Review of Love & Mercy (2015) by Ben B — 29 Jun 2015

Biopics typically tread similar waters. Filmmakers who dabble in the true-life stories of renowned geniuses offer exceptional depictions of such people, yet they all follow the same tired formula. 'Love & Mercy' is anything but a typical biopic.

Its single greatest strength is its unconventionality. Rather than paint its subject simply as a damaged genius, the film humanizes him a great deal and makes viewers feel like they're sitting next to the musical legend, offering them the most unique window into the psyche of any biographical subject depicted on the screen.

However, like other biopics before it, 'Love & Mercy' is only as good as its cast, and this one is nothing short of phenomenal. John Cusack displays some great work as the older Brian Wilson, but it is Paul Dano who absolutely nails it as the younger Brian Wilson.

His best scenes are when Wilson is seen giving notes to his fellow musicians while recording the "Pet Sounds" album. Elizabeth Banks also turns in a fine performance as Wilson's second love, Melinda.

Cusack, Dano, and Banks expertly provide much of the film's human touch. On the other hand there's Paul Giamatti as Wilson's ferocious therapist, who sounds like he may still be in the mindset of a disturbed antagonist from a different film set.

Nonetheless, he gives another solid performance. Aside from stellar acting, the film itself is a revelation. The cinematography, editing, musical score, and sound mixing transcend the limits of traditional biopic filmmaking.

There's even a sequence near the end of the film that will remind film buffs of the last ten minutes of '2001: A Space Odyssey'. It may baffle uninitiated viewers, but the sequence is truly no small feat for such an audacious picture.

Only a few minor tweaks could be used its dialogue (which sounds ever-so-slightly clichéd towards the end) and its pacing (some scenes carry on for a while), but 'Love & Mercy' is a near-perfect experience in terms of getting inside its subject's mind, heart and soul.