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Love & Mercy Blu-ray Review

By Rachel Cericola

The Film

Brian Wilson isn't exactly the typical music maker, so it would make sense that he wouldn't have a conventional biopic.

This larger-than-life personality is just too big for one actor. So in Love & Mercy, director Bill Pohlad uses two leads to portray the tortured singer, songwriter and co-founder of the Beach Boys.

It does take a few minutes to get past the flip-flop between time periods and actors, especially when Paul Dano looks remarkably like Wilson and John Cusack looks like, well... Cusack. However, after just a few minutes, Cusack seems transformed. He has the voice, mannerisms and depth down pat.

At times, Love & Mercy plays like two separate films, but not because of the two leads. It's because there's more than enough material to feature. In fact, the movie doesn't waste too much of its 122-minute runtime covering Wilson's upbringing, instead opting to jump back and forth between two specific periods. Dano takes on 1960s Beach Boys mania, the drug use, the insane (and insanely interesting) process of Pet Sounds, the conflicts with his brothers and cousin Mike Love, as well as Wilson's initial breakdowns. That action intertwines with the 1980s, when he (Cusack) meets his second wife Melinda (Elizabeth Banks), all while under the heavily guarded care of Eugene Landy (the always awesome Paul Giamatti).

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Paul Dano stars as the 1960s-era Brian Wilson in "Love & Mercy." Photo courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

Love & Mercy leaves a lot of unanswered questions, but is a fascinating look nonetheless. The film's depiction of Pet Sounds, Wilson's work with the Wrecking Crew, and the unique ways he brought the sounds in his head to life (bobby pins on piano stings?) all stand out, as do the performances of Dano and Cusack. Wilson's life certainly wasn't all fun, fun, fun, but this film is an absolute must-see.

Would it be nice to read another take on this film? Check out Lexi Feinberg's theatrical review of Love & Mercy.

The Picture

Director Bill Pohlad didn't just use two actors, but also meshes 35mm and 16mm shots in this film. Some of the older footage flickers and appears grainy to depict the time period. Everything else is downright fantastic. The 1.78:1 image has a bevy of bright colors, whether the action is poolside, in the studio, out to sea, or in the middle of a car dealership. The 1980s era looks particularly great. Elizabeth Banks' blue dress really pops and there is a lot of detail on those closeups, most notably on John Cusack's face.

The Sound

Ever wonder what it sounds like inside the head of a musical genius? This DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track gets you pretty darn close. It starts off with immersive music, which carries throughout the film. This shouldn't be surprising, given the subject matter. (Although some of those recording sessions are just awesome.) What is a bit jarring are some of the other moments, such as the episode at the dinner party and the moment when Wilson puts on the headphones in the recording studio. The sound delivers the sheer insanity of the moment and the man. There are plenty of other atmospheric sounds, with the plane and parties standing out. Also, dialogue is always crystal-clear. My one nit-pick is that I would have loved a Dolby Atmos track for this movie. It's not an action-heavy movie like a lot of Atmos-enhanced selections, but the idea of having both the manic and musical moments completely surround the listener is an intriguing one.

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The Extras

Besides deleted scenes, Love & Mercy includes some decent extras, especially when you consider that this is a smaller release. There's a full-length audio commentary that's chock full of interesting tidbits about the movie and a piece about the "look" of the film, which whips through the locations and costumes in about 10 minutes. "A-Side/B-Side: Portraying the Life of Brian Wilson" combines clips from the film and Wilson's actual life and interviews with the cast, crew, Wilson and his wife Melinda.

Final Thoughts

Love & Mercy isn't a comprehensive biopic, but it sure is an interesting one. Some may be surprised that the Beach Boys aren't a main focus here, but Brian Wilson is a fascinating individual with a life that's worthy of the spotlight. The performances here are stellar and the subject matter is truly captivating. Adding to the whole experience is an excellent AV presentation, from the various styles of film used to the immersive soundtrack. If you're a fan or just a fan of biopics, this would be one to add to your collection.

Product Details

  • Actors: John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti
  • Director: Bill Pohlad
  • Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), Dolby Digital 5.1 (Spanish)
  • Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Rating: PG-13
  • Studio: Lionsgate
  • Blu-ray Disc Release Date: September 15, 2015
  • Run Time: 122 minutes
  • List Price: $24.99
  • Extras:
    • Feature Commentary with Bill Pohlad (Director/Producer) and Oren Moverman (Executive Producer/Co-Writer)
    • A California Story: Creating the Look of Love & Mercy
    • A-Side/B-Side: Portraying the Life of Brian Wilson
    • Deleted Scenes
    • Also from Lionsgate
    • UltraViolet Digital Copy

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