Rewind, Review, and Re-rate: ‘Listen to Me Marlon’: The Storied Life of Brando in His Own Words

Marlon Brando strikes iconic pose in “Listen to Me Marlon.” Showtime

For the entirety of his 50-year film career, Marlon Brando was viewed as an artistic genius, an eccentric wingnut, a political rebel-rouser, a serial philanderer, a human rights advocate and (to some) the greatest actor of all-time. Truth be told, he was some or all of those things and much more, and thanks to audio recordings he made throughout his life, we are we able to gain significant insight into the core of the man as he viewed performing, the world, and himself.

Had this film been made while Brando was still alive (he died in 2004), it might have come off as a reputation-salvaging vanity project. Although self-absorbed to detrimental levels, Brando never sought off-screen notoriety, staunchly avoided revealing details of his personal life and never used his celebrity status for the purpose of self-promotion.

Made With the Blessing of Brando’s Estate

With the complete cooperation of Brando’s estate, director/editor Stevan Riley and his co-writer Peter Ettedgui slowly peel back the layers of one of the most mysterious, complex, and divisive figures in the history of the arts, with practically every word spoken by the subject himself. It is an unprecedented coup and perhaps the finest documentary of any entertainment icon ever made.