by Nicolas Pinzon
The art of movie acting can be divided in two eras: before Marlon Brando and after him. Brando brought a sense of realism to acting that had never been seen on film or stage before. He stood against the predictability and rigidity of previous styles and advocated for Stella Adler’s version of “The Method,” in which actors attempt to feel the emotions of their characters instead of superficially reproducing them. His performances in classics such as “On The Water Front,” “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “The Godfather” are now legendary, and huge movie stars like Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman have labeled him as their most influential acting role model. Without a doubt, Marlon Brando is an icon. And yet, what makes Steven Riley’s new documentary about the actor interesting is not its study of the icon, but its exploration of the man: his successes, his tragedies, his most inner thoughts.
“Listen to Me Marlon” is heavy on narration. But the neat thing is that the narration comes directly from Brando’s lips and mind. Unbeknownst to most of us, the actor recorded several audiotapes for himself throughout his life, and in this new documentary, we get to listen to a selection of those tapes as we are presented with personal images and videos of both his public and private life. Through an almost meditative pace, Riley’s documentary opens a window into Marlon Brando’s sensitivity, curiosity, and vulnerability in a way that is profoundly inspiring and yet somewhat saddening. In the 95 minutes of the film, Brando, talks about his craft; about the pain and joy in acting, about the need to know your subject, your character, yourself. Brando dares us to feel, to really feel and live, and it’s beautiful, but he also reminds us that no one can escape the harsh realities of life, not even Marlon Brando. So, “Listen to Me Marlon” will probably make you smile, but it will also sadden you; and that is okay, because that is how real life is. And for a man who wanted to bring realism to movies, I think it is extremely fitting.
I could tell you every detail about this documentary and I could fill this entire blog with Brando quotes, but I believe it’s much better if you experience this one yourself before I give you too much of a preconceived notion. Ultimately, “Listen to Me Marlon” is a truly interesting documentary for the average person, and an essential watch for actors. You can find it streaming or playing on Showtime.
Did you watch it? What are your thoughts?
“Listen to Me Marlon” is heavy on narration. But the neat thing is that the narration comes directly from Brando’s lips and mind. Unbeknownst to most of us, the actor recorded several audiotapes for himself throughout his life, and in this new documentary, we get to listen to a selection of those tapes as we are presented with personal images and videos of both his public and private life. Through an almost meditative pace, Riley’s documentary opens a window into Marlon Brando’s sensitivity, curiosity, and vulnerability in a way that is profoundly inspiring and yet somewhat saddening. In the 95 minutes of the film, Brando, talks about his craft; about the pain and joy in acting, about the need to know your subject, your character, yourself. Brando dares us to feel, to really feel and live, and it’s beautiful, but he also reminds us that no one can escape the harsh realities of life, not even Marlon Brando. So, “Listen to Me Marlon” will probably make you smile, but it will also sadden you; and that is okay, because that is how real life is. And for a man who wanted to bring realism to movies, I think it is extremely fitting.
I could tell you every detail about this documentary and I could fill this entire blog with Brando quotes, but I believe it’s much better if you experience this one yourself before I give you too much of a preconceived notion. Ultimately, “Listen to Me Marlon” is a truly interesting documentary for the average person, and an essential watch for actors. You can find it streaming or playing on Showtime.
Did you watch it? What are your thoughts?
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