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Love & Mercy (2014)

PG-13  |   |  Biography, Drama, Music  |  19 June 2015 (USA)
7.5
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Ratings: 7.5/10 from 10,615 users   Metascore: 80/100
Reviews: 80 user | 207 critic | 40 from Metacritic.com

In the 1960s, Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson struggles with emerging psychosis as he attempts to craft his avant-garde pop masterpiece. In the 1980s, he is a broken, confused man under the 24-hour watch of shady therapist Dr. Eugene Landy.

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Title: Love & Mercy (2014)

Love & Mercy (2014) on IMDb 7.5/10

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Cast

Credited cast:
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Himself (archive footage)
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Hipster #1
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Bruce Johnston
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Van Dyke Parks
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Storyline

Brian Wilson is the creative soul of the Beach Boys, but he paid a heavy price for his talent. That especially shows during his peak artistic years in the 1960s, as his inner demons and obsessions trying to please his abusive father drive him to a mental breakdown that would plague him for years. In the 1980s, with Brian barely functional under the domination of the unscrupulous Dr. Landy, Brian meets and falls in love with Melinda Ledbetter. As their relationship grows, she observes Brian's crippling subservience to the abusive psychotherapist with growing alarm. Ultimately, she must take action with a love willing to stand up to oppression she cannot ignore. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com)

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

The Life, Love and Genius of Brian Wilson

Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, drug content and language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

| |  »

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

19 June 2015 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Ahava va'khesed  »

Filming Locations:

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Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$2,122,177 (USA) (5 June 2015)

Gross:

$12,547,189 (USA) (25 September 2015)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Bruce Johnston (Nick Gehlfuss), the Beach Boy who joined the band after Brian quit touring in 1965, appears briefly when the band returns from Japan. See more »

Goofs

When Brian talks about a Shanty album while inside the pool, by the end of the scene a crew member is reflected in the window behind him over his left shoulder. See more »

Quotes

Brian Past: [swimming in pool] I want to do a chanting album. Okay? No words. All Hawaiian thing. And we can turn it into a children's show for television - and it'll be completely unstructured - and it'll be about animals and eating right.
[sings]
Brian Past: Mahalo lu le, mahalo lu la, keeni waka pula. Everyone! Mahalo lu le, mahalo lu la...
See more »

Connections

References The T.A.M.I. Show (1964) See more »

Soundtracks

Surf's Up
Written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks
Performed by Paul Dano
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
This is the best music biopic since Immortal Beloved
7 June 2015 | by (New York State) – See all my reviews

It's almost impossible to portray the work involved in making a great song in a movie. Love and Mercy accomplishes that and so much more. It is an emotional juggernaut that every boomer should enjoy. Dano and Cusack nail the early and later Wilson. Elizabeth Banks holds the whole thing together with the "flash forwards" featuring her pitch-perfect performance.

The typical music biopic is a formula of rising star gets drugged out, falls from the pinnacle and either dies an early death or maybe makes a comeback after getting sober. This movie explains WHY all those things happened to Brian Wilson and does it with an unblinking eye. It treats the audience like they have brains.

This movie is not for the faint-hearted. It tells it like it was. Some very sad episodes, but an ending worth waiting for. Go see it.


15 of 19 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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Let's set things straight crusty50
don't you just love Paul dano pralhadxhrestha
My biggest problem with the film.. timdgd
John Cusack CowgirlUp94
What document did Melinda find? lorgurus
John Cusack looks NOTHING like Brian Wilson. prolia705
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