LISTEN TO ME MARLON

Our favourite place is the movies and it's been a while, so we thought we'd entice you with the recent Q&A screening we took part in aside our pals Jermyn Street Journal for 'Listen to Me Marlon'; a documentary on iconic screen legend Marlon Brando.

'Listen to Me Marlon' was released last year but we've watched it over and over and over and over to absorb it's clear-cut memoir of the legendary Brando himself, real-time, no acting. No only did every detail of the film goosebump our skins with chilling, archived footage from home-videos and audition tapes, it announced a highly sensitive Brando, a Brando that the world did not know other than Don Vito (The Godfather) or Johnny Strabler (The Wild One). Even for Marlon unknowns - those a little unfamiliar with his credits should be advised to watch this, as it details any human thrown into a spotlight - an alien life of Hollywood and multitudes of power.

Fine additions to movies, from a flitter of a piano to echoing heartbeats of the narrator can amplify a room. The audience were entirely captivated by the highs and lows of Brandos career and personal life, throwing everyone into his head, his thoughts and his ghostly accurate projections from before his time. Rachel Grimes composition of 'Loretto' played softly during flashbacks to a montage of performances and a key Chaplin routine. This is one of our favourite tunes notably added on the 'Winter' section of our Spotify playlist, for it's fall-like beat and breathable daydreamy notes.

Brando passed in 2004, aged 80. A life full of adventure and heartbreak. For a wholesome and actually quite reserved character, the film shows us an unbalanced tale of his involvement in acting. His upbringing, from a unfair childhood and his ease into Hollywood is settled into the film early on, exampling his historical televised interviews and phone calls with his parents - who slightly neglected his passion for the stage and their challenge for a 'real career of a man'. One of Marlon's most memorable tales was what he would do if he wasn't good at acting, what he would become? His unearthed human criticism of his own awards and achievements, shunned behind him as he disagreed with what many, thought was incredible. His Academy Award for 'On The Waterfront' was modestly brushed under for him. Marlon always demanded that he could and would do better, though many saw this as his peak, he did not. His romances, broad of children and milestones were largely featured throughout the film and it also gave an insight into the fierce Tinseltown behaviour and fight he put up with, with directors, fans and unruly journalists.

'I arrived in New York with holes in my socks and holes in my mind' 

- Brando on arriving in the city to catch his big break, 1943.

From voicemail recordings, cassette tapes, the library of footage edited into the movie wholly brings us this beautiful figure of energy and sadness that is and was Brando. Listen to me Marlon opened our eyes into this character, something like we'd never witnessed before. Please watch. 

Here is the Showtime preview of the documentary, to get a taste. 

S/O to our pals Jermyn Street Journal.