CitizenCaine Review of Brando

Brando (2007 TV Movie)

Brando Documentary A Great Testament To His Life

[10/10 · 30 August 2008]

If filmmakers had wanted to make this documentary during Marlon Brando's lifetime with his participation, the film would probably have never been completed. Instead, what we get is as close to a real look at his life as we're ever likely to see. This gargantuan film at two hours and forty-five minutes does an outstanding job of reaching into Brando's past to present early perceptions of him from high school classmates, fellow up-and-coming actors, and those who worked with him in films. Curiously absent or sparse are comments from his own family members and wives. It's probably because no one was ever really that close to him. The film follows him from a rebellious, neglected high school kid with an alcoholic mother and mean, absentee father to the personal tragedies which befell his later years and his reclusive lifestyle. The film did a good job of highlighting his political causes without them overwhelming that aspect of his life in the film. It's easier to see how a gifted actor as he felt strongly about such causes with the upbringing he had. He was neglected at home in much the same way as minority groups were neglected in American society. The film covers his magnificent early years from the theater to his emergence on film in 1950. The viewer can see a parallel between the naturalism of the method acting approach, and his explosiveness on the big screen; the viewer can also see a correlation perhaps between his upbringing and his ability to explode on screen. Without psychoanalyzing him, the film draws upon comments from those who knew and worked with him, drawing a portrait of a man who was probably never comfortable around people in general. The Mutiny On The Bounty fiasco and The Godfather are covered with some detail and even more so Last Tango In Paris. The tango portion of the film features conversations with its director and its co-star: Bernardo Bertolucci and Maria Schneider. Here Brando's paradox of acting without revealing too much to an audience is apparent. Other then The Missouri Breaks, Apocalypse Now, The Freshman, and Don Juan DeMarco, the film unfortunately ignores his later work in favor of his increasingly made public, personal sea of troubles. Another shortcoming is that the film also largely ignores the 1950's after On The Waterfront. Nevertheless, it's a brilliant look at an actor and a man who remains an enigma or a pretentious jerk depending on the viewer's perception. Many actors and famous people appear throughout the film, either in interviews or archival footage. Some of them offer interesting anecdotes, some appear still duped with their memories of him. Excellent jazz music in the background. **** of 4 stars.