Cube Critic: 'Listen to Me Marlon'
August 21, 2015
MPR News Cube Critic Stephanie Curtis joins Jill Riley and Sean McPherson to talk about a new documentary about the life of actor Marlon Brando.
Directed by Stevan Riley (no relation to Jill), Listen to Me Marlon uses a powerful storytelling approach. "[Brando] made recordings all his life; not just a diary of what he did that day, but his impressions and his memories," Stephanie explains. "And that is the narration of this film — so Marlon Brando is narrating this documentary."
The film also includes clips from interviews Brando gave on television and radio.
Stephanie admits she has enjoyed Brando's performances in films, but she wasn't necessarily drawn to a documentary about him. "I thought this might [only] be something for completists and people who are obsessed with Marlon Brando," Stephanie says, "but it's fascinating because it's about how he thought about his art and how his thoughts about life evolved … I really found myself feeling affectionate toward him and interested in what he had to say."
Beyond the Brando-voiced narration, Stephanie says the film is also visually sumptuous and beautifully assembled.
Listen to the audio player above to hear Stephanie's complete review, and to hear Jill, Sean and Stephanie share compare notes about their favorite Brando on-screen moments.
Listen to Me Marlon is unrated and is showing at the Landmark Lagoon Cinema in Minneapolis.
MPR's Cube Critics, Stephanie Curtis and Euan Kerr, join The Current's Morning Show to talk about films every Friday at 8:30 a.m.
