Love and Mercy - News and Reviews - First clip is out.

[ontor pertawst]

It would no doubt work but the title is too negative.  What can we do to project some positivity, maybe add some of the boy-girl dynamic so the people can "get it"...

"It's a Love Thing" -- positivity, redemption, and the possibility of yogic flying set against a backdrop of protracted legal battles and relentless touring. BOX OFFICE GOLD.

Ok! Back to Brian. Stamos... (makes call me gesture)

[Matt H]

Not sure how to post pictures, but there are 2 cool ones on Brian's facebook page, one from the movie, and one from the premiere.


https://www.facebook.com/officialbrianwilson

[southbay]

It would no doubt work but the title is too negative.  What can we do to project some positivity, maybe add some of the boy-girl dynamic so the people can "get it"...

"It's a Love Thing" -- positivity, redemption, and the possibility of yogic flying set against a backdrop of protracted legal battles and relentless touring. BOX OFFICE GOLD.

Ok! Back to Brian. Stamos... (makes call me gesture)

See, now I'm sucked in..

[beacharg]

Thanks to all for the info and reviews, specially schiaffino. Im so glad that this movie is getting nothing but good reviews. In some time we'll see if its great, very good or just good, but at least its not bad, that was my worry. Now we just have to wait for the trailer.

[GoodVibrations33]

http://biffbampop.com/2014/09/08/tiff-2014-love-and-mercy-reviewed/

[guitarfool2002]

Forgot to mention, Shady, that during Q&A the director said that they recreated all the songs (and song parts) using professionals musicians! And what they did to make it more authentic was to mix some of the new recordings with actual BBs ones, so in some songs you get a mix of Paul Dano and Brian singing!

Thought that was amazing.

and also during Q&A Paul Dano said the most difficult thing was to shoot the scene where he plays Surfs Up. Its all him, the singing and playing, and that was apparently his first day in the shooting. So he said he was scared to death, but managed to pull it off quite nicely  

During the actual filming, several of the "actors" portraying the various studio musicians had dropped hints indirectly about this without actually saying what the director said yesterday or the description of Dano recreating Inside Pop. The 'actors' playing the Wrecking Crew were/are actually professional musicians, such as Teresa Cowles who plays Carol Kaye...she is a working pro bass player and performer. So having the director confirm this is pretty cool, and it puts into context the few photos posted to Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/etc that had candid shots of these musicians dressed in 60's garb between takes of the studio scenes.

They not only played the roles but according to the Q&A they played the music too. I cannot wait to see and hear how they edited all of this together into a finished product. Quite a daunting task.

As far as the musical skills of some of the actors, remember there were photos and postings about a live jam session they all had at one point with Brian on stage at a wrap party or some similar event, jamming through some of the hits.

I like this more current practice of having the actors themselves actually play and sing the parts, then finding that balance between the originals and the new recreations. It's not a new thing, recall Gary Busey playing Buddy Holly including the musical performances, but the bar has been set pretty high for how this is done in these kinds of films where the music is as much a star as the actors themselves.

[guitarfool2002]

Photos like this one of Teresa Cowles: 

[Rich E P]

Thanks for the reports!  Must see this soon.  I was so worried that it would be a disaster or let down like some of the previous attempts.  Seems like all reviews thus far (from attendees and pro critics) are quite positive.

Now I want to know what will be on the soundtrack!!!

[Smilin Ed H]

http://fridaynightboys300.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/love-and-mercy-brian-wilson-biopic.html

[schiaffino]

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/sep/08/love-and-mercy-review-brian-wilson-biopic

I couldnt agree more with this review.

[Bittersweet-Sanity]

Another "screenshot" courtesy of Claudia Graf.

[Pretty Funky]

Another "screenshot" courtesy of Claudia Graf.

Actor on right. Carl?

Beard alert...Beard alert!

[schiaffino]

Another "screenshot" courtesy of Claudia Graf.

Actor on right. Carl?

Beard alert...Beard alert!

Nope, one of Landy's goons

[coco1997]

Any hint of a release date for this thing?

[alf wiedersehen]

Another "screenshot" courtesy of Claudia Graf.

I think the guy manning the grill looks more like Brian than Cuasck does.

[pixletwin]

I think the guy manning the grill looks more like Brian than Cuasck does.

Thats Paul Giamatti... and I agree. In that picture he does look more like Brian. 

[rab2591]

I think the guy manning the grill looks more like Brian than Cuasck does.

Thats Paul Giamatti... and I agree. In that picture he does look more like Brian. 

I honestly thought it was Brian at first, then I saw Cusask and got confused

[Shady]

Any hint of a release date for this thing?

We should know pretty soon

The film, which does not have a U.S. distributor but has attracted substantial buyer interest since its premiere at the festival

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-toronto-film-festival-john-cusack-paul-dano-brian-wilson-s-20140908-story.html#page=1

Credit to all involved, Love & Mercy has had a very successful showing at the festival

[Bittersweet-Sanity]

http://www.hollywood-elsewhere.com/2014/09/danos-wilson-love-mercy-staggering/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
Another stellar review.

http://www.showbiz411.com/2014/09/08/toronto-beach-boy-brian-wilson-gets-standing-ovation-for-outstanding-biopic
Some interesting notes from this article: The movie, by the way, won’t help Wilson family relations. Beach Boy Mike Love, a cousin, always known as a creep, comes off just that way.

Lions Gate has international rights, they may release “Love and Mercy” in the US if someone else doesn’t. The movie’s a hit, though. And it’s so great that Brian Wilson has gotten a decent film document of his enormous cultural legacy.

Also, I still think the perfect opening for a BBs movie would be Brian walking along the shore at the rented beach house Landy had him in, with "Male Ego" playing in the background as he stumbles clumsily over the rocks. He looks nervously at girls passing by as the song continues. As the song fades, we cut to the car dealership where he meets Melinda.

I like that! A very quirky & inspired opening. From reading schiaffino's review (thanks for that, btw!), i'd say Let's Go To Heaven In My Car would've been perfect to play over that last scene.

[guitarfool2002]

The reviews both officially published in the trades and firsthand from other viewers and bloggers seem unanimous so far - it's a damn fine film! With this much positive talk from one screening at the film fest, I agree, I don't think getting a distributor will be an issue at this point.

Now my question for those who saw it - How was the "woodie" station wagon seen that was being debated a few months ago handled in the film? Was that later-model car from the on-set photos used to represent the Surfin Safari Model A truck?

Silly, I know, but my curious nature got the best of me. I gotta know. 

[Shady]

Brian watching the movie



Brian leaving the movie




I'd love to know what he really thought of it and what it was like for him to see his life on screen. Guess we'll never know.

[Bittersweet-Sanity]

well he's got that autobiography that's supposed to come out next yr. Maybe he'll give his thoughts on it in there.

But yah, sitting right there in the audience. What'a trip that must've been.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQUG0ekNaM0 Brian somewhat "collapsing" at the screening. Hopefully he was ok. Looks like he awkwardly tried to stand up and kinda tripped.

[Mikie]

Hey Shady, you got one of Brian takin' a wiz?

[bgas]

Hey Shady, you got one of Brian takin' a wiz?

A close-up!!

[guitarfool2002]

But yah, sitting right there in the audience. What'a trip that must've been.

How about it? I think it says a lot about the man to be able to watch those incredibly tough scenes of his life play out on screen, and to be in the middle of the whole thing ending in a standing ovation from those around him, taking it all in graciously and with a smile. My takeaway is that he is a survivor, and at many times in the past 45 years or so the odds would have been against Brian Wilson, yet he is still creating music for his fans and putting smiles on their faces. Inspiring.