"Love & Mercy" - Board member reviews and discussion

[RangeRoverA1]

Pohlad could have had Brian yell and wave at her from the corner, like the way he yelled out her name to find her on their first date , but that might have been too comical for that moment in the movie. Walking out in front of the car is more dramatic, and does speak to the impulsive quality.

Brian's friend Ray Lawlor who used to post here said sth. to effect that everything in the film is real except Melinda's dress. The director discussed the script with her. Brian said that he did indeed walk out in front of Melinda's car. So it's not "dramatic" move. But you're right that some of the movie bits weren't accurate, f.ex. chronology of events such as Murry's selling of SOT etc.

[Scaroline No]

Pohlad could have had Brian yell and wave at her from the corner, like the way he yelled out her name to find her on their first date , but that might have been too comical for that moment in the movie. Walking out in front of the car is more dramatic, and does speak to the impulsive quality.

Brian's friend Ray Lawlor who used to post here said sth. to effect that everything in the film is real except Melinda's dress. The director discussed the script with her. Brian said that he did indeed walk out in front of Melinda's car.

...and there's that "oof". Thanks for clarifying.

[Bicyclerider]

I've seen the movie twice, and despite the fact I'm a Brianista to the max, I did not like it.  Paul Dano looks the part but to me his acting was bad bad bad, the studio scenes and after when Hal is telling him how great he is - he acts so tentative, like he's uncertain about what he's doing.  We know how confident and in control Brian was in the studio during Pet Sounds, but Dano doesn't play him like that at all, he's a complete wimp, unsure of himself.  He looks this way and that, trying to look distracted or withdrawn or a little "crazy" and you can see he's "acting" it doesn't ring true it's not believable.

The jumping back and forth between the PS/Smile and Lamdy eras was a horrible idea, it only confused things and added nothing to the story - just tell it in order ferchrissake.  I thought Cusak actually did a better job than Dano, the opposite of the accepted wisdom, and Banks did a great job as well, plus Giamotti was brilliant as Landy.  This was the better half of the movie but unfortunately it was all cut up and juxtaposed with the lame cliched scenes from PS and Smile.  I know this film was made with the best intentions from all involved but for me it was obvious and cliched and poorly acted and poorly constructed and written.  I really wanted to love it but didn't.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I've seen the movie twice, and despite the fact I'm a Brianista to the max, I did not like it.  Paul Dano looks the part but to me his acting was bad bad bad, the studio scenes and after when Hal is telling him how great he is - he acts so tentative, like he's uncertain about what he's doing.  We know how confident and in control Brian was in the studio during Pet Sounds, but Dano doesn't play him like that at all, he's a complete wimp, unsure of himself.  He looks this way and that, trying to look distracted or withdrawn or a little "crazy" and you can see he's "acting" it doesn't ring true it's not believable.

The jumping back and forth between the PS/Smile and Lamdy eras was a horrible idea, it only confused things and added nothing to the story - just tell it in order ferchrissake.  I thought Cusak actually did a better job than Dano, the opposite of the accepted wisdom, and Banks did a great job as well, plus Giamotti was brilliant as Landy.  This was the better half of the movie but unfortunately it was all cut up and juxtaposed with the lame cliched scenes from PS and Smile.  I know this film was made with the best intentions from all involved but for me it was obvious and cliched and poorly acted and poorly constructed and written.  I really wanted to love it but didn't.

I disagree about not liking it (hell, I love it) but I do agree that I prefer Cusack's performance...he NAILED it...from the walk, to little tics that he did, everything .

[RangeRoverA1]

That's the fun of reading reviews - different perception by different people.

[Rocker]

In case anyone's interested, the movie will be shown tonight on german TV:

https://www.rbb-online.de/fernsehen/programm/