Love & Mercy

— Musician biopics are a varied bunch. “Love & Mercy” is more successful than many but still a little off kilter in places. It smartly focuses on two periods in Brian Wilson’s life, the exceptional songwriter/musician/producer at the peak of his game (think “Pet Sounds”) and the Brian Wilson about ten years later when a troubled childhood, drugs, and psychological problems had rendered him first reclusive and then under the spell of a Svengali therapist. The audience is drawn into Brian’s increasingly cacophonous life thanks to a skillful soundtrack but we also see Wilson from too many points of view so the film sometimes lacks focus or clarity. Paul Dano and John Cusack do acceptable jobs as the two Brians, but Elizabeth Banks is the standout playing older Brian’s new love interest with a subtlety and reserve no one else seems to exhibit. It’s a fascinating film whether you know much about the Beach Boys or not, but I did notice that most people in the audience probably knew the words to most of the songs. I usually prefer documentaries to biopics of rock stars, so I liked the documentary “Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck” more, but “Love & Mercy” is still worth your while.

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[2014. 121 min. Directed by Bill Pohlad. Starring John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks, and Paul Giamatti.]
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/sep/08/love-and-mercy-review-brian-wilson-biopic