Depending on your perspective on the existence of heaven and hell, this 105 minute documentary on Glenn Campbell will either completely depress you, or make you be glad that there is an afterlife. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, the gazillion selling record star is caught here in the process of his “Goodbye Tour” to the world, saying a final farewell to his loving fans.
Concert performances of Campbell are interspersed with intimate vignettes of him with his wife and family. Campbell, who always displayed a homespun charm, seems caught between one slippery foot on earth and one ready for heaven as he meets with adoring fans and political/music stars desiring for one last meet and greet. Campbell’s struggle to keep cognizant of his surroundings is balanced by his rich Christian faith, giving him a hope in glory. The most intriguing part of the film is how politicians like Nancy Pelosi and Bill Clinton seem to use the bemused Campbell to their own benefits, while a sincere Paul McCartney simply wants to say a final “thank you” to one of his idols. Through it all, Campbell exudes class, style and grace, something all of us with an eternal hope should embody in all circumstances. And, because of his faith, he doesn’t mean it when he sings the famous line “I am so afraid of dying.”A necessary reminder of how transient our lives are, and of our necessity for a final home.
Virgil Films