Hacker Cinema
Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me
2014 · Film · documentary · 116 min
Directed by James Keach
A documentary film detailing Glen Campbell's final tour and his struggle with Alzheimer's disease.
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"I'll Be Me", a recent documentary about musician Glen Campbell, addressed this directly. The movie very bravely and directly addresses his and his family's struggle with Alzheimer's, following him on his last tour, as he slowly but surely loses his mind.
One of the most fascinating things was that his ability to play music was the last thing to go. He'd be on stage performing, unable to even remember his children's names (or that they were his children) when introducing the band, but he'd then shred up a storm on the guitar. He'd sing songs he made famous back in the 1960s, with a teleprompter to keep the lyrics going. But he could play music!
Another interesting side of the documentary was how he used his tremendous personal charm and charisma to get around the failings of his memory and thinking. If he couldn't answer a question, he'd turn it into a joke or change the subject, easily leading even professionals off the scent. On the other hand, the movie followed his most personal interactions, the near-violent outbursts with his wife and closest friends that only got worse as the dementia wore on.
Fascinating documentary. I highly recommend it if you're into this subject.