Love & Mercy Blu-Ray/DVD Official thread

[sea of tunes]

I wonder what are the chances that a UK German, French, Japanese release of the Blu-ray/DVD extras are different than the U.S.? There are, after all, different distributors and companies involved in releasing the film in different countries and territories. In the UK it was Sony, in Germany it was Studio Canal, etc.

Hoping that our friends from around the globe weigh in here as the BD/DVD is announced and released in your country of origin.

[CenturyDeprived]

Regarding the Blu-ray itself...anybody having any navigation issues with it? On my setup I cannot bypass the previews at all unless I actually zip through them or skip the chapters manually (and zip through the last one), and I can't for the life of me get to the main menu without stopping and starting (and therefore basically going all the way back as if the thing had just been loaded)....

None of my other BDs do that...

It's super annoying, but many studios intentionally author their discs in this way. It's wildly inconsistent from studio to studio, but some of them will lock out all ability to bypass the startup sequence/logos/trailers, or will lock out certain remote bypassing functions (and not others). It's like, "you're gonna watch this logo/trailer, and you're gonna LIKE it, dammit!"

Also, if the disc is a BD-Java disc, that involves more complicated programming (which takes longer to load) - you'll know if it's Java if there is a load screen. Best advice is to use a Sony PS3 which is the fastest BD player by far, but any functions that are locked out intentionally in authoring will remain locked out on all players.

I still haven't bought the disc, so I'll have to see how it is myself.

[Paul J B]

Finally watched the Blu ray last night. A few thoughts worth mention.

I saw it twice in the theater and thought it would lose a lot at home but it held up just fine.

The acting......John Cusack did an outstanding job. I don't think enough people realize that his performance was every bit as excellent as Dano's. I was channel surfing a few days ago and saw a few minutes of an older Cusack film, Con -Air, and it really hit home the fact that Cusack as Brian seemed like Brian. He did not seem like Cusack at all as some people suggest. Banks also does an outstanding job and the chemistry between her and Cusack is perfect. Giamatti as Landy was on the money. The scenes where he is yelling at Brian remind me of the way I imagine things might have been when Brian was on Letterman to promote his first solo record, and Letterman kept saying "up next Brian Wilson" until at the very end of the show Brian finally came out literally shaking. Not saying Landy was screaming at Brian back stage for an hour to get out there but its sure believable that he could have been.

The outakes...I really wish the IGA session with Murry could have stayed in the film. I know it would have been overkill, and there were other scenes that drove home his overbearing personality, but that scene again seemed like lost footage that was found. For those of us familiar with the HMR audio it was really something to see it acted out. That scene was really SPOT ON.

Having followed Brian and the Beach Boys for decades, and being there in '99 when he hit the road with Darrian, Taylor, Jeff, ect., when Brian sings L&M at the end it leaves me knowing that this film got it right. Its an excellent movie.

Will watch the other special features soon.

[bonnevillemariner]

I rented the DVD from Red Box last night.  Wife fell dozed off several times and lamented the fact that I paid $1.60 to rent it.  I really loved the attention to detail, the cinematography, and of course the soundtrack. 

The one thing that bugged me was Dano's singing.  Not a horrible singer, but he quite clearly has a different vocal range than Brian did.  He's clearly uncomfortable trying to hit some of those notes.  The transitions to real Brian are good, but I think they should have occurred earlier for each piece.  The missus, who isn't even a casual Beach Boys fan, was quick to point out the discrepancy between Dano's singing voice and Brian's. 

[HeyJude]

I rented the DVD from Red Box last night.  Wife fell dozed off several times and lamented the fact that I paid $1.60 to rent it.  I really loved the attention to detail, the cinematography, and of course the soundtrack. 

The one thing that bugged me was Dano's singing.  Not a horrible singer, but he quite clearly has a different vocal range than Brian did.  He's clearly uncomfortable trying to hit some of those notes.  The transitions to real Brian are good, but I think they should have occurred earlier for each piece.  The missus, who isn't even a casual Beach Boys fan, was quick to point out the discrepancy between Dano's singing voice and Brian's. 

The trade-off in having the actor sing on screen is that it doesn't immediately look like a lip-sync job. I'd rather have the on-set audio. Nobody is going to sound like 1966 Brian. His singing voice was about as similar to Brian's singing voice as his speaking voice is, or his facial similarity is.

It’s just part of the suspension of disbelief in watching a dude in 2013/14/15 pretending to be 1966 Brian Wilson. 

[bonnevillemariner]

I don't think I would be as bugged if I hadn't read for months about how awesome Dano's voice was and how thrilled the crew was to discover that he was a 'musician.'  "He starts singing and we subtly fly Brian's voice in, and it's freaking spectacular!!!" (Paraphrasing.)

Nah.  Actually not.  I would have preferred either a quicker transition or a full-on lip sync.

[Paul J B]

A couple of other things .... When Brian and Melinda are in the Cadillac and close the door that SOUND is incredible. It really sounds like they are in a car and just closed the doors. Not just the background music Kenny g being cut off, the dialog between the two is louder and totally different as it would be in a closed space. That is GREAT attention to detail. There is also engine noise from the plane when Brian has his attack. Almost every scene in a plane from every movie there is...they leave out the engine noise. Really great attention to detail all over this film.

[Marty Castillo]

I rented the DVD from Red Box last night.  Wife fell dozed off several times and lamented the fact that I paid $1.60 to rent it.  I really loved the attention to detail, the cinematography, and of course the soundtrack. 

The one thing that bugged me was Dano's singing.  Not a horrible singer, but he quite clearly has a different vocal range than Brian did.  He's clearly uncomfortable trying to hit some of those notes.  The transitions to real Brian are good, but I think they should have occurred earlier for each piece.  The missus, who isn't even a casual Beach Boys fan, was quick to point out the discrepancy between Dano's singing voice and Brian's. 

The trade-off in having the actor sing on screen is that it doesn't immediately look like a lip-sync job. I'd rather have the on-set audio. Nobody is going to sound like 1966 Brian. His singing voice was about as similar to Brian's singing voice as his speaking voice is, or his facial similarity is.

It’s just part of the suspension of disbelief in watching a dude in 2013/14/15 pretending to be 1966 Brian Wilson. 

This is my biggest gripe with the film "Inside Llewyn Davis". Amazing soundtrack. The lead actor, Oscar Isaac, competently sings the songs, but all the songs in the film are lip synced (it's been a while, maybe a couple were recorded live on set).

[bonnevillemariner]

A couple of other things .... When Brian and Melinda are in the Cadillac and close the door that SOUND is incredible. It really sounds like they are in a car and just closed the doors. Not just the background music Kenny g being cut off, the dialog between the two is louder and totally different as it would be in a closed space. That is GREAT attention to detail. There is also engine noise from the plane when Brian has his attack. Almost every scene in a plane from every movie there is...they leave out the engine noise. Really great attention to detail all over this film.

Another example is the cinematography in the opening montage of the BBs career up to Pet Sounds.  I'm a hobbyist filmmaker and the attention to detail there blows my mind.  The film effects change as the years are portrayed.  Those sequences truly look like they were filmed in the early 60's with vintage equipment. 

Question: I'm sure I'll get flamed for not seeing this on page 45 of some 300 page thread, but did they film the recording scenes in the actual studios where Pet Sounds/GV/Smile were recorded, or were those sets?  If the latter, can anybody comment on the historical accuracy of the rooms/layouts?

[Paul J B]

A couple of other things .... When Brian and Melinda are in the Cadillac and close the door that SOUND is incredible. It really sounds like they are in a car and just closed the doors. Not just the background music Kenny g being cut off, the dialog between the two is louder and totally different as it would be in a closed space. That is GREAT attention to detail. There is also engine noise from the plane when Brian has his attack. Almost every scene in a plane from every movie there is...they leave out the engine noise. Really great attention to detail all over this film.

Another example is the cinematography in the opening montage of the BBs career up to Pet Sounds.  I'm a hobbyist filmmaker and the attention to detail there blows my mind.  The film effects change as the years are portrayed.  Those sequences truly look like they were filmed in the early 60's with vintage equipment. 

Question: I'm sure I'll get flamed for not seeing this on page 45 of some 300 page thread, but did they film the recording scenes in the actual studios where Pet Sounds/GV/Smile were recorded, or were those sets?  If the latter, can anybody comment on the historical accuracy of the rooms/layouts?

Yes that opening montage is a mind blower. And yes they filmed scenes where pet sounds was cut. They had to recreate the interior to a great degree as it had changed but the recreations were insanely dead on accurate. It has been covered here in length and elsewhere.

[Emily]

[quote author=Paul J B link=topic=22420.msg540817#msg540817 date=1443032928

The acting......John Cusack did an outstanding job. I don't think enough people realize that his performance was every bit as excellent as Dano's
[/quote]
I'm glad to see at least one person agrees with me. I was nervous that 80's Brian would be really hard to portray without seeming like a caricature but I thought Cusack actually did a really subtle performance that conveyed the right emotion and sensibility without being an impersonation. Dano, who I also thought was excellent, came a little too close to impersonation to me at times. His head dipping was a little distracting.

[Sam_BFC]

Why can't I order this thing in the UK? :/

[Aomdiddlywalla]

Why can't I order this thing in the UK? :/

q

GOOD question !

[Cool Cool Water]

Why can't I order this thing in the UK? :/

Still no release date via Amazon for Blu-Ray or DVD. 

[Paul J B]

[quote author=Paul J B link=topic=22420.msg540817#msg540817 date=1443032928

The acting......John Cusack did an outstanding job. I don't think enough people realize that his performance was every bit as excellent as Dano's

I'm glad to see at least one person agrees with me. I was nervous that 80's Brian would be really hard to portray without seeming like a caricature but I thought Cusack actually did a really subtle performance that conveyed the right emotion and sensibility without being an impersonation. Dano, who I also thought was excellent, came a little too close to impersonation to me at times. His head dipping was a little distracting.

[/quote]

Actually quite a few others felt the same way about Cusack if you sift through the pages of the original L&M threads. I mention it again because after several viewings now, its very clear that without John's excellent performance that this movie would have been a flop no matter how good Paul Dano was. Brian's second chance after getting away from over ten years of Landy's control, and going out on the road thanks in large part to Melinda, really happened. It's fact....not fantasia as one bitter old...well you know. Brian could of died so many times along the way but he did not. We had the Smile tour, 2012, No Pier Pressure and a lot more because 80's Brian defied the odds.

*somehting wrong with the quote box

[37!ws]

Honest to God, when I watch the movie, I forget that I'm watching John Cusack. He really did an excellent job. Especially the line "I'm hungry, Gene!"

[TonyW]

Release in the land of Oz slated for 28 October ... and check out this promotional offer from JB Hi Fi (Oz's largest audio visual retailer):

https://www.jbhifi.com.au/lovemercy-comp/

Mike and Bruce using Brian to promote their shows ... 

[Sandy Baby]

The moment for me

Paul Dano singing "Surf's Up" as it transitions to the "Fire" studio session.


"I heard the word, wonderful thing, a children's song."





Thanks to everyone for this film.

[guitarfool2002]

Release in the land of Oz slated for 28 October ... and check out this promotional offer from JB Hi Fi (Oz's largest audio visual retailer):

https://www.jbhifi.com.au/lovemercy-comp/

Mike and Bruce using Brian to promote their shows ... 

The contest is to give away free tickets to see Mike and Bruce offered to those who pre-order the Love & Mercy DVD through this retailer.

Might I offer another contest to run alongside this one: Make the grand prize be a private screening of the film with the contest winner having the chance to watch it with Mike and Bruce in their hotel! All popcorn, soda, and snacks will be on the house. That way Mike and Bruce can finally get a chance to kick back and relax, take a two hour break and watch the film, and the lucky fan gets to hang out with them and eat free popcorn while watching the film...it's a win-win situation all around. 

[ontor pertawst]

 To sweeten the pot, Mike can record it and sell it as a commentary track where he spends 2 hours or so on variations of "what am I, chopped liver?" Bruce will adust the mic stand until his character says one line, then go back to adjusting the mic stand.

[guitarfool2002]

Who would be in charge of keeping the popcorn fresh and hot?

[ontor pertawst]

Jeff Foskett in an ascot, of course. Bring a touch of class to the proceedings.

[Rob Dean]

Why can't I order this thing in the UK? :/

q

GOOD question !

One reason possibly is the fact that it still showing in a few UK Cinemas

[Bean Bag]

I just watched the blu-ray tonight.  Been waiting for a quiet night to do just that. 

I'm busted up -- it was fantastic.  Ok, jotting down insta-thoughts here.... Brian's mind-gangster film, Brian Wilson porn, brilliantly constructed, incredible Oscar-caliber performances (because I know what those are!), Cusack is insanely good, Dano brilliant, Giamatti crushingly good as always, E Banks--astounding, sound design -- all there and genius, script, characters, screen-play 10, 10, 10!!

My God... how long have we been waiting for this!?

[Senator Blutarsky]

The attention to detail of the studio sessions was very impressive.