Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me documented the promotion of Campbell’s final album Ghost on the Canvas. During publicity in 2011, he decided to go public with his health diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. The film captured his daily struggles with this horrible condition. However, he has a great support system that includes Kim Campbell (his third wife) and his three children (from this marriage), Cal, Shannon, and Ashley.
Viewers will watch him through stressful rehearsals for his “Farewell Tour”. We see the strength and resiliency of his artistry despite his condition. He still knows the chords when he doesn’t remember the words. Yet, he still finds the humor and strength to persevere despite obstacles.
The film featured musicians including Brad Paisley, Kathy Mattea, and Chad Smith (of Red Hot Chili Peppers). They each discuss their connection, struggles, and loss due to Alzheimer’s.
I’ll Be Me was directed by James Keach. He is best known for producing 2005’s Walk The Line. He beautifully balanced the home movies, career highlights, and performances of Glen Campbell (including “The Farewell Tour”). We are treated to such songs as “Southern Nights”, “Wichita Lineman”, and “Try A Little Kindness”.
However, the film’s most emotional song (co-written by Glen Campbell) is “I’m Not Gonna Miss You”. The song’s ironic title and lyrical content is sure to stir up emotions in everyone that hears it. At the 2015 Oscars, it received a Best Original Song nomination. Tim McGraw performed the song in Glen’s place. Campbell didn’t win the Oscar but won over more fans including Julianne Moore. Moore portrayed a college professor going through early, onset Alzheimer’s disease in Still Alice. She would win a Best Actress Oscar during the same ceremony.
We will always remember the songs but forget the lyrics. Each person has a unique composition called the brain. It is something that we all have and will lose. We must continue to preserve the memories even when the song fades. Thank you, Glen Campbell. We will appreciate your contribution to Alzheimer’s awareness, forever.
The Hunting Ground is a documentary tackling the issue of sexual assault on U.S. college and university campuses. It features the accounts of female and male survivors of this atrocious action. Andrea Pine and Annie Clark are UNC-Chapel Hill students and sexual assault victims. They had their accusations brushed off by administrators. The administrators of UNC-Chapel Hill (along) with other NCAA schools place blame on dress, sobriety, and firmly saying “No!” However, they decided to buck the system when ignored. Will they succeed? Only time will tell.
Kirby Dick (The Invisible War) has directed of 2015’s best documentary films. Andrea Pine and Annie Clark are true trailblazers in Title IX defense. They chose to fight an unspoken wrong and deserve great admiration. Lady Gaga contributed “Til It Happens to You” for this documentary. She is a sexual assault survivor as well.The interviews include a retired Lt. of Notre Dame Security Police, Tom Seeburg, Kamiliah Willingham, and Erica Kinsman. The issue is one that Democrats and Republicans agree that needs to be addressed.
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