Not just good vibrations

Rating: 8/10 (16 July 2015)

I must admit I only went to see this film because I had seen everything else released in the last week (you don't get a lot of choice this time of the year!). I knew little about the Beach Boys but did grow up in the 1960-70s so had heard their pop songs quite a lot. This biographical film is mostly set in 2 eras of Brian Wilson's life , the mid 1960s and late 1980s, in a series of back and forth flashbacks. In the early years Brian Wilson is brilliantly played by Paul Dano (a future Oscar winner for sure) where we see how the Beach Boy's hits were constructed by Wilson and how this genius was troubled with mental health issues and exacerbated by illegal drug use. For music lovers , this is a great insight into how Brian broke new ground in music production to the point of obsessive compulsion for perfection. We don't see anything from the 1970s although they are mentioned occasionally to back up the fact that Brian went to a very bad place mentally. Jump to the late 1980s and Brian (now played by John Cusack) is under the control of Psychotherapist Eugene Landy who is played by Paul Giamatti you might think over the top but apparently Landy really was an excessive abusive control freak milking Brian Wilson of his fortune. Whilst out under supervision Brian meets Melinda Ledbetter very well played by Elizabeth Banks (Hunger Games) and they start a relationship much to the disapproval of Landy. Cusack is at his best for a long while as the troubled Wilson which was nice to see. The songs of the Beach Boys are very much in the background so don't expect wall to wall sounds of summer. This is one of the best biographies of the year and a must see even if you don't know of the Beach Boys, the main character performances are really good with the actors at the top of their game. This film inspired me to read up on the history of this fascinating story of Brian Wilson, which I think is a good measure of biographical movies. Go see it, its not all Good Vibrations but God only knows ? (sorry couldn't resist it)