Simply A Masterpiece

Excellent but underrated film

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

A fascinating look into the life of Marlon Brando, made all the more compelling and unique through its use of Brando's own private audio and rare video recordings. If you're put off early on because it seems to be jumping around and/or it's hard to hear, stick with it. Aside from seeing many examples of Brando's absolutely brilliant acting, we see a complete view of his life, with all of its triumphs and difficulties.Brando had problems with relationships, children, poor part selections, and was often a pain in the behind to his directors. That may also put people off, but I have to say, this documentary also shows just how laser sharp the man was. The same blistering honesty he brought to his acting roles, he also brought to life. He saw that acting was a means to an end – that time was the true currency of man – and after he had 'made it', he made sure to enjoy his life. He was a pillar of moral rectitude during the Civil Rights movement, standing up for African-Americans and later also for Native Americans. He saw through the phoniness and profiteering in the world, and sought to live his life simply in Tahiti and elsewhere. He had a difficult childhood and relationship with his father, and yet reached a point of forgiveness, understanding that his dad was a product of his own upbringing, and so on, and so on.Despite the maelstrom of chaos and occasional controversy in his life, what emerges is the coherence of Brando's honesty and his moral code. He humiliated himself by taking parts that were ridiculous and which he later regretted, but if you put that into the context of his life and his priorities, you'll empathize with him, and will be far less prone to laughing at him. I was aware of all the elements of his story, but this documentary really brought it all together for me, and left me admiring the man even more. He was a true hero, a brilliant actor with a social conscience and an intellect that should is under-appreciated.In terms of the documentary, there are some elements that are less effective. The scenes showing his crude digitized likeness. The audio when it's hard to understand, and which would have been helped with subtitles (turning on close caption helps, even if you're not hearing impaired). The less than even storytelling, though it's always the case that a biographer must choose what to leave in, and what to leave out. With all of that said, director Stevan Riley delivers, and there will be things in this documentary for everyone, regardless of how much you come in knowing about Brando. Strong film.

Like The Beatles, Elvis or even the birth of Jesus the constant telling and retelling of the basic known story tends to - initially - put off the would-be consumer to a "new" product. But please don't be. True, Brando's troubled background (both parents being alcoholic) and sudden rise to fame in "Streetcar" (Named Desire) are the stuff of showbiz legend.(To be snobbish to other reviewers I have also read his own autobiography Songs My Mother Taught Me which is required reading if full context and detail is wanted or required. His wives apart.)Yet, despite my doubts, this is an amazing documentary. Indeed it breaks through to another level of understanding and comprehension. Rather like the Watergate Tapes did for our understanding of Nikon.Brando had himself digitised for the video game The Godfather (how they persuaded him to do so is unexplored - money probably) and in this guise he repeatedly speaks his own lines to camera. A device which - like a magician's trick - gets a bit tiresome when over-repeated. The only real fault I can lay at the door of this production apart from the difficulty of actually catching what he said.(Frank Sinatra didn't call him "Mr Mumbles" for nothing.)The central problem with Brando is that he liked to think of himself as an intellectual or even a philosopher, but he simply didn't have the brains for it. Not that he was in any way stupid. Only mediocre. Monty Clift (glimpsed in passing) was a far smarter man and probably a better all-round actor. Shouting and roaring (and doing so as a thick set man) is no real achievement and although he could be subtle he rarely was. Accents weren't his thing either and his appalling British accent on Mutiny of the Bounty showed. Maybe the worst accent this side of Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins.(Let us throw a complete blanket over his refusal to learn lines later in the his career - although not glossed over in this documentary.)Healthy genes, a wide smile and devil-may-care attitude attracted many women. And some men. But was there anything more than the passing or cheap thrill about the man? No grade A actress ever did more than have a fling with him and his marriage partners remain a mystery. Nothing here gives us a grain of help - although his good words about Tahitians maybe explains one of his later marriage choices. Not that it didn't - again - fail.Accusations of being difficult on set are treated as being misguided, although he undoubtedly was very difficult and on the set of Last Tango and possibly even criminal. You have no right to go beyond to what is agreed in the script or a rehearsal - even if it does create realism.Finally we have to throw in that overused word "complex." But in lifestyle he wasn't a complex man at all. He liked cheap food (and lots of it), wore cheap clothes and preferred the company of cheap women. His relationship with Michael Jackson is unexplored or even mentioned. Maybe he had lost his mind by then?He does make sense when says that you have to be your own psychiatrist and know your own foibles and their possible causes. I knew that without spending a penny though...He was only a dabbler in politics, although the things he supported were ahead of their time. However his greatest art was to be a one-off and an immortal. The recipe for which remains, as yet, unknown. However one of the key ingredients is to be different...

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)

This film deals with conquering fear the fear we all have within us . We Can live Free in our own way is what i received from this documentary . Without Money we live in fear. Fear of not having it ---It being money makes us all bend into a shape that changes what we are . Brando was fortunate to find a place in this world where he didn't have to bend And that is what he gave to his audience . Humans crave,clammier,cling, to those that can transport us to another place a Happier,dangerous,sexier, More beautiful Place threw music or movies the arts . Brando made me wonder are we all Connected . I believe we are all connected not with blood but by our collective thoughts .Humans that can create art in what ever form bring us together Naked and pure . Brando won't be forgotten He gave us a vision of freedom both on and off the stage . The truth is we are all on the stage . Acknowledge this We at this very moment are at the edge of a 100 foot cliff . Some of us will jump and land safely many of us will not land safely ...The most beautiful part is we all must jump and find out . BRANDO JUMPED AND JUMPED AND JUMPED He conquered his fear .