Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me

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.

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 ****

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.

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.

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.