7/10
Not-so-gentle on his mind...
6 February 2016
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 ****
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