In 2002, the Winter Olympics were held in Salt Lake City, where we were living at the time. We did not get to any of the sporting events but did something far more exciting. We attended a Beach Boys concert and will never forget it. I can still hear the echoes of the crowd as they brought the concert to a blazing finish with their unforgettable version of “Barbara Ann.” I didn’t realize at the time we were watching the continued renaissance of one of the greatest songwriters and musicians of our time.
If you are a member of the “Greatest Generation,” and many of you reading this are, the Beach Boys music is indelibly locked in your memory. Ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as the twelfth greatest band ever, and with sales of over 100 million records, how could we forget? Behind all of that success was the musical genius of the one and only Brian Wilson. He composed, arranged and directed all of their material, bringing his original sound and ideas to the forefront of the world of music. “Love and Mercy” is based on Wilson’s life story, an unbelievable trip from top to bottom and back.
Paul Dano plays Wilson in his younger years, when his musical genius was at its most fertile level, although fans of his recent albums may disagree. His performance was outstanding as he recreated the process that Brian Wilson went through as he wrote the songs and arrangements that made the group famous. Watching him compose as he sat at the piano, alone in a room with perfect acoustics, was mesmerizing. One of the highlights of the film is the scene where Wilson guides the singers and musicians through the taping of their most popular recording ever, “Good Vibrations.” For those of us outside the world of music, it was an education.
Love & Mercy
Entertainment Rating: ★★★1/2
Rating: PG-13 for two brief spurts of very heavy profanity from one character, (on that basis alone I would rate this “R,”), no frontal nudity, but one mildly suggestive love scene.
Possible Oscar Nominations: Best Picture; Best Actor, John Cusack; Best Supporting Actor, Paul Dano; Best Supporting Actor, Paul Giamatti; Film Editing, Dino Jonsater
That, of course, is only part of the story. After years of success, Brian was overcome with a nervous breakdown, a slide toward mental illness, and a drug addiction. He slowly disappeared from view, eventually becoming a ward of the state, under the guardianship of Dr. Eugene Landy (played by Paul Giamatti).
John Cusack plays Wilson in those latter years, giving us an unforgettable performance. Through the magic of Dino Jonsater’s film editing we are transported back and forth between the two eras. I don’t usually like flashbacks as a story telling technique, but in this case it is done perfectly, seamlessly, and it paints a clear picture of the way it was.
Ironically, one seemingly insignificant encounter in Wilson’s life ultimately sets him on the path to mental freedom. The trip is an arduous one, but it results in the man we now see back where he belongs, witnessing his new album “No Pier Pressure,” released in early 2015. The album was met with mixed reviews, but contains some great music. If you see the movie, I encourage you to stay as the credits roll at the end and see him in concert today. What a trip!
