Directed by : Bill Pohlad
Written by : Oren Moverman, Michael A. Lerner
Starring : Paul Dano, John Cusack, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti,
Release Date : June 4, 2015
Based on the real life story of Brian Wilson, circa 1960s and the 1980s, this movie could easily have been a straightforward musical biopic. Thankfully it's not. It made a creative decision of telling the story by jumping back and forth between the younger Brian Wilson; played by Paul Dano, and the older Brian Wilson; as played by John Cusack. This style of story telling doesn't spoon feed it's audience into what they are suppose to think of his life, and it might actually be a little too unapproachable to some.
Paul Dano is an actor who wears his expressions on his face very heavily, which makes him the perfect person to play the younger version. This was a time period where Brian Wilson was starting to experience his mental issues, and Dano successfully shows those emotions of how scary it was for him to try and balance a normal yet creative life, even though he might be on the brink of having a mental breakdown.
John Cusack is fantastic as a more subdued and withdrawn older Brian Wilson. This is someone who have practically reverted back to having an almost child like personality, because of his fear of going crazy, and because of all the heavy medication that he is under. Elizabeth Banks is great as Melinda, the one person whom Brian finds comfort in being around. Paul Giamatti is also great as Eugene Landy, the man who kept Brian under his thumb.
This is a movie about the struggles of trying to be true to yourself, especially when faced with oppressive authority figures. There's definitely a heavy melancholic tone throughout this movie, in contrast to the uplifting music of The Beach Boys. If you didn't know much about Brian Wilson, then this story will really help you understand who he is. "Love & Mercy" is a very enlightening and inspiring movie that made me just want to reach out and give Brian Wilson a hug.
lovedit ENJOYED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible
