The Smiley Smile Message Board

Just got home from the US premiere of Love & Mercy at SXSW. It was a big event, held at Austin's historic Paramount Theatre. A week ago, a journalist friend had texted me to let me in on the news that Brian Wilson and John Cusack would be in attendance at the screening. I had been planning to try to get a ticket anyway, but the assurance of the big guy's presence made me invest in a festival wristband.
I stood in line for about an hour and a half, and saw the black SUVs pull up and discharge the director and stars. My journalist friend found me and said he would save me a seat inside...turned out to be front row!
The movie is very, very powerful and I got misty-eyed several times as the Agony of BW was put on the screen. Paul Giamatti is pure evil as Gene Landy. Paul Dano IS the young BW. Cusack is fine in his part, but could have been less handsomely presented. Elizabeth Banks is lovely and adorable. All the casting is very good. The soundtrack is really effective, causing you to listen intently for the recognizable BW elements from which the score is assembled.
The audience was very enthusiastic about the film, giving it a great ovation.
The director and producer came out for Q&A, along with Brian and John Cusack. Nothing remarkable in the questions period, although one very zealous young fan set Brian up with a huge opportunity to plug No Pier Pressure, but Brian didn't take the bait.
The movie is a very good one. Denizens of this board may not, however, enjoy it quite as much as audiences who aren't familiar with all the ins and outs of the BB story. There is a LOT of jumping from the 60s to the 80s and back again and again, and I found myself wondering at what point the director would choose to end the story. He made a good choice.
Brian looked very good, as the photo I snapped below will attest. Pretty great day for me...and the "Beach Boys" will be in town on Wednesday, playing during the...uh...rodeo.

http://shadownoze.tumblr.com/post/113730964108/brian-wilson-and-john-cusack-do-a-q-a-following (http://shadownoze.tumblr.com/post/113730964108/brian-wilson-and-john-cusack-do-a-q-a-following)

Thanks for the report. It is a great film, in all aspects.

And yes, Brian looks healthy and rather happy in those SXSW pictures.  :)

Thanks so much for the update and the great photo.

Oooh.. so it goes on from the 60's to the 80's back to the 60's, etc etc.. noooow i understand why i was told there's no "second" part, i was confused.

Debbie, thanks for the kind words. Although I've been a fan of Brian and the Beach Boys for about 43 years, I don't post here very often. There's a school of thought among some that—if you don't post a dozen times a day—you must not be a real, knowledgeable fan. It's nice to get some positive feedback.

Here's a short video clip from the Q&A in which Brian is asked what his favorite scene in the movie was. His answer is very typical BW.

http://shadownoze.tumblr.com/post/113749469568/q-a-at-sxsw-brian-wilson-is-asked-what-his

Thanks from The Professor, who enjoyed your cogent, measured report. Very generous to take the time to share all this, and congratulations on a big night for you.

Hilarious, Brian looks great :) thank you so much for the review and sharing the video shadownoze, take care.

http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/03/sxsw-film-review-love-mercy/ (http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/03/sxsw-film-review-love-mercy/)

"The way Pohlad orchestrates this strange dichotomy on-screen is about as beautiful and heartwarming as any of The Beach Boys’ best material. And when your favorite songs bubble up or weave through Atticus Ross’ unique score, the marriage of sound and screen will win your tears, your smiles, and your soul. To paraphrase Wilson, Love & Mercy … that’s what you need tonight."

I don't usually like biopics, especially if I already know something about the subject. I'm not a big moviegoer anyway. So I originally had no intention of ever seeing this film. The overwhelmingly positive response has won me over though. Now I'll be in the queue when it gets released.

Thanks for the post Shadownoze. I'm anxious to see this film with each new review I read.

Unreleased backgrounds, the director of the movie specifically said in the Q&A that he wasn't interested in doing a conventional biopic, where "you have to hit ALL the notable moments in the story of the Beach Boys." In choosing to focus on Brian during the Pet Sounds/Smile period and the Landy/Melinda period, the movie gives you a real sense of the tortured existence behind the beautiful music we all love. Many of the early hits and the shooting of the Surfin' Safari album cover, etc., are covered under the opening credits. The costume and set design is fantastic. You'll recognize every shirt Brian wears.

I purposely avoided asking a question during the Q&A because I know that 99% of the time, Brian is not engaged by a question. It occurred to me last night, though, that it would have been interesting to ask him, "How do you feel about Eugene Landy right now?" I really am not sure how he would answer.

I posted this in another thread and didn't get a response yet.  So I'm asking here - in the last shot of the 2:30 trailer that was up for like 5 minutes, 1966 Brian is standing at the mic in the studio with a tear rolling down his cheek.  Since I probably won't get to see the movie until June, I'd love to know the context of that scene.  Please post in spoiler tags or PM me if necessary.  Thanks!

That has to be a very complex and conflicted set of feelings for Brian, and while it would be interesting to hear his answer, I think putting him on the spot during the Q&A with that question would have been very uncomfortable.

There was a very uncomfortable moment during the Q&A when an older woman asked Brian essentially how did he let himself get into that situation with Landy. I assume she was not that familiar with his story, but still pretty insensitive. Brian just sat there like he had no intention of answering her while Bill Pohlad nervously looked over at Brian and very graciously began to try and answer her question. He did a great job with a very lengthy answer saying that they could not cover every event in his life and had to pick and choose in order to tell the story. It made me feel really bad for Brian but Bill Pohlad really did a great job sort of diverting the focus back to the making of the movie.

I know I'm way too early on this but I do hope that the Blu Ray release includes deleted scenes (or maybe a longer cut) additionally a featurette or two.  Maybe a commentary track with both Dano and Cusack discussing how they approached their respective parts. 

You just made my day with that video clip!  I am still laughing so hard I can barely type.  Only Brian.  (How many times have I used THAT phrase in my life?!)

 :lol :lol
This has to go to the Brianisms-thread

Just one more clip (Brian did not have a lot to say in the Q&A, of course). An audience member asked what it was like to trust someone else to tell his life story...and how did he feel when he watched it?

http://shadownoze.tumblr.com/post/113799237883/sxsw-love-and-mercy-q-a-brian-wilson-is-asked-how

Thanks shadownoze for sharing the videos for those of us that obviously couldn't be in attendance.

Brian was incredibly lucid and sounding healthy and happy. 

Wow, thanks for that one, too!

Here is a review from AMC Independent's Youtube channel from a screening at SXSW.
Seems like they liked it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcGmleApDZ4

Thanks a lot for that.  They were adorable and obviously "got it."

I love that moment at about 0:06 when Cusack claps once, realizes he's misread the situation, and then immediately stops.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMzuo5eBR2M&feature=youtu.be&a

Interview w/ Brian, Cusack, & Pohlad for FOX 7 news. Brian says Paul Giamatti's portrayal of Landy had him scared for 10 mins.

There's your answer.

http://thecwaustin.com/2015/03/16/love-mercy-sit-down-interview-at-sxsw/ (http://thecwaustin.com/2015/03/16/love-mercy-sit-down-interview-at-sxsw/)

Another sit-down interview, this time with The CW affiliate in Austin.

I had a funny thought (okay, maybe it's not so funny).  It takes both John (Cusack) and Paul (Dano) to equal Brian.

Get it?...

 :poke

Another review:

http://thecelebritycafe.com/reviews/2015/03/sxsw-review-bill-pohlads-love-mercy-starring-paul-dano-and-john-cusack-brian-wilson

I am really starting to look forward to this movie.

EoL

L&V is really something special.

Summer Dreams and An American Family are both laughable movies, but L&V really nails it. Thanks for posting these reviews.

With all that fuzz about L&V, don't forget H&M. No, not the clothing one.

Thanks for the posts and video/photo links, Shadownoze!  

I also attended Sunday’s premiere at SXSW; I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this:  At the post-screening Q&A, an older fan asked Brian if he had listened to the U.S. or British version of Rubber Soul (prior to making Pet Sounds); he confirmed it was the U.S. version.  So we can put that one to rest…

As for the film, it was excellent.  Some will carp about the wrong microphone or vehicle on an album cover or the wrong timeframe for this or that incident.  One scene will probably lead to yet another tiresome “Who killed SMiLE?” debate thread.  Some will lament that the other Beach Boys (aside from one) are not given much screen time or dialogue.

Never mind all that.  This isn’t a 40-hour “The Beach Boys Anthology” series that tells all sides of the band's career in painstaking detail.   It’s a movie about two periods of Brian’s life that reflect much of his personality, his creativity, his challenges, and ultimately survival and the healing power of love.  The 60s scenes capture well the creative explosion of music, the external pressure, the internal unraveling.  The 80s scenes are like a combination horror movie and love story, and are very powerful.   Both Dano and Cusack are excellent - clearly they did their homework - as is Giamatti as Landy.  Banks’ characterization of Melinda felt a little one-dimensional to me, but I might feel differently when I see it again.

Are the story/situations/relationships simplified, are some scenes possibly made up?  Yes.  Again, it’s a two-hour movie for general release.  But I am amazed at how much was touched upon.  And even more amazed and delighted at the amount of loving attention to detail that was captured…from recreated studios to tape boxes to shot-by-shot reenactments of vintage footage we’re all familiar with.   Bill Pohlad didn’t have to go to this much trouble to tell this story.  Special thanks to him and to Mark Linett and Darian Sahanaja for their excellent efforts at historical accuracy.

As a Pet Sounds-SMiLE era obsessive, I could not get enough of the 60s scenes in the studio and at Brian’s house.  There were times I was a little disappointed to be going back to the 80s, like “I want to see that story too, but let me stay here in the studio a while longer!”  It’s the next best thing to having more vintage studio footage.  I, too, am strongly hoping for additional deleted scenes in a Blu-Ray release, especially after reading descriptions of scenes cut.  

The more I reflect on it, the more I think having two actors play Brian was brilliant.  In many ways, Brian was a different person by the 80s.  It also makes it easy to know where you are when the film skips back and forth!

And the closing was such a perfect wrap up.

And more than once I was struck by how special it was to be watching this movie in the same theater while Brian himself was there.  And to marvel and rejoice that he is still alive, still putting out new music in 2015!  It is so gratifying that he is getting this attention while he is still alive.  And I couldn't imagine what it must be like for him to watch this film.  There were a few moments that elicited unintended laughter from some in the audience - people who don’t know his story, I assume – including one where he makes reference to auditory hallucinations.  I winced a bit, knowing Brian was in the audience, but reminded myself that he’s endured much worse than that!  I know I was emotionally drained by the end.

The Q&A after the screening was icing on the cake that I was not expecting.

Don’t miss it.  IMO there is finally a movie worthy of Brian’s story.

Another glowing review:

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Brian-Wilson-Fascinating-Story-Fuels-Winning-Beach-Boys-Pic-Love-Mercy-70344.html (http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Brian-Wilson-Fascinating-Story-Fuels-Winning-Beach-Boys-Pic-Love-Mercy-70344.html)

Wonderful!

That's all we were all hoping for

Les - thanks so much for both reviews. 

So, so excited for it...

Yes, Les, the re-creation of the black-and-white Pet Sounds-era promo film was simply amazing, even getting the part where Brian and Carl switch places, the march into the swimming pool, Mike Love's lab coat...the attention to detail is truly impressive. But all that wouldn't mean a thing if not for the tragic, beautiful story of this unique musical genius. I think it's true what someone else said; if you make it to the end of this movie and aren't totally in love with Brian Wilson, you need to get your heart checked. It is a masterful tribute.

Absolutely true, shadownoze.  It's a masterful tribute and an emotional ride.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2jtc6l_sxsw-2015-love-and-mercy-brian-wilson-john-cusack-and-bill-pohlad-interview_shortfilms?start=1
Another interview.

Oh, a question for those who've seen L&M: is there a scene where Landy and Brian are working on Let's Go to Heaven in My Car?

Uh...no.

ok, someone here who saw the film at TIFF last yr said there was a scene depicting this.

Actually there is. It's very brief and brutally emotional. You know that's the song only because of something Landy says, so it's easy to miss.

oh snap. would you mind PMing me to tell me what happens? thanks

As out of touch as that interview was, there were some great answers in the midst of it all, even if it was a bit uncomfortable.  There are so many threads now that I don't know if this one's been posted, but I loved it:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMzuo5eBR2M