FILMS… Love & Mercy (2014)

#2010s #AllPosts

 

First post, a film review of Love & Mercy…

 

The biopic of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys who developed mental health difficulties.

 

“The Beach Boys”

Cusack and Banks

“Love and Mercy” Trailer, c/o Love and Mercy site and photos © Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions.

 

My first post or the one with the most unimaginative titles ever is not about me. This is because I’m not a me, me, me sort of person. Instead, I want to tell you about a fantastic film I saw before I forget how brilliant it was.

Love & Mercy (2014) was recommended by my Darlin Husband. He said it was a weeper – as I tend to cry at uncontrived moments in movies and TV. But I stress this is only at those unexpected moments, and not just when it comes to romance.

In this biopic film, John Cusack plays the older Brian Wilson from the pop group, The Beach Boys. Cusack has admirable on-screen support from Elizabeth Banks as Wilson’s second wife Melinda Ledbetter and Paul Giamatti as his psychotherapist Dr Eugene Landy.

It tells how following a panic attack in the 1960s, the younger Brian Wilson (Paul Dano) stopped touring with The Beach Boys after the band attempted to create their new album. Meanwhile, he becomes more unwell, with Wilson hearing voices in his head.

Simultaneously it also tells of how in the 1980s, Wilson  – now in middle age – is under the care of his therapist, Dr Eugene Landy. Landy appears to be abusive and controlling towards Wilson. Brian meets a car saleswoman Melinda Ledbetter, who he dates and she hopes to help Wilson and stop Landy’s abuse.

This film is wonderful and convincingly acted by this stellar cast. I found Cusack’s portrayal of Wilson sensitive and vulnerable throughout the movie and his is a hopefully Oscar-winning performance. Wilson was treated badly by his father and his psychotherapist. So it was a wonderful and heartwarming moment when the timid Wilson was confident enough to phone Melinda to ask her on a date.

In contrast to this later performance, when Paul Dano plays the younger Wilson, this man appears more confident and expressive than his later self. These qualities were seen particularly when he was in the studio with the other band members. This time also tells of Wilson’s hearing difficulties and the times before he was affected by his voices. Dano gives a credible and moving performance.

Melinda (Banks) was seen as a caring and gutsy woman. She fought for Wilson as his advocate and she helped Wilson find himself and ultimately find his confidence. She assisted him in believing that his life would improve for the better. Paul Giamatti was equally compelling as Landy and convinced me of this character’s behaviours. I have nothing but praise for this film and would add it easily to my ever expanding list of favourite biopic films.

Only one scene spoiled it, which I call the Andie McDowell moment. This is when you think “WTF why did they keep that bit in…?” This term refers to that annoying line in Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) where Andie’s character says “Is it raining? I  hadn’t noticed…“.

In this film, it’s awarded to this moment, as the older Wilson goes looking for Ledbetter to meet her for a date. He wanders aimlessly outside her apartment block. I then got distracted and started to think about another John Cusack film, Say Anything (1989). In this movie, the Cusack character gets the girl in a similar setting as he hopes to woo the love of his life.

In this iconic and much parodied scene, standing outside her home, Cusack puts a ghetto blaster onto his shoulders. He puts the music on and Peter Gabriel’s In Your Eyes blares out. She hears it, and true love prevails. I thought this might be replicated here, so I inwardly thanked the producers for not using a Beach Boys track for this part of the Say Anything soundtrack and began to sob.

 

Weeper Rating:  😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 /10

Handsqueeze Rating:  🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 /10

Hulk Rating: ‎ ‎ ‎/10

 

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The Year After Year Blogathon 2019, No 1

This post was added to The Year After Year Blogathon run by Movie Movie Blog Blog. Other film reviews with this cast on this site include…

• Elizabeth Banks in The Lego Movie.
• John Cusack stars in The Sure Thing, 2012, Class and more.
• Paul Giamatti stars in Rock of Ages and 5 Spectacular Singing Film Actors.

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