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

[Sangheon]

Thank you Dudd.
So, the a cappella version was made from the 4 track tape?

[Sangheon]

We do have in the archives partial vocals for "Good Vibrations," from a copy of an original 4 track master.  This 4 track (which now exists only in a vintage 8 track copy) only had some of the vocal parts, none of them doubled, and was apparently copied to a separate, now missing 8 track onto which Brian would have then added all of the rest of the vocal parts and layers heard in the final mix. 

Thank you Dudd.
So, the a cappella version was made from the 4 track tape?

[Sangheon]

Sorry, I posted it twice....

[sea of tunes]

Back to the discussion of Straight Outta Compton. There's an article in today's Washington Post that contrasts both films, at least briefly.

Article in today's Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2015/08/20/how-straight-outta-compton-fails-its-audience/

“Love & Mercy” was animated by director Bill Pohlad and writers Oren Moverman and Michael Alan Lerner’s insight that even geniuses have to put in the work to make great art. Watching the sweat equity that Wilson put into “Pet Sounds” illuminated the tension between the Beach Boys themselves and between Wilson and his father (Bill Camp) in a way that none of the discussions about money in “Straight Outta Compton” really serve to do. And while suggesting in “Straight Outta Compton” that every track on the iconic album (and many that followed) arrived in the world fully formed may imply that Dre in particular is a genius, it also makes the whole process of making music seem a little boring.

[hideyotsuburaya]

I saw L&M last night, my 4th, at its final local showtime (today I checked and it's completely gone in these parts).  I wanted to take one of my other sons, it was 9:30 and still 5 others showed.  I'm surprised it endured 2-1/2 months about.

And I still heard a line--a bit of dialogue between Brian & Carl--I hadn't caught before, closing the scene where the touring BB's return from Japan and're greeted by Brian in the studio in preparation for (hearing) the new Pet Sounds L.P. tracks.  Carl had given his older brother a souvenier fan "it even matches your shirt" he adds, but finally Brian kids Carl by saying "but I'd wanted a samurai sword!"

Just a half minute earlier we see (what I believe is) the only Bruce Johnston appearance and exchange, where Brian says something like "Great job, Bruce" (shaking his hand as he walks past) to which Bruce replies "I could never fill your shoes".

One part I came to terms with, that I used to have a problem, was where Murry tells Brian the 'good news' - he's just sold Sea Of Tubes publishing for $750K.  This is also where Brian had just told him the rest of the band were going to salvage the SMiLE album cuts with or without his help and call it Smiley Smile, in order to give Capitol an album post haste.  Obviously the SOT sale came over 2 years later and I didn't like the convoluted collapse of events.  But now I believe that was deliberate by director Pohlad in that he wanted Brian to get the full effect of a 1-2 punch at that point in time, Brian being essentially taken down by those around him as producer and 'music leader' and this drives that critical point home.

[sea of tunes]

I saw L&M last night, my 4th, at its final local showtime (today I checked and it's completely gone in these parts).  I wanted to take one of my other sons, it was 9:30 and still 5 others showed.  I'm surprised it endured 2-1/2 months about.

And I still heard a line--a bit of dialogue between Brian & Carl--I hadn't caught before, closing the scene where the touring BB's return from Japan and're greeted by Brian in the studio in preparation for (hearing) the new Pet Sounds L.P. tracks.  Carl had given his older brother a souvenier fan "it even matches your shirt" he adds, but finally Brian kids Carl by saying "but I'd wanted a samurai sword!"

Just a half minute earlier we see (what I believe is) the only Bruce Johnston appearance and exchange, where Brian says something like "Great job, Bruce" (shaking his hand as he walks past) to which Bruce replies "I could never fill your shoes".

One part I came to terms with, that I used to have a problem, was where Murry tells Brian the 'good news' - he's just sold Sea Of Tubes publishing for $750K.  This is also where Brian had just told him the rest of the band were going to salvage the SMiLE album cuts with or without his help and call it Smiley Smile, in order to give Capitol an album post haste.  Obviously the SOT sale came over 2 years later and I didn't like the convoluted collapse of events.  But now I believe that was deliberate by director Pohlad in that he wanted Brian to get the full effect of a 1-2 punch at that point in time, Brian being essentially taken down by those around him as producer and 'music leader' and this drives that critical point home.

I'm feeling pretty lucky that after the film ended its 'first run' in my city in late July it has re-apepared at a 'second run' theater as of last Friday. More showtimes starting today. I feel a little silly for admitting this but I've seen L&M thirteen times. And will likely go once more before next Tuesday. Speaking of Tuesday..four short days away from the HD digital release on your e-tailer of choice in North America. On iTunes there are the same extras included in the BD/DVD release. Truly cannot wait.

Lots of joking in the scene you mentioned when the band comes back from Japan. That exchange between Brian & Carl is indeed very humorous.. "you know, a samurai sword would've been much cooler" or something to that effect. Also, a moment before, Mike to Brian "you need to go on a fast with me" and Brian says "I'm already eating as fast as I can".

Bruce's character actually appears in several subsequent scenes after the one you mention. As I recall, immediately following that interaction, he is with the group singing "You Still Believe in Me". He is also in the "Sloop John B" black-and-white film. Also he is seen chatting with someone during the "Good Vibrations" cello scene. There may be others.

You're absolutely right about the last interaction with Murry and Brian. It's an effort to condense a lot of hurt into one scene. It also, perhaps, is meant to put forth the theory that those two things (even if in reality they happened 2 years apart) were the impetus for Brian completely pulling back. Obviously, Brian continued to make music but he went from being the 100% driving force behind everything to ceding control to the others. Of course, when working within the confines of 120 minutes, some of this has to be greatly abridged.

[Bittersweet-Sanity]

Such neat lil allusions in this film: Marilyn telling Brian their daughter has his SMiLE. Melinda listening to a talk radio program ("so you're saying there's a code of ethics we should abide by") before being visited by Doug the Blonde Bodyguard.

Off topic but I think Alexandra Morgan is the lady whose identity is concealed in the Diane Sawyer report from 1991. The lady sounds more like Morgan than Melinda, who everyone assumes it is. https://youtu.be/y9C_lKYhWr4?t=42s https://vimeo.com/120994523 But as someone on the Hoffman board pointed out, it's very strange to think that she'd out Landy like that on t.v. and not suffer any repercussions. http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/brian-wilson-biopic-love-and-mercy.315562/page-28

[puni puni]

That lady has to be somebody we've heard of?

[hideyotsuburaya]

was Bruce Johnston in the original SJB b&w promo film (I just don't recall him).  Will I suppose he had to be if Pohlad showed him in the recreation.  My original point about Bruce however was the only speaking line he has is in that return from Japan tour scene.  Yes you could say we see Bruce a tiny bit here and there later on, but if he wasn't given that solitary line we wouldn't know who that extra person seen was (or at least wouldn't be certain).

"It also, perhaps, is meant to put forth the theory that those two things (even if in reality they happened 2 years apart) were the impetus for Brian completely pulling back."  Yes!  Pohlad I think felt the need somehow to try making a statement "THIS is how the Brian played by Paul Dano got to be the Brian played by John Cusack", they're so radically different to the general public anyway.

I thought it was Evan (Landy) who calls on Melinda  (not Doug the blonde bodyguard)

"Mike to Brian "you need to go on a fast with me""  maybe a sly reference to the fasts Mike Love was known later to've gone on that went haywire

[Cyncie]

was Bruce Johnston in the original SJB b&w promo film (I just don't recall him).  Will I suppose he had to be if Pohlad showed him in the recreation.

Yes. Bruce is in the promo film. Dennis is not.

[hideyotsuburaya]

was Bruce Johnston in the original SJB b&w promo film (I just don't recall him).  Well I suppose he had to be if Pohlad showed him in the recreation.  My original point about Bruce however was the only speaking line he has is in that return from Japan tour scene.  Yes you could say we see Bruce a tiny bit here and there later on, but if he wasn't given that solitary identifiable line we wouldn't know who that extra person seen was (or at least wouldn't be certain).

"It also, perhaps, is meant to put forth the theory that those two things (even if in reality they happened 2 years apart) were the impetus for Brian completely pulling back."  Yes!  Pohlad I think felt the need somehow to summarize in one scene if possible "THIS is how the Brian played by Paul Dano got to be the Brian played by John Cusack", they're so radically different to the general public anyway.

I thought it was Evan (Landy) who calls on Melinda  (not Doug the blonde bodyguard)

"Mike to Brian "you need to go on a fast with me""  maybe a sly reference to the fasts Mike Love was known later to've gone on that went haywire



from one Smiley Smile Associate to another, yes of course you need to go and see L&M a 14th time (can't stop on an unlucky number)

(right....Dennis was running his Bolex camera)

....and my posts here got screwed up

[The Cincinnati Kid]

Interesting review by the Huff Post.  Mostly good, but some odd comments saying he was dwarfed by of other acts of the 60s and the film should have had 30 minutes taken out. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lloyd-i-sederer-md/not-so-good-vibrations-lo_b_8028804.html

[Cyncie]

Interesting review by the Huff Post.  Mostly good, but some odd comments saying he was dwarfed by of other acts of the 60s and the film should have had 30 minutes taken out. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lloyd-i-sederer-md/not-so-good-vibrations-lo_b_8028804.html

"Dwarfed by the giants of the '60s (including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, Peter, Paul and Mary, and others) Brian Wilson's musical accomplishments, especially arrangements, are not well known outside the industry -- an historical omission this film aims to correct."

Well, someone's not been paying attention.

[guitarfool2002]

Peter, Paul, and Mary. Enough said.

[The Cincinnati Kid]

Interesting review by the Huff Post.  Mostly good, but some odd comments saying he was dwarfed by of other acts of the 60s and the film should have had 30 minutes taken out. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lloyd-i-sederer-md/not-so-good-vibrations-lo_b_8028804.html

"Dwarfed by the giants of the '60s (including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, Peter, Paul and Mary, and others) Brian Wilson's musical accomplishments, especially arrangements, are not well known outside the industry -- an historical omission this film aims to correct."

Well, someone's not been paying attention.

I think he was trying to say in terms of public perception, but worded it very poorly. 

[sea of tunes]

That's a very oddball review.

[GoodVibrations33]

Pretty cool exclusive clip:  http://entertainthis.usatoday.com/2015/08/24/brian-wilson-exclusive-love-and-mercy-clip/

[37!ws]

That lady has to be somebody we've heard of?

Yeah. A lady whose initials are Melinda Wilson. It's most definitely her. Listen to that voice and compare it to her voice in IJWMFTT.

[puni puni]

Yeah. A lady whose initials are Melinda Wilson. It's most definitely her. Listen to that voice and compare it to her voice in IJWMFTT.

Wow they sound nothing alike!

[GoofyJeff]

That lady has to be somebody we've heard of?

Yeah. A lady whose initials are Melinda Wilson. It's most definitely her. Listen to that voice and compare it to her voice in IJWMFTT.

I thought it was pretty much established, if not confirmed, that it is Melinda in that clip. I've always thought it was her at least.

[HeyJude]

Not that it’s needed, but to offer up something that contradicts that blowhard Roger Friedman’s continued “sky is falling” articles about how poorly he thought L&M did (he apparently doesn’t understand budgets and expectations and demographics, etc.), this article of “summer hits and misses” notes that Roadside Attractions “scored” with a couple of their films including L&M. As we’ve discussed on and off, the film did quite well for its size and budget.

http://www.thewrap.com/22-summer-hits-and-misses-chris-pratts-world-tom-hardys-reboot-and-seasons-most-embarrassing-flop/

[guitarfool2002]

Just a reminder that posting non-official links to download copies of the film since it has been released commercially will not be allowed on this forum, nor will requests to provide such links. Anyone doing so will be subject to a ban.

[hideyotsuburaya]

the Huffington Post review of L&M will do.....he wants to get rid of 30 minutes, less stuff at pools, hmmm....definitely NOT the scene where Brian tries to get the rest to come over to the deep end of his pool because he thinks his Dad and Phil Spector have everywhere else in his home bugged.  That scene goes right to the core.  And no less recording studio sessions, perish even the thought, they are so delightful.  I agree the chemistry between Cusack & Banks if not leaps off of the screen gets a good running start

when Melinda takes the first phone call at her Cadillac dealership from Brian the connection actually begins will other voices saying something before Brian comes on the line....I'd like to know exactly what/who those other voices were

[rab2591]

the Huffington Post review of L&M will do.....he wants to get rid of 30 minutes, less stuff at pools, hmmm....definitely NOT the scene where Brian tries to get the rest to come over to the deep end of his pool because he thinks his Dad and Phil Spector have everywhere else in his home bugged.  That scene goes right to the core.  And no less recording studio sessions, perish even the thought, they are so delightful.  I agree the chemistry between Cusack & Banks if not leaps off of the screen gets a good running start

when Melinda takes the first phone call at her Cadillac dealership from Brian the connection actually begins will other voices saying something before Brian comes on the line....I'd like to know exactly what/who those other voices were

Now that the movie is out in digital form someone else can probably give you a more exact answer, but from what I remember the the other voice was Landy and he was telling Brian to use his other ear (to listen to Melinda over the phone).

[hideyotsuburaya]

Landy telling Brian to use his other ear (as if Brian had never used the phone, or not in a long time) seems stupidly crude to me