imperfection is perfection
Sporadic film reviews by a wanna-be filmmaker
LOVE AND MERCY [2014]
Directed by Bill Pohlad
Written by Oren Moverman, Michael A. Lerner,
Starring: John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti
Is madness the key to genius?
While history often tries its best to say otherwise, I don’t believe the notion for a second. For every mentally ill genius, there are thousands of sufferers, experiencing their pain silently every day. What, if anything, does this movie add to the discussion?
I wasn’t familiar with Brian Wilson before seeing Love and Mercy, though like most I have heard their classics at some point, often while held captive in the back seat of a stinking hot family car.
However, this didn’t erode the power of the film, and despite a few missteps, it portrays Brian Wilson in an honest and confronting way. We can immediately see that something isn’t quite right with Brian as he awkwardly tries to talk to a car saleswoman, who later becomes an important part of his life.
The decision to show us two versions of Brian is a little jarring at first, but it quickly becomes a comfortable ebb and flow, the film effortlessly transitioning from earlier periods, when arguments began to grow within the band while Wilson’s health declined, to a later period in his life where he is medicated, under the care of a legal guardian, a doctor who has labelled him a paranoid schizophrenic – an illness that still carries a heavy stigma in today’s society. The film aggressively displays the stigma that was apparent around Brian in the 1980’s, as it quickly becomes questionable if this doctor is truly acting in Brian’s best interests. He takes it upon himself, for example, to warn the woman Brian met earlier of his illness, doing his best to scare the woman into the sunset.
The film accurately shows us that anyone with mental health issues needs support, and that support needs to be positive and not overwhelming. During the scenes based in the 1960’s, Paul Dano is incredible to watch as his character begins to hear things that no one else can hear, often looking terrified. I am epileptic, I can certainly understand what this is like, and the film portrays it in an unsettling, realistic fashion, using audio-editing to depict the auditory hallucinations; what Brian is hearing compared to everyone else. It gave me chills.
So does this movie perpetuate that old suggestion that madness can equal genius? I would say no. Rather, it shows us the support a person in this state needs. During the scenes based in the 60’s, there is no empathy or understanding, leaving Brian unsupported, his health wavering constantly. While he does speak of hearing melodies in his head, helping him to write music, one has to wonder: what if he wasn’t so ill?
Mental health almost always hinders a person’s life, whether it is going shopping or being creative. Would The Beach Boys have exploded into popularity if it weren’t for Brian’s illness? Given that the 60’s scenes are based after the band had sold albums, I think the movie is suggesting that his ill health wasn’t what made him great; if it is suggesting anything like this at all. Perhaps it is just a simple music biopic that I am reading too much into.
But hey, the film involves mental health, it is sure that my twisted epileptic mind will find things that perhaps aren’t there. What I am certain of is that the movie portrays unstable mental health in an understanding and not at all condescending way. Any film that pulls that off is a good film in my mind, not to mention the film has actually gotten me into their music. Win win, as they say.
12 Comments on “LOVE AND MERCY [2014]”
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imperfection is perfection 
Still need to see this. Sounds like a pretty good movie.
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Yeah man, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it
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Great review. I like how the auditory hallucinations were done in a way that the audience could get a glimpse of what was going on in his head. I’m glad to hear the film has gotten you into their music. I think the Beach Boy’s melodies and harmonies are memorable … definitely catchy.
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Yeah I’m watching youtube vids of them, great stuff. And yeah, I loved the sound editing, those hallucinations sounded very familiar to me
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Hey Jordan! I still need to catch up w/ this one. Bill Pohlad is a big patron of the arts here in Minnesota. He’s a huge producer too (Brokeback Mountain, Tree of Life) so it’s cool that he tried his hand at directing. Sounds like he did a wonderful job and the subject matter is intriguing as I love some of The Beach Boys’ songs.
P.S. I saw him and his wife and young boy a few times at this popular Pancake restaurant my hubby and I frequented, he seems like a very laid back and humble person despite being from a super wealthy family and stuff. The Pohlads are famous here in MN, they owned the Twins baseball team, among others.
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I didn’t know any of that about the director, thanks for sharing. This isn’t amazing or anything, but its a solid, solid movie. Paul Dano is the best thing about it, he is fantastic
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This was probably my favourite movie of 2015.
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Wow that is high praise! I enjoyed it a ton, I’m now getting myself into his music 😀
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wonderful review.. I enjoyed the movie a lot .. Being I was a big Beach Boys fan even as a child..I mean it’s kinda hard not to be in So, Cal.. 🙂 I knew a lot about them..stunning portrayal by Paul Dano and John Cusack was no fluke either.. just a well done film.
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Indeed. It’s become one of my faves from last year 😀
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