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

[JohnMill]

I want to know exactly who is the one they call Big Sally and why she is considered to be a source of such strain amongst some of those not to be mentioned round the other forum no more!

[Shady]

I've got no inside information at all, but given these early, extremely positive reviews (especially the ones in the Los Angeles Times, Variety and Hollywood Reporter), I think the movie will play for a week in Los Angeles before the end of 2014 to qualify for the Oscars, and maybe for a week in New York, and then open in the rest of the US in early 2015.

And given the special praise being given Paul Dano's performance, I think he will be nominated for Best Actor (or Best Supporting Actor, depending on his screentime). Since there can be up to 10 nominees for Best Picture, a nomination for that is also a strong possibility.

I'm guessing that the people who work and live in Southern California and vote for the Oscars (which many people do take seriously, even if most of us don't) will feel good about the story it tells and want to express their appreciation for Brian, a local boy who made good.

A best picture nom is a long shot to be honest, maybe it just seems to good to be true, I truly hope it gets one though

Dano getting a best actor nomination seems pretty possible right now considering the praise he's getting

[Chocolate Shake Man]

I'd personally be surprised with a Best Picture nom. Don't see that happening. Dano could be nominated. I'd say he'd be up for Supporting Actor - they play pretty loose with the definition of those categories but I think someone who splits the character with another actor wouldn't be considered for a Best Actor nomination. That said, Supporting Actor is a tough category and so it's mostly unlikely though Dano already has cred from There Will Be Blood, so it's not out of the realm of possibilities.

[Larry Franz]

I thought of the Best Picture because of the extra nominations they've added, but agree it's less likely than an Actor nomination.

Anyway, I'm driving home with the Chinese food, and imagining Paul Dano winning the Oscar, and Brian in the audience, and missed my turn.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

I thought of the Best Picture because of the extra nominations they've added, but agree it's less likely than an Actor nomination.

Anyway, I'm driving home with the Chinese food, and imagining Paul Dano winning the Oscar, and Brian in the audience, and missed my turn.

The important thing is, what did you order?

[puni puni]

Max Schneider - VDP

[Larry Franz]

That's a great imitation Van Dyke. People have said the movie's 60s look is extraordinarily well-done. This picture is evidence of that. (Presumably, the plastic water bottles aren't in the final cut.)

I thought of the Best Picture because of the extra nominations they've added, but agree it's less likely than an Actor nomination.

Anyway, I'm driving home with the Chinese food, and imagining Paul Dano winning the Oscar, and Brian in the audience, and missed my turn.

The important thing is, what did you order?

I'd tell you but am new here and not sure about the level of personal disclosure that's expected.

(General Tso's chicken, vegetable fried rice and two spring rolls)

[wantsomecorn]

...you were on the forum while driving?

 

[bsten]

Ray and Debbie - I've been a fan of the BB and Brian ever since the mid 60's. Thank you for your wonderful posts and for bringing true insights! Keep up the good work! And sincere compliments to Melinda for taking care of Brian!!! 

[Micha]

...you were on the forum while driving?

 

Probably a long queue at the drive-through.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

At the drive in yeah at the drive in...we love the drive in

[Larry Franz]

Anyway, I'm driving home with the Chinese food, and imagining Paul Dano winning the Oscar, and Brian in the audience, and missed my turn.

...you were on the forum while driving?

 

It took me a while, but now I get it. No, no, you've misunderstood my informal grammar, but that's certainly a good one! 

PS -- "Love and Mercy" didn't win one of the prizes it was eligible for at the Toronto Festival. The People's Choice award went to a movie about Alan Turing (starring Benedict Cumberbatch) and the critics picked a Richard Gere movie in the Special Presentations category.

http://www.tiff.net/festivals/thefestival/festivalawards

[buddhahat]

Hi Debbie,

I'm not sure if nicko1234 posts here. You're better off registering at the BW board and asking there but, in truth, I wouldn't get bogged down in the pettiness of other posters. Don't take it personally. Some people will snipe at anything.

Yes, I post here and no pettiness going on at all.

Apologies - my mistake.

[buddhahat]

Max Schneider - VDP

Nooooooo he has boy-band hair! Somebody please tell me his hair is not styled that way in the movie?!!

I can forgive the woody in the Surfin Safari shoot, any number of non-period mics in the studio scenes and John Cusack's total lack of physical resemblance to Brian Wilson but VDP with Bieber hair is a step too far ....

[Nicko1234]

Apologies - my mistake.

No worries at all. A simple misunderstanding.

[NickandthePassions]

Anyone else find it strange that Paul Giamatti didn't attend the film festival?  Or at least wasn't in any of the group pictures?

[guitarfool2002]

I can forgive the woody in the Surfin Safari shoot, any number of non-period mics in the studio scenes and John Cusack's total lack of physical resemblance to Brian Wilson but VDP with Bieber hair is a step too far ....

Serious request here, please point me in the direction of the photo(s) showing the non-period mics being used in the studio scenes, I'd like to check them out.

[Loaf]

Anyone else find it strange that Paul Giamatti didn't attend the film festival?  Or at least wasn't in any of the group pictures?

The original agreement was for a set number of appearances and interviews, and when things were starting to look good, those involved agreed to a set number of extra promotional appearances. Brian wanted to keep promoting the film after the agreed-upon end date but Paul Giamatti already had other commitments and had to bow out. Brian said it was like being fired from his life.

[buddhahat]

I can forgive the woody in the Surfin Safari shoot, any number of non-period mics in the studio scenes and John Cusack's total lack of physical resemblance to Brian Wilson but VDP with Bieber hair is a step too far ....

Serious request here, please point me in the direction of the photo(s) showing the non-period mics being used in the studio scenes, I'd like to check them out.

 I should've known you'd jump on that bit! Fear not, Guitarfool, there are no photos and I wouldn't be able to recognise a non-period mic if it jumped up and ... er, reverbed me in the face (or whatever non period mics do).

But seriously - that non-period VDP haircut doesn't bother you?!

[Robbie Mac]

I can forgive the woody in the Surfin Safari shoot, any number of non-period mics in the studio scenes and John Cusack's total lack of physical resemblance to Brian Wilson but VDP with Bieber hair is a step too far ....

Serious request here, please point me in the direction of the photo(s) showing the non-period mics being used in the studio scenes, I'd like to check them out.

 I should've known you'd jump on that bit! Fear not, Guitarfool, there are no photos and I wouldn't be able to recognise a non-period mic if it jumped up and ... er, reverbed me in the face (or whatever non period mics do).

But seriously - that non-period VDP haircut doesn't bother you?!

Er, no because it is the same haircut.

[Paul J B]

I can forgive the woody in the Surfin Safari shoot, any number of non-period mics in the studio scenes and John Cusack's total lack of physical resemblance to Brian Wilson but VDP with Bieber hair is a step too far ....

Serious request here, please point me in the direction of the photo(s) showing the non-period mics being used in the studio scenes, I'd like to check them out.

 I should've known you'd jump on that bit! Fear not, Guitarfool, there are no photos and I wouldn't be able to recognise a non-period mic if it jumped up and ... er, reverbed me in the face (or whatever non period mics do).

But seriously - that non-period VDP haircut doesn't bother you?!

Er, no because it is the same haircut.

Wow. That's impressive.

[guitarfool2002]

I can forgive the woody in the Surfin Safari shoot, any number of non-period mics in the studio scenes and John Cusack's total lack of physical resemblance to Brian Wilson but VDP with Bieber hair is a step too far ....

Serious request here, please point me in the direction of the photo(s) showing the non-period mics being used in the studio scenes, I'd like to check them out.

 I should've known you'd jump on that bit! Fear not, Guitarfool, there are no photos and I wouldn't be able to recognise a non-period mic if it jumped up and ... er, reverbed me in the face (or whatever non period mics do).

But seriously - that non-period VDP haircut doesn't bother you?!

I was curious about the mics because I'm always looking for those details in studio recreations, especially from the 60's...and especially from a BW session from 1966!  

As far as the VDP portrayal, Andy already beat me to it by posting his photos, but I have these of the "real" VDP from 1966-68 and they look pretty close to the actor in the new photo, but judge for yourself:

[Mikie]

The guy portraying VDP has it down - his face looks like him, the haircut is right on, and the glasses even look the same. The actor playing Van Dyke looks a helluva lot closer to the original than the guy portraying Brian. No doubt.

[buddhahat]

I can forgive the woody in the Surfin Safari shoot, any number of non-period mics in the studio scenes and John Cusack's total lack of physical resemblance to Brian Wilson but VDP with Bieber hair is a step too far ....

Serious request here, please point me in the direction of the photo(s) showing the non-period mics being used in the studio scenes, I'd like to check them out.

 I should've known you'd jump on that bit! Fear not, Guitarfool, there are no photos and I wouldn't be able to recognise a non-period mic if it jumped up and ... er, reverbed me in the face (or whatever non period mics do).

But seriously - that non-period VDP haircut doesn't bother you?!

Er, no because it is the same haircut.

But look closer ... It's doing that thing where one side is pushed forward - a bit like a bowl has been put on there and then rotated a bit.

Here is an extreme of this 'boy-band' look (those of a squeamish disposition may wish to look away) ...



Ok, ok I sound mental. I don't usually get hung up on these things but that haircut looks too X Factor to me. I agree it's a great piece of casting as the actor is the spit of a young VDP. So it's a shame that the haircut - presumably the easiest bit of period detailing to get right - is so not 60s looking. 

I actually think these historically inaccurate stylings are deliberate. To make the characters more relatable to a modern audience maybe and I can cope with things that are deliberate rather than lazy. I know I still sound mental, obsessing over this haircut, but there you go. Very much still looking forward to the film though.

[John Manning]

Sometimes I realise that, if the actor portraying Dennis walked into a hotel foyer scene with his green-painted dick hanging out of his trousers, folk here would be offended by the fact that it was an inauthentic shade of green.

And I have to agree that that kind of realism is important…