Pictures from "Love and Mercy" biopic

[KittyKat]

Cusack looks nothing like Brian. More importantly, he looks even less like Paul Dano. I also can't buy Elizabeth Banks as Melinda. I know there are people who insist Melinda was prettier when she was younger, but I don't think she was ever that skinny or made the effort to be the sexy type. She was a used car dealer. If she thought of herself as sexy, I think she would have tried for a sexier job. The real Melinda just doesn't have that type of vibe.

[ontor pertawst]

ME-OOOOOOW. What a nasty thing to say about somebody's wife when they were younger and more attractive.

So what are the better options, then?

Also, go into a car dealership in Southern California. Especially the ones Brian would be at. Tell me they don't hire attractive women. Also, good luck convincing Hollywood to cast a homelier breed of blonde.

[Justin]

I think people are a little too hung up on how little these actors look like the people they're portraying.  For all I care, it can be Denzel Washington playing Brian...it doesn't matter.  It's about the story and the events that these characters go through in the film that define them.   The actors are nothing more than a vague representation of the person they're portraying.  I'm not going to enjoy this film any more if they cloned Brian Wilson to play himself in the movie.  In the end, it's his journey that is the focus not whether the actor playing Brian has his double chin.

[ontor pertawst]

It's ridiculous to expect otherwise from a biopic! What kind of weird standard would that be? "Let's cast a celebrity lookalike rather than a good actor" would lead to incredibly bad movies.

All during The Last Emperor I couldn't help but think that guy looked NOTHING like Pu Yi. I want my money back!



"Goodfellas was ok and all, but man -- your nose is all wrong."

[Robbie Mac]

Cusack looks nothing like Brian. More importantly, he looks even less like Paul Dano. I also can't buy Elizabeth Banks as Melinda. I know there are people who insist Melinda was prettier when she was younger, but I don't think she was ever that skinny or made the effort to be the sexy type. She was a used car dealer. If she thought of herself as sexy, I think she would have tried for a sexier job. The real Melinda just doesn't have that type of vibe.

She was a model before she sold cars. Models don't tend to be average-looking.

[Lowbacca]

Cusack is going to rock this. Mark my words.

[EgoHanger1966]

Cusack is going to rock this. Mark my words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkK0j3pT6l0

First (unofficial) glimpse of an L&M scene. I would never have guessed the actors were supposed to be portraying Brian and Melinda if I hadn't known about the upcoming film.

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

To be fair, the movements are perfect. He may not look just like Brian, but to me it's more about the portrayal and not the looks.

EDIT: Watched again, from the side, it looks just like Brian from the period.

[pancakerecords]

Teresa Cowles (awesome bass player from Adam Marsland's Chaos band) is playing Carol Kaye...

[Dudd]

HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP

[KittyKat]

I don't know why people think I was calling Melinda Wilson ugly, because I wasn't. I just was saying she's not a woman who pushes her "sexy" side. Women come in different types. There are women who have good looks who become Playboy models and TV actresses and play up their sexiness, and there are other good-looking women who become things such as TV journalists, or real estate and car salespersons. Melinda is more of the latter type. Even when she was a model, she was a store model showing off expensive designer dresses in Beverly Hills boutiques (tasteful, and a sort of sales job), not a Victoria's Secret catalog model or car show model.

If I were to choose an actress who would have made a good Melinda Wilson, but the actress isn't old enough yet, it would be Jennifer Lawrence. She radiates self-confidence and competence. Melinda is a strong, practical, no-nonsense type of woman, I think that's what I was driving at.  That's not exactly an insult.  

[18thofMay]

Incidentally, here's something Cusack posted on his Twitter recently:



"Listen to this glorious music like a waking dream"

What is his twitter account?

[Sheriff John Stone]

HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP

I'm telling ya, Brian's colored his hair! Now, have it done a little more consistently, take care of that neck, and he'll look ten years younger!

[ontor pertawst]

He's gotta go back to the pop Beethoven look:

[Justin]

The hair coloring does not suit him at all.  He should stick to all naturale!

[Justin]

[jeffcdo]

Justin you just beat me to it! 

This was posted on Brian's Facebook today.  Giamatti looks like he's dressed in character, so is it safe to assume that Cusak is too and they are filming at Oceanway?  I'm very surprised that Cusak-as-Brian isn't using more makeup to make him look at least a little like Brian??

[Micha]

I don't know why people think I was calling Melinda Wilson ugly, because I wasn't. I just was saying she's not a woman who pushes her "sexy" side. Women come in different types. There are women who have good looks who become Playboy models and TV actresses and play up their sexiness, and there are other good-looking women who become things such as TV journalists, or real estate and car salespersons. Melinda is more of the latter type. Even when she was a model, she was a store model showing off expensive designer dresses in Beverly Hills boutiques (tasteful, and a sort of sales job), not a Victoria's Secret catalog model or car show model.

If I were to choose an actress who would have made a good Melinda Wilson, but the actress isn't old enough yet, it would be Jennifer Lawrence. She radiates self-confidence and competence. Melinda is a strong, practical, no-nonsense type of woman, I think that's what I was driving at.  That's not exactly an insult.  

Well, I didn't think what you wrote was offensive.

[Micha]

Who's that guy playing Al in this picture? He looks pretty real!

[ThyRavenAscend]

I think people are a little too hung up on how little these actors look like the people they're portraying.  For all I care, it can be Denzel Washington playing Brian...it doesn't matter.  It's about the story and the events that these characters go through in the film that define them.   The actors are nothing more than a vague representation of the person they're portraying.  I'm not going to enjoy this film any more if they cloned Brian Wilson to play himself in the movie.  In the end, it's his journey that is the focus not whether the actor playing Brian has his double chin.

Agreed (for the most part): I'd rather have a quality actor than a lackluster doppelganger.  However, I do hope that there will be some editing done (lighting, color correction, etc.) that makes Cusack look a bit more like Brian.

[jeffcdo]

It occurred to me looking at these pics that Cusak doesn't look like Brian but he does look like an older Paul Dano.

So there's that.

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

Who's that guy playing Al in this picture? He looks pretty real!

I'd feel super awkward if I were Paul Giamatti...portraying this person who you know had such a negative and complicated impact on Brian's life, right in the same room as Brian.

[bringahorseinhere?]

maybe awkward....... but he was the only one who did get through to Brian........ and saved his life perhaps......

what's that worth?

RickB

[RangeRoverA1]

I'd feel super awkward if I were Paul Giamatti...portraying this person who you know had such a negative and complicated impact on Brian's life, right in the same room as Brian.

Why that? On the contrary, it's a big honor for Giamatti to play the villain because most of the time it's not the easiest role that takes a lot of effort & acting skills to convince the audience in their negativity, make people hate them etc. That's the reason many actors receive the Oscar for playing namely antagonists. I myself find them the most interesting characters in films.

2KittyKat: I checked up that Jennifer Lawrence actress & didn't see any similarities with Melinda. Or maybe I missed sth. & there are actually several actresses with such name? Since it happens sometimes?

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

I'd feel super awkward if I were Paul Giamatti...portraying this person who you know had such a negative and complicated impact on Brian's life, right in the same room as Brian.

Why that? On the contrary, it's a big honor for Giamatti to play the villain because most of the time it's not the easiest role that takes a lot of effort & acting skills to convince the audience in their negativity, make people hate them etc. That's the reason many actors receive the Oscar for playing namely antagonists. I myself find them the most interesting characters in films.

...

It is an honor, and I don't mean that Giamatti would feel awkward in general, just that first moment meeting Brian in character.  I mean, if I met somebody dressed up as a person from my past that I had a complicated, emotional relationship with, it would be a little..."Oh, Hi."