in the song, "I'm not gonna miss you", Once the memory has been flawed there is still a person, one of God's creations, in that body, although they may not recall events or even their closest friends or family, they are still the people we love. Can't wait to view the entire movie. May God's Blessings be on Glen, his family and all others dealing with Alzheimer's.

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.