‘Love & Mercy’ DVD Review: Inside The Brilliant Mind Of Brian Wilson

Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson led a fascinating life, and his struggles and musical brilliance are beautifully portrayed in the film Love & Mercy.

‘LOVE & MERCY’ DVD REVIEW

Love & Mercy, directed by Bill Pohlad, delicately explores the strange, wonderful and tumultuous life of Brian Wilson. The film goes back and forth between Wilson’s life in the 60s, when The Beach Boys’ career was at its high-point, and the 80s, when Wilson first met his present-day wife, Melinda Ledbetter (Elizabeth Banks), telling the story of how she saved him. Paul Dano (60s Wilson) and John Cusack (80s Wilson) both portray the eccentric musician excellently.

As a musician, singer, songwriter, record producer and co-founder of the legendary Beach Boys, Brian Wilson has led a fascinating life. Despite his struggles with schizophrenia, Wilson is recognized as one of the most brilliant and unique musicians of all time.

The film starts with a shot of Wilson’s ear, which is fitting since it is the source of both his musical genius and his lifelong struggle with auditory hallucinations, which may have contributed to the former. The film then bounces back and forth in a parallel-narrative between Wilson’s life in the 60s and 80s, which is kind of like watching two different films.

The 60s part of the film is a more dreamy view of what life was like for Wilson as a young man living the dream in California, struggling with fame, and creating one of the most unique albums of all time, Pet Sounds. Dano’s performance is thoroughly entertaining as he encapsulates a younger Wilson, bouncing about the recording studio, fiddling with various instruments and conducting his little “pocket symphony.” Despite being on the lighter side, this part of the film also shows how Wilson first started having auditory hallucinations, and how it affected his first marriage to Marilyn Rovell (Erin Darke). It also goes into what life was like for Wilson growing up with an abusive father, and how it may have affected his mental state.

The 80s part of the film has a more realistic tone to it, as it tells the story of how Melinda Ledbetter saved Wilson from the crazed Dr. Eugene Landy (Paul Giamatti), who exploited Wilson’s illness for his own gain. Cusack does an excellent job portraying Wilson during this darker time in his life. Dr. Landy, Wilson’s legal guardian for a time, kept him sedated in order to exploit the Beach Boy. The heavy doses of medication that Wilson was on meant that creating music was almost impossible, let alone eating or speaking. He was also banned by Landy from seeing his two daughters. Then, Wilson met Melinda, who changed his life for the better. The film is “as much about her as it is about Brian,” director Bill Pohlad told Film Journal International about Melinda, who watched the film along with Brian Wilson himself. “I was curious to see what her reaction would be, and she was definitely shaken. She wouldn’t admit it, but she had to drive around for a couple of hours afterwards. You think, ‘Oh, I didn’t say that,’ or ‘It was better than that’ or worse than that. It’s a tough thing, so you need some time to let it sink in. I know that Brian believes in many cases in the movie that we were, let’s say, fairer to certain people than they actually deserved, maybe. Without getting into details. As harsh as it might be, he thinks that there was some reality that was even harsher than that.”

Not only is this a fascinating tale about one of the greatest musical minds of our time, it also depicts the life of a schizophrenic in a uniquely descriptive way. When asked about the film, Wilson told Vulture that he felt Dano’s portrayal of him was “more factual” than Cusack’s version.

Although the two sides of the film are very different, they actually meld rather well together. Love & Mercy may not be for everyone, but if you’re interested in music, psychology, or you just love a good biopic, then this film is sure to be an enjoyable viewing experience.

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