Love & Mercy

source: Love & Mercy

Interesting to see the background of such a popular music group. I knew there were issues surrounding Brian Wilson, but I didn't realize the extent of his psychological problems. It's sad to see how his life unfolded in his later years. I thought the movie was well acted and seemed very true to life in the 60's. Although the Beach Boys were a little before my time, it seems like golden oldies are new again - so most people know their songs.

This biography of Brian Wilson, the troubled genius at the heart of the 1960s musical group The Beach Boys, is an effectively stylized portrait in which Paul Dano and John Cusack share the lead role at different times in his life. They mesh beautifully as the story moves from the recording of the group's seminal Pet Sounds pop album to a few decades later when, with the help of his second wife, Melinda Ledbetter (played by Elizabeth Banks), Wilson emerges from his shell into some semblance of normality. The fine character actor Paul Giamatti is chilling as psychologist Eugene Landy, who holds Wilson hostage emotionally. (PG-13, 2:00).

Biopic of Beach Boys genius Brian Wilson, and the struggle to free himself from his shady "therapist" who had taken complete control over Brian's life & finances. The movie flits back and forth between Brian's descent into mental illness at his creative peak in the mid 60s to the late 80s where he met his current wife who helped free him from his repugnant therapist. Paul Dano is excellent and convincing as young Brian, John Cusack less so as his older troubled self. As expected the music is glorious and it's an interesting look at how fame, wealth and mental illness can impact on a fragile mind, and how empathy and understanding can free that person.

What a haunting and moving film. The Beach Boys are part of my musical backdrop and evoke memories, but they were not really my cup of tea: their early work was too Americana for me and so I dismissed them. Did not really know about any of the Brian Wilson history. I came to this film because Paul Dano was in it, with the bonus of John Cusack. I have to say that, Paul Dano always brings this extra special quality to any performance and it worked like magic in this film. I was completely drawn in and felt like I was standing in Brian Wilson's shoes. It was heart breaking. The music now has my full appreciation and yes Brian Wilson is a genius; comes across as such a nice, simple and humble man to boot.

8.75 out of 10- -Plot/Screenplay: 9 -Premise: 9.6 -Setting: 9 -Edit/Pace: 9 -Characters: 8 -Dialogue: 8.3 -Direction/Performance 9 -Casting: 8.3 -Cinematography: 8 -Production Design: 8 -Sound/music: 10

Do yourself a favor and do not believe the hype of the reviews/reviewers. This movie is only rated a 1, IMHO, because you can't give a negative number to a review. I generally enjoy movies based on true events. I realize that there is always some Hollywood hype attached to most of these types of movies. However, if this movie paid me $100 to watch it again, I would respectfully decline. Worst, slowest, dumbest movie I have watched all year. It tried to get you emotionally connected to the main characters and it just didn't happen. Cusack did play a good role as the main character. However the movie was very poorly directed, kept going over the same old tired ground of incidents to explain Cusacks current condition and his musical genius. All of which, unless your a complete imbecile, you understood in the first 30 minutes of the movie. But this director beat that horse into a bloody pulp, just to make sure you 'understood completely', how/why/concerns of Cusacks character.

This movie encapsulates the life of Brian Wilson so well even if the movie is divided in two. I think it gives an amazing behind the scenes look into how the beach boys wrote such amazing music. But I think ideally this movie would've been better if both sides of Brian were played by dano.

Love & Mercy has outstanding action, direction, musical score, you name it. Elizabeth Banks conveys a wide range of emotions without saying a word. She has that rare quality to make the viewer actually feel what her character is feeling. While I am not a big John Cusak fan, this is one of his greatest performances as an actor. And Paul Dano is an young actor who again is absolutely excellent. Unfortunately this movie, like Pet Sounds album by the Beach Boys, will not receive the box office success it should. But it is a deeply moving movie with insights into one of the greatest song writers in music and should be nominated for several Academy Awards. Normally I do not gush so favorably in reviews but this is a movie that should not be missed. My only slight criticism is that longer versions of the early Beach Boys music should have been included.

One of the best musical biopic I have seen. Love and Mercy gives us a glimpse of the creative genius of one Brian Wilson and his long struggle with mental health. We see him at the height of his songwriting, from the production of "Pet Sounds" and the factors that drove Brian to his debilitating illness and the system, that meant to take advantage and abuse. As for the star of the show, Paul Dano was born for this role, cementing his place as one of the best up and coming actors.