I had the great and surprising fortune of attending the Love & Mercy Los Angeles Premiere on Tuesday where I not only got to see dreamboats like John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks and even Brian Wilson himself in the flesh (dead) but I even got to see the movie! And eat some mini lemon tarts after the whole thing was over. It was honestly a bit of a dream. If you grew up on the Beach Boys or live in Southern California, like me, you know the mystique that surrounds Brian and the boys. Only recently have we ever really heard bits of what was going on behind the scenes of some of the best albums of the last century. With Love & Mercy we get to see behind the curtain and into the life and musical brain of Brian Wilson, arguably the engine and the genius behind the Beach Boys all those years ago.
With the consent and blessing of Brian and his wife, Melinda, Love & Mercy tells the story in flash backs and flash forwards around the time of Pet Sounds to the 80s/early 90s while under the care of crackpot doctor Paul Giamatti… I mean Dr. Eugene Levy played by Paul Giamatti but for real, I don’t want to see Paul Giamatti in person for a long time. NO THANK YOU. We also get to see the beginnings of Brian’s relationship with now wife, Melinda Ledbetter who for all intents and purposes saves him from probably dying in the care of Dr. Eugene Levy. Whew. It’s a ride, ya’ll.
Paul Dano and John Cusack
ALLLLL the awards for these two guys. I mean Brian Wilson + Beach Boys + Paul Dano + John Cusack = EVERYTHING I COULD EVER WANT. Then they end up in a movie together and BOTH play Brian Wilson in a dual, mind blowing role and just. NAIL.IT.
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SEEEEEE?!?!?! I honestly, can’t say enough good things about Paul and John’s performances. Mind blowing and emotional and beautiful and making me tear up thinking about it as I write this. You have Paul experiencing the height of Beach Boys success plus the beginnings of a psychosis he can barely understand plus on the verge of creating one of the most critically acclaimed albums of our time. Then you have John who is playing Brian somewhere in the 80s/90s who is in the full grip of mental illness and addiction only made worse by a doctor who has taken over full control of his life. It is… amazing. If these two are not nominated for their performances, I will be shocked.
Jake Abel is Mike Love and Kenny Wormwald is Dennis Wilson
TN favorite, Jake Abel puts on ALL the hats (I wish the internets had pics of all the bogus hats he wears in this movie, it’s pretty great) for his turn as Mike Love, cousin of Brian and the Boys.
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Could you just die?
The Fashions & Design
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Mid-century modern fan? Love the 60s? Love to gawk at the looks from the late 80s/early 90s? This is the movie for you. I just want ALL THE THINGS from this movie.
The Sounds and Music
Clearly a movie about Brian Wilson will have plenty of music in it and you will not be disappointed in Love & Mercy, there are too many songs to even list here. But the Beach Boys and Brian’s music isn’t the whole story, Composer Atticus Ross and the sound editors brought to life the aural hallucinations that Brian suffers from. When you see this movie, PLEASE see it in the theater… or at least have Dolby Atmos in your home because the mixing of these aural hallucinations is shocking and beautiful in it’s cacophony. Oh and Paul and John singing Brian’s music is pretty freaking awesome too.
Badass Elizabeth Banks
The heart and the literal savior of the film, Elizabeth Banks brings it all in feathered hair and off the shoulder sweaters. God bless Melinda Ledbetter for stepping in when she saw what was really going on with Brian Wilson.
Director, Bill Pohlad deserves kudos for telling this story with such finesse, insight and respect for the material. If you are a fan this is a must see. If you’re a fan of beautiful story tellings and movie making, this movie is really for everyone. Seeing this gave me an even better appreciation of the genius behind Pet Sounds, the release of SMiLE and movie making.
Love & Mercy is in theaters this Friday, June 5th. GO SEE IT. Bring tissues.
Any other Beach Boys / Brian Wilson / Paul Dano / John Cusack fans out there? Who’s going to see Love & Mercy?
