Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Love & Mercy: Film Review

Released broadly in the US
June 2015.
Even though I listened to the Beach Boys obsessively during my teens, I have not read anything (until this week) about their lives--which I find incredulous.

But watching Love & Mercy (2015) last Friday was a crash course on the life of Brian Wilson, the primary composer for the group.

Based on Wilson's life Love & Mercy focuses on two time periods: the years surrounding his studio work on Pet Sounds and the years he received treatment under the direction of Dr. Eugene Landy. 

Paul Dano plays the younger Brian Wilson, who at a very young age is caught trying to manage a lot of unmanageable forces.

Wilson composes critically acclaimed music while facing a controlling father, crushing fame, pressure from fellow band members, escalating symptoms of undiagnosed mental illness, starting a family when both he and his first wife were very young, and excessive use of drugs and alcohol.

Any one of these pressures would push me to a breaking point. It's no wonder Wilson had trouble coping.

The film doesn't fast forward to the 1980s; it alternates between the early years and later years.

John Cusack plays the midlife Brian Wilson, who just emerged from years of devolving into a bedridden, obese, mentally unsound mess.  Wilson's condition was addressed by Dr. Eugene Levy (Paul Giamatti), who during the a good portion of the 1980s managed every aspect of Wilson's life.

The main conflict of the midlife years involves the viewers scrutinizing Levy's therapy methods through Melinda Ledbetter's eyes (played by Elizabeth Banks). If you keep up with entertainment news, you will know how everything plays out. I didn't, so watching this unfold was quite suspenseful for me.

The film has appeal for viewers of all ages given its themes: the relationship between genius and madness, the role of the artist in society, the temptations of fame and fortune, family drama, trajectories for mental illness symptoms and various responses/treatments for these symptoms.

But this film was also a trip down memory lane for me.

Many Boomers carry memories of listening to the Beach Boys, but not all Boomers spent their teenage years in sunny Southern California.

I live in Kansas now, but I just got back from a long weekend trip to the beach cities of Long Beach, Seal Beach, Sunset Beach, and Huntington Beach.

While spending last weekend with Kim, my high school best friend, she suggested that we see the Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy.

It was playing in Seal Beach, which was an old haunt of ours. Her sister Kelly drove us in her fancy Mercedes convertible.

We had fun, fun, fun knowing that no one would
take Kelly's convertible away.
Just driving around with them was nostalgic enough to carry me back to my own past.

But watching a film that had flashbacks to the 1960s and 1980s made me feel like a time traveler.

Love & Mercy contains a mash up of many manifestations of Brian: as a child, teen, young adult, midlife adult and even briefly Brian Wilson himself performing as a late life adult.

Being back home while watching this film, I could more vividly see flickering images of my past selves present there in the movie theater--and at the beaches, the bus stops, the malls, the churches, the schools and the fast food joints of my youth.

Related:

Films about Aging

Remembering the Beatles

Disco Kiss Memory

Share Music Videos (like "Monday Monday")

Music Triggers Memories (like "Summer Wind.")



17 comments:

  1. First let me say I have fond memories of visiting Seal Beach!

    That said, I know most of the story since I loved the Beach Boys and was saddened and a little sickened by the true story of Brian Wilson. I will see the movie. Great review, Karen! Loved your photos, too.

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    1. Cathy! You've been to that little slip of shoreline / beach town? Tiny but possessing it's own unique vibe. Cool! I grew up in Cypress, which is inland. I often took the bus as a teen, but once I did ride my bike. So I'm not a beach city girl, but I lived close enough to go all of the time to these beaches plus Newport Beach (which I didn't visit this trip). Enjoy the film. It was extremely interesting (and heart wrenching).

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  2. I was raised on the tunes of the Beach Boys. Pet Sounds is the finest compilation album of all time. The hubby and I are looking forward to this trip down memory lane. I bet the movie soundtrack is awesome!

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    1. I think the soundtrack isn't being released until September. I didn't buy Pet Sounds when I was a teen, so that's what I bought when I exited the theater. I only knew 4 of the songs, and the movie gave me a totally different perspective on those. Enjoy the sounds of the Beach Boys / Brian Wilson in whatever form. They're all good.

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  3. I loved the BB and what great road trip music! Still listen to them and have been meaning to see this film, except that I do know the story pretty well/

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    1. I am not sure what slant this film has on the events of his life. The acting was pretty great, and it does have a lot of mixed sounds coming from his though process. I wouldn't be surprised if it gets a nomination for sound editing. Thanks for visiting the blog today, Carol!

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  4. LOVE that photo and caption. I grew up in Detroit listening to Motown, so was never a big BB fan. Not sure if I'll see the movie (sounds like a downer) but enjoyed your review. Reading an interesting and thoughtful review can be more satisfying than seeing the flick itself.

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    1. Indeed! I love reading reviews of movies and films that I may not have a chance to see/read. Glad the review works for you.

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  5. My husband and I both are rabid Beach Boys fans and have seen them in concert several times. Brian Wilson is a genius who against all odds created some of the most beautiful songs ever made. It is so sad that life was cruel to him.

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    1. Well expressed. I wish him well. It seems that he has a more gentle life these days (even with touring a bit). Rich blessings to him, and may we all do what we can each day to support people around us. So COOL that you've seen their concerts.

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  6. I adore the Beach Boys and part of me was so upset by what happened to him that I didn't want to see the movie. I had a chance to work with Carnie Wilson once and stayed at her home too. She is such an amazing person and I got some insight into this whole story too. Great post!

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    1. Carolann: I'm glad that you've had a chance to work with Carnie Wilson. I'm glad to hear that she's amazing in person. Her public persona is great, and sometimes these things don't match. Love and light to all the Wilsons -- and to you, dear Carolann.

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  7. I thought this movie was excellent. I was shocked to learn about Brian Wilson's history and was amazed I had never heard this story before. The performances were fantastic.

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    1. Glad you got to see it. When I went on vacation, I asked my friend if we could see a movie that might not play in my home town, and she chose this one. She had already seen it and wanted to hear my take on it. It was an excellent choice for a variety of reasons!

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  8. I actually met him in the 90s. He was hanging out with his buddy John Stamos. He seemed very shy. I'd love to see this movie.
    Estelle

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  9. I know Lois Alter Mark. Sounds like a great movie with a great cast and great music. Thanks for letting us know about it. I found you on FB in the #Midlife FB group.

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  10. Absolutely LOVED Love & Mercy! We got to see it before it was released at the Movies for Grown Ups Film Festival in Miami and were blown away! Paul Giamatti was brilliant as Dr. Landy. Made me squirm in my seat with uncomfortableness every time he came on screen. -Veronica

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