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IMDbPro

Love & Mercy

  • 20142014
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
40K
YOUR RATING
Love & Mercy (2014)
A look at the life of reclusive Beach Boys song-writer and musician Brian Wilson, from his successes with highly influential orchestral pop albums to his nervous break-down and subsequent encounter with controversial therapist Dr. Eugene Landy.
Play trailer2:31
10 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaMusic
In the 60s, Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson struggles with emerging psychosis as he attempts to craft his avant-garde pop masterpiece. In the 80s, he's a broken, confused man under the 24-hou... Read allIn the 60s, Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson struggles with emerging psychosis as he attempts to craft his avant-garde pop masterpiece. In the 80s, he's a broken, confused man under the 24-hour watch of shady therapist, Dr. Eugene Landy.In the 60s, Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson struggles with emerging psychosis as he attempts to craft his avant-garde pop masterpiece. In the 80s, he's a broken, confused man under the 24-hour watch of shady therapist, Dr. Eugene Landy.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
40K
YOUR RATING
    • Bill Pohlad
    • Oren Moverman
    • Michael A. Lerner
    • Brian Wilson(based on the life of)
  • Stars
    • John Cusack
    • Paul Dano
    • Elizabeth Banks
    • Bill Pohlad
    • Oren Moverman
    • Michael A. Lerner
    • Brian Wilson(based on the life of)
  • Stars
    • John Cusack
    • Paul Dano
    • Elizabeth Banks
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 188User reviews
    • 278Critic reviews
    • 80Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos10

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:31
    Watch Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:06
    Watch Official Trailer
    Something There
    Clip 1:00
    Watch Something There
    But Yeah
    Clip 1:31
    Watch But Yeah
    Clip
    Clip 1:33
    Watch Clip
    Remember
    Clip 0:55
    Watch Remember
    Feels Like Prom
    Clip 1:06
    Watch Feels Like Prom
    Brian Wilson
    Clip 0:33
    Watch Brian Wilson
    Horse In Here
    Clip 0:33
    Watch Horse In Here
    Which Celebs Almost Played Rock Stars?
    Video 3:59
    Watch Which Celebs Almost Played Rock Stars?

    Photos108

    Paul Dano and Mark Linett in Love & Mercy (2014)
    Paul Giamatti in Love & Mercy (2014)
    John Cusack and Elizabeth Banks in Love & Mercy (2014)
    Elizabeth Banks in Love & Mercy (2014)
    John Cusack in Love & Mercy (2014)
    Paul Dano in Love & Mercy (2014)
    John Cusack and Elizabeth Banks in Love & Mercy (2014)
    Paul Dano in Love & Mercy (2014)
    John Cusack and Bill Pohlad at an event for Love & Mercy (2014)
    Bill Pohlad and Thaddeus Pollard at an event for Love & Mercy (2014)
    John Cusack, Bill Pohlad, and Brian Wilson at an event for Love & Mercy (2014)
    John Cusack at an event for Love & Mercy (2014)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Cusack
    John Cusack
    • Brian - Future
    Paul Dano
    Paul Dano
    • Brian - Past
    Elizabeth Banks
    Elizabeth Banks
    • Melinda Ledbetter
    Paul Giamatti
    Paul Giamatti
    • Dr. Eugene Landy
    Jake Abel
    Jake Abel
    • Mike Love
    Kenny Wormald
    Kenny Wormald
    • Dennis Wilson
    Brett Davern
    Brett Davern
    • Carl Wilson
    Graham Rogers
    Graham Rogers
    • Al Jardine
    Erin Darke
    Erin Darke
    • Marilyn Wilson
    Bill Camp
    Bill Camp
    • Murry Wilson
    Joanna Going
    Joanna Going
    • Audree Wilson
    Nick Gehlfuss
    Nick Gehlfuss
    • Bruce Johnston
    Mark Linett
    • Chuck Britz
    Johnny Sneed
    Johnny Sneed
    • Hal Blaine
    Gary Griffin
    • Al De Lory
    Teresa Cowles
    • Carol Kaye
    Vince Meghrouni
    • Woodwind…
    Jeff Meacham
    Jeff Meacham
    • Tony Asher
      • Bill Pohlad
      • Oren Moverman
      • Michael A. Lerner
      • Brian Wilson(based on the life of)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The real Wilson reported having a mild dissociative experience while watching the film. He started to believe that Paul Giamatti was the actual Eugene Landy and felt "absolutely in fear" for several minutes.
    • Goofs
      Contrary to what is shown, the recording for "Good Vibrations" began during the making of "Pet Sounds", not after.
    • Quotes

      Brian Future: I want you to leave, but I don't want you to leave me.

    • Crazy credits
      First, there's concert footage of the recent Brian Wilson, himself, singing "Love & Mercy", and then at the very end there is audio of a brief recreated studio recording of Good Vibrations, with '60s Brian leading the dialogue.
    • Alternate versions
      The version which premiered at the 2014 Toronto Film Festival and a few subsequent public screenings contained a few extra scenes, such as an "I Get Around" studio sequence, and a scene where Wilson meets Phil Spector on the street. The closing song "One Kind of Love" was also absent from this cut.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: John Cusack/Chita Rivera/Ricky Martin (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      Surfin' U.S.A.
      Written by Chuck Berry

      Lyrics by Brian Wilson (uncredited)

      Performed by The Beach Boys

      Courtesy of Capitol Records

      Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

    User reviews188

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    God only knows, this is a must see film
    Personal genius has been brilliantly portrayed in film before: "A Beautiful Mind" for maths; "Amadeus" for classical music; and more recently "A Theory of Everything" for cosmology. Behind such genius is often a degree of dysfunction, if not borderline madness.

    Here with "Love and Mercy" we get an insight into the creative churning of Wilson's tortured mind. But it is very much a time-banded view, focused on two key periods of his life: 1966, with Paul Dano ("12 Years a Slave"; "Looper") playing Wilson, and the 1990's where Wilson – severely drug-damaged, mentally ill and now played by John Cusack - is being taken for a ride by an unscrupulous and dangerous psychiatrist, Dr Eugene Landy (Paul Giamatti). Playing a key role in his recovery is car saleswoman Melinda Ledbetter (Elizabeth Banks) who Wilson desperately latches onto as a drowning man might grab a life-vest.

    Whilst the film could be described as a game of two halves, this is not how it is played out. We jump between both eras without warning, which works extremely well in maintaining the interest in the two parallel stories.

    In biopic terms, the 60's segments are probably the more gripping, providing a riveting insight into the production techniques of the iconic "Pet Sounds" album, frequently cited as one of the most innovative and creative albums ever released. The film also features superbly recreated 'old footage' (cinematography by Robert D. Yeoman) showing Beach Boy TV slots and video productions. Wilson's genius is neatly reflected through the admiration of the session musicians: they'd "played with them all" – Sinatra, Presley, Sam Cooke, etc – but Wilson was something else entirely.

    Paul Dano is just superb as the troubled youngster, physically and mentally abused by his father (an excellent Bill Camp) and exhibiting mental instability even before the dangers of LSD become evident. His slide into near insanity is brilliantly reflected in an audio soundscape that merges snatched Beach Boy fragments and natural sounds into a cacophony. If Edward Tize and his sound department doesn't get nominated for an Oscar for Best Sound Mixing there is no justice in the world.

    In the 90's segments, Cusack delivers his best performance in years as the older Wilson. And after being rude about Elizabeth Banks' directing skills for "Pitch Perfect 2", I feel I have to express my admiration for her portrayal of perplexed astonishment as Melinda, a woman with a mission. Both extremely subtle and utterly enjoyable performances.

    In contrast, the excellent Giamatti seems rather over the top as the scheming Landy, although internet articles suggest that it is a scarily accurate portrayal of the degree of control he exerted.

    Directed by Bill Pohlad (someone normally found in the production office), it's difficult to fault such a lovingly crafted film. The pre-credits reference to a 'building scream' (I assume relating to the 'goose-bumpy' bit of "Good Vibrations") is never resolved. And (as I rather missed it in the film) the motives for Landy's extreme actions are a bit obscure (in reality, the Wilson family later discovered he was named as a 70% beneficiary in Wilson's will). However, this film, which deserved a broader and better-publicised release, stands as a superb tribute to an iconic musician and comes with a "highly recommended" from me.

    (If you enjoyed this review, please see the illustrated version at bob-the-movie-man.com and enter your email address to receive future reviews. Thanks).
    helpful•38
    8
    • bob-the-movie-man
    • Jul 14, 2015

    FAQ1

    • Why cast two actors for the same role?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 19, 2015 (United States)
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Griffith Observatory, 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • River Road Entertainment
      • Battle Mountain Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 2 hours 1 minute
      • Color
      • Black and White
      • Dolby Digital
      • Datasat

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