“Glenn Campbell: I’ll Be Me” is probably my favorite music documentary of the last decade. Watching as Glen Campbell sets out on a 2011 tour while battling Alzheimer’s disease is amazing. Campbell nails down his old standards, while working with his family band and friends that support the tour. Still, we get moments that go past the talking heads and random interviews. We get to see his wife and kids deal with the Alzheimer’s complications.
There’s a moment when one of his grandsons has difficulty describing how his grandfather doesn’t remember his name anymore. His kids try to play it off, as they play games with Campbell to push him to remember his relatives. While Campbell remains chipper about his struggle, we do get to see him get angry as basic functions break down. He doesn’t want the cameras to hear about him forgetting where the bathroom is or squabbling with his wife. But, Campbell keeps things up as he tries to solicit help for Alzheimer’s and make plans for his future.
The DVD comes with the music video for “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” and some PSAs as the special features. The A/V Quality is typical for a documentary. The transfer does the best it can with standard definition, but it deserves a Blu-Ray release. The Dolby 5.1 track is pretty strong. The DVD is a must-buy for all music fans.
Release Date: 9/1/15