LOVE & MERCY

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. — IMDB

Found this one to be quite disjointed, although that does reflect the nature of Wilson’s life. The acting is good (except, perhaps, for Paul Giamatti’s portrayal of Eugene Landy which seemed a bit over the top) and the structure of the story, as we watch the younger Wilson alongside the later one, helps to draw links from his early life and what happens to him later. It’s a tragic, depressing story, even though Wilson still writes and performs today. He has been exploited and abused by those he should have been able to trust. This is not a mainstream movie so watch it if you have a particular interest in in knowing more about Wilson and his relationship to the Beach Boys.