Love and Mercy

Director: Bill Pohlad

Cast: Paul Dano, John Cusack, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti

Length: 121 minutes

Country: US

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As a big fan of The Beach Boys, Love and Mercy was a ‘must-see’ on my list of films this summer. The biopic, named after the first track on Brian Wilson’s debut solo album, focuses on two key events in the traumatic, exhilarating and touching life of the band’s most enigmatic and influential member. Half of the film focuses on the recording of the critically acclaimed ‘Pet Sounds’ (1966), and the other half on Wilson’s relationship with Melinda Ledbetter (Elizabeth Banks), who rescues him from the tyrannical and sinister psychotherapist Dr. Eugene Landy.

Paul Dano plays a younger Wilson with an uncanny likeness, the faux archive footage being hard to differentiate from genuine footage, whilst John Cusack plays an older Wilson recovering from a reclusive period, and who has been reduced to a child-like dependency on his therapist. Paul Giamatti’s near pantomimic portrayal of Dr. Landy provides a stark contrast to the selfless acts of both Brian and Melinda. Furthermore, the portrayal of the unique recording process of one of the most influential albums in popular music, combined with the compelling and almost unbelievable life of Brian Wilson makes this film as fascinating as it is poignant.

“…it’s the portrayal of Wilson’s life in such an empathetic way which makes Love and Mercy a must watch for all.”

In my mind the success of a biopic can be judged by how the story is told, given that many of those who go to see them are already aware of the basic narrative. Love and Mercy certainly tells the story of Brian Wilson in a very loving and delicate way, but at times appears too clean and polished. The film is certainly very immersive; director Bill Pohlad stated in an interview with Sight and Sound that his aim was to really get inside Wilson’s head. This is achieved brilliantly with a score comprising mostly of Wilson’s own harmonies and back-catalogue, through which we get an insight into the musical workings of his mind. Even the storylines themselves work like one of Wilson’s harmonies, with seamless transitions between both the 1960s and 1980s plot threads meaning they intertwine perfectly. However, in cutting out a lot of the negative aspects of Wilson’s life, the film seems to twist facts in order to fit neatly into a story of redemption. The portrayal of Eugene Landy as a sinister gate-keeper, appears too one dimensional at times, as he serves to act simply as an antagonist to Wilson’s recovery.

Francois Duhamel, Associated Press

That said, the stunning performances from both Paul Dano and John Cusack mean it’s very hard not to be entirely drawn in by Wilson’s eccentric and erratic character and really feel his passion for music. The ‘Pet Sounds’ sessions authentically portray the creative genius of Wilson’s work, as well the euphoria he feels whilst creating music. Pohlad decided to keep the cinematographer, Bob Yeoman, out of rehearsals so the session scenes feel authentic and create a real behind-the-scenes-documentary feel, all of which is captured using two Super 16 cameras.

“Paul Dano plays a younger Wilson with an uncanny likeness, the faux archive footage being hard to differentiate from genuine footage…”

The beauty of Love and Mercy is that it manages to show both the musical advantages of Wilson’s emotional openness but also how it made him very vulnerable and insecure. One of the most heart-breaking scenes portrays Wilson playing his father a rough version of ‘God Only Knows’, one of his most well-known and heartfelt compositions, and his father dismissing it as sounding ‘like a suicide note’. However, Pohlad is reluctant to simply link Wilson’s struggle with bipolar disorder with his creativity, thus avoiding insensitively portraying him as just a tortured soul, whose success musically clearly outweighs his inner turmoil – a decision which hints at the portrayal of mental illness in Frank (2014). The considerate handling of the subject matter, as well as the use of Wilson-inspired methods to tell the story, mean this biopic is certainly not one to miss for Wilson enthusiasts, but it’s the portrayal of Wilson’s life in such an empathetic way which makes Love and Mercy a must watch for all.