Listen to Me Marlon (2015)

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Magnificently captivating. Marlon Brando in his own words, talking about his difficulties, his regrets, his mistakes, the moments of tranquility in his life, he comes back to life in this film. It is beautifully made and made me tear up at the end. It is astonishing how a man like this had a life filled with so much hatred and hardships and still managed to become someone we all want to aspire to become in our own lives, unapologetically honest and full of thoughts and experiences. This is more than just a bio-documentary, this is a window into a man's life, someone who was very private and not open with a lot of people, the way fame had changed and affected his life and how he felt about the choices he made in his life. It truly is a masterpiece, no other way to explain it.The way the documentary is structured gives you a detailed and straight forward look into what Marlon Brando felt every step of the way, how the media treated him, how actors and directors felt about him and how he felt about the industry and acting as a whole. It really makes you question when something you love doing becomes a soul draining necessity in your life you cannot run away from when everything you wanted seems to be getting further and further away. One of those films that once you see it, it's hard to get out of your head. If you respect the art of filmmaking, the art of understanding people and especially Marlon Brando, please watch this film, It taught me so much and I have learned a lot from this film. It gives you a satisfying but gut-wrenching feeling at the end, the whole film makes you feel all sorts of emotions and makes you see deeper and deeper into his mind. I love this film, probably my favorite documentary so far, I definitely recommend this film, a man like Brando deserves to be appreciated and listened to and this film gives you all. A definite 10/10.

If you're a Brando fan, I mean a true Brando fan, not just his movies, but of him, his aura, energy and ownership, then this is for you. It is a bit scary at times as only the inviting magnetism of Brando could unleash. His voice is very haunting and something eerie about what is on the screen; that is what Brando was to me, haunting and eerie that only a rebel could emulate.That dark, vulnerable feeling he gives off we have all felt being that we are all human. When you feel like an outcast or a loner, life can be a little off and feel a bit isolated at times. Am I normal? Am I weird? Why do I feel like this? Some more and less than others but life is all relative and Brando is constantly reminding us of that. Maybe that's one of the reasons why I'm such a big fan of his work because he makes me feel like I am not alone, gives me a calm, blissful feeling in my heart that I am not the only one that feels this way about the world.Even if you don't know who Brando is or if you are not a fan of the man or the actor, this is a perfect dive into the madness of a sane person made out to look insane.Although unfortunate, it is very true that we are painted as crazy with a mere preponderance of evidence; if you're on the side of the 49% and not the 51%, then you're a bad guy, unpatriotic and/or deviant just to name a few. Perhaps after watching this for those that do not like Brando, they will gain an understanding of where his madness comes from and it's impact on not only him but his viewers as well.One aspect of Brando that is undeniable is how humble and honest he is. He is constantly reminding us that at some point the emperor wears no clothes. I would also recommend watching his interview with Larry King where his display of fragility, cultural awareness and wit are as pure as his honesty."There isn't anything that pays you as well as acting while you decide what the hell you're going to do with yourself." ~Brando (and after reading what I wrote above, I am clearly terrible at reviews...my apologies)

*Spoiler/plot- Listen to me, Marlon. 2015. A look at Marlon Brando's life and thoughts through his hundreds of self made hours of audio tapes. Also many interviews of his friends and put on a time line of his life and career history.*Special Stars- Marlon Brando, his family, news & interview footage of friends of Brando. *Theme- Brando was a complex actor with many thoughts and action of strange & wonderful nature. *Trivia/location/goofs- B & W European, documentary, nominated for Bafta award. Shot at his Beverly Hills mansion.*Emotion- if you're a Brando fan, a fascinating look into this man's life and career. I am and I enjoyed hearing him and seeing his life. *Based On- Brando's daily diary from his audio tapes.

I regret writing this review, however, I feel I must provide feedback for better future movies / documentaries. I could only watch the first 5 minutes. The flickering words, flashing "bust", and quivering vocal was too much for my mind too handle. Seriously, I wanted to scream.I have had migraines for 41 years. This is the first time a film has triggered a migraine since 2004's "The Passion of the Christ," which was unnerving and literal physically painful.I have not been to a theater since "The Passion." I wait until a movie is available on cable or DVD. "The Passion" was much better at home because it could be heard in English and I did not have to read the subtitles as they zipped across the screen. And, I could turn the sound down or on mute depending on the situation.Regarding "Brando", if I attempt to watch it again, I would need to keep it on mute and and keep my eyes closed. If that is what I need to do, what is the point in even trying? Since watching and hearing only 5 minutes of "Marlon", I have taken two very strong prescribed pain medications. No film should inflict pain.