The Smiley Smile Message Board

Does anybody else think it not unfeasible that a proper biopic movie of the Beach Boys could/should be made? I'm not talking about the lame ABC movie of the week types that have gone before, I'm talking a PROPER Hollywood production chronicling the story of America's greatest group of all time, Decent budget, talented Director, capable actors, license to use genuine recordings, full theatre release, the works. Before I get shouted down yes I'm well aware that there will always be differing accounts from various parties as to what happend when to contend with but assuming that obstacle could be overcome do you think it is achievable and would there be a market for it in the same way there was for the Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash movies of recent years?

Casting ideas - A fattened up Robert DeNiro could carry Murry quite well and I reckon Matt Damon would make for a good Al Jardine from his late 30's onwards. Any more suggestions?

NPH as the Lovester!

By Jove, NPH would be perfect as Mr. Love. Heck, I'd pay to see a Mike biopic if NPH was doing it. Genius.

I'd rather see something like this done by HBO (or some such) in a mini-series mode (2 - 3 hr installments) that covers indepth each phase of their career.   A strong, truly accurate (or as close as might be possible) script, credible actors, preferably unknowns (or relatively unknown), and as you say - the actual music, etc.

Jeff Bridges to play present-day Brian. No brainer.

Matt Letscher to play Mike - another no-brainer.

Young Brian Wilson: Josh Helman

They definitely should go the miniseries route.  Unless you want to tell the story in very small chunks, there's just too much to condense into a 2-3 HR biopic.

Anthony Rapp as Van Dyke Parks again so long as he agrees to die his goshdarn hair black!

Thought he did that already. ;D (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512IePeoDvL._SS500_.jpg)

NO NO NOOOOOO-OOOOOO-OOOOOOO-OOOOOO-ooooooo!! :deadhorse

SJS as Myk Luv- :lol

I think a definitive career spanning biopic would be tough to pull off, but there are specific periods/incidents that could be used as a basis for a great film!

I've always thought the whole Holland trip/fiasco would make a great film! All the trouble they had getting Brian on a plane... The building a studio and flying it over piece by piece situation..... The mooing cows ruining takes in the barn.... Brian walking out on the window ledge.... Brian (or rather Van Dyke) saving the day back in LA with Sail On Sailor!

That could be a kick-ass movie!

Or how about The whole Brian Is Back period culminating in the airstrip/runway battle? That would make a great film!

I think taking a specific period and really digging in and mining the pathos would be the way to go!

I agree with Erik H. on this one.  If you go the old biopic route it just turns into a showcase for the iconic BBs outfits and bad wigs/beards.   The 70s BBs are quite interesting and could offer enough material for several films.

Oh my god, are you serious?!?!?  :lol Please God, let me hear that just once before I die.

I think a movie from Landy's POV could be fascinating.  They wouldn't even have to use Brian's name/details — just a 'based on' type script.

Who plays Diane Sawyer ?  ;D

i think it would be cool if it was a trilogy directed by paul thomas anderson.  1. childhood-mid 60's 2. pet sounds- early 70's 3. mid 70's - landy era. or maybe each installment could be directed by a different director with different actors. like one directed by wes anderson with owen wilson as dennis and luke wilson as brian.  bill murray as murry. jason schwartzman as carl?

Agreed that Letscher was brilliant as Mike in An American Family, although I doubt he would want to play the same part again. Mentioning An American Family I saw this month or so ago and thught that with a few tweaks it actually could have been good which makes it more frustrating that it's not! The guy who played Brian was just ridiculous but if thats how he was directed to portray Brian then perhaps it isn't all his fault. It's seems like a towering work of genius when compared to Summer Dreams though.......

Owen Wilson as Dennis? With that snoz? Forget it!!!

David Spade as Al Jardine? I've always thought he'd be the best choice.

Verne Troyer as Al Jardine????

Who'd direct it? Not mad on Cameron Crowe's movies as such but as he is a BB's fan he'd make a good choice. Or Francis Ford Coppola. Not from a musical standpoint but obviously he's familiar with making films based around conflicts within a family.

Oliver Stone?

Coming this summer...it was the summer that couldn't be stopped.
Scientist: "The Earth's orbit has become erratic, bringing the planet dangerously close to the sun. In 6 months it will be so hot that nothing will be able to survive."
President: "There's only one thing we can do. Call the experts."
*Several shots showing the estranged band members going about their separate business*
Now they're Earth's only hope...ENDLESS SUMMER 3D
*shot of a rocket carrying the boys off into space*
ML: "We'll have fun, fun, fun"

And that would be directed by Michael Bay, right?!! :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

Zac Efron might make a good Dennis. He has the surfer look down.

ABSOLUTELY NO Disney people!!!

*tearfully cocks shotgun*
 :'(
We're gon' hafta put yew down, bwah.

Tell the story through the making of SMiLE the focus of the movie.

The movie opens with the Brian Wilson Band performing "Our Prayer".  As the song seagues into "Gee" we are carried back in time to the recording.  Ther movie progresses in time to final scene which is a perfromance of "In Blue Hawaii".

Jason Schwartzman would make  a killer Brian. Or in a pinch, Carl.

I like Schwartzman (both acting and music) but he's way too short to play Brian. Part of the BW persona is that he is so large...how could Schwartzman pull off big mid-70s Brian?

He's no longer a Disney people, though.

Plus, his acting in Me & Orson Welles was rather good, I thought.

And let's not forget that Beach Blanket darling Annette started out her career under a pair of mouse ears.

True...he'd probably make a better Carl, but his performance in Spun showed me he'd make a killer Brian.

My wife jokingly suggested Jack Black as Brian.

It's funny but the second I read that post I thought GOD NO! but the more I think on it Jack Black might and I must stress MIGHT be a good choice for 70's period Brian. From a physical stand point he's large and bearded and can also sing. My main reservation is that Jack Black tends to put too much of his Jack Black persona into everything he plays. If he could tone that down who knows?  My film tastes are like my music tastes - primarily stuck in the past so I'm having trouble racking my brains for young modern actors who could portray these guys.

Based on looks alone, if it were made about 20 years ago perhaps the Baldwin brothers would have been a nice fit as the Wilson brothers.  Alec (Brian), Billy (Dennis), Danny or Stephen (Carl).  Now it wouldn't work (too old), although I think Alec has the acting ability to pull off a decent older Brian.

I think Crispin Glover would make a pretty good Brian circa 1988. For how bad it was, I think the guy who played Brian in Summer Dreams was pretty darn good. He made for a good early '60's Brian, and a good circa 1985 Brian. Mark Paul Gosslar to me is a no brainer for the Dennis role. Well, if he grew his hair long again and dyed it blonde, he'd make for a good early '60's Dennis.

I think Gosslar's a bit too old to be 'young' nowadays. But I agree on Crispin Glover.

Crispin Glover has that weird "sunken in cheekbones" look that Brian had back then. He still does, actually.

So hypothetically for Brian we have Jack Black (1973-1983), Crispen Glover (1984-1991) and Jeff Bridges (1992-2010). Now all we need is someone to play the all important 'young' Brian. He'd have to be willing to work for scale as we've already cast 3 fairly heavy hitters to play just one guy!

What about the kid who was in the Terminator 2 movie? He's a little older than the part, but he'd probably be good as the teenage Brian, if he shaved his head some. Brian had REALLY short hair as a teen. Kind of like a cross between a crew cut and buzz cut. You know what? Jack Black would be PERFECT for the circa 1976-77 Brian. Not only in his looks, but personality. He could probably do a good job with Brian's generally awkward stage presence during that time period. 

Call me crazy, but doesn't Tom Felton, the guy who plays Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies, look a bit like Al Jardine in these photos?

http://techland.com/2010/06/03/deathly-hallows-epilogue-photos-leaked-part-deux/

Not as much as David Spade. In my opinion.

How about Tom Hanks son (Oarnge County) as the young Brian Wilson. Although, he is not a heavy hitter.

Dwight Shrugt (The Office) as Mike Love?

Show me a better Mike Love than Matt Letscher and I'll show you a filthy lie.

There's only one person who could possibly play Alan:

(http://www.sonofthesouth.net/union-generals/sherman/pictures/general-william-tecumseh-sherman.jpg)

Yeah, I know - one minor problem...


Hell, yes - he had the Lovester down pat - voice, mannerisms, appearence... it was scary.

This is the best suggestion I think I've ever seen on this board!! I would watch that movie again and again and again ...

Opening scene: A 60 year old Brian Wilson is bowing with the rest of his solo group at Royal Albert Hall after finally showing off his masterpiece for the first time....

45 years earlier shows up on the screen.

You get the basic picture after that. I would love and hate to see this type of movie because Hollywood ALWAYS screws up a band bio (take 'the doors' for instance) but I would love for people to know how underrated the Beach Boys are.

If it was done right, and they really showed how popular the Beach Boys were in the psychedelic/pop world, I think the Beach Boys would become even more famous than they are.

I was requested by the manager to either STFU or leave the cinema when I went with some friends to see Oliver Stone's The Doors, 'cause I was pointing out all the mistakes. Slightly too loudly, apparently.

It's better than when I went to see, I think it was The Philadelphia Story at a Vintage Theatre and an elderly woman was behind me and said to her friend upon the arrival of each actor (and actress): "Oh look at him, he's so young, he's dead you know!"

hahaha good for you! I love and hate the movie: I love it because it is one of the few times hollywood didn't try to woo us into the theatre with bombs, guns, and sex....at the same time, Stone turned every factual aspect of Morrison's life upside down.