Great concept but the storyline didn't flow well. 5/10

Rating: 5/10 (31 January 2016)

Review: This movie gives an insight into the imaginative mind of Brian Wilson, who made all of the hit songs for the Beach Boys. I did find the initial story quite interesting and his methods of putting together a unique song, we're pure genius but I did find this movie slightly boring in parts. There is a deep emotional undertone, especially when Brian is being controlled by his therapist but I would have liked to have seen the 3 periods of his life, connected to each other. Anyway, the movie kicks off with the Beach Boys enjoying there huge, chart topping success and numerous hits during the 1960s. While the group is on a plane during a tour, the songwriter/singer of the group, Brian Wilson (Paul Dano), has a panic attack and decides not to go on anymore tours. He then promises his fellow members that he is going to create the ultimate album, Pet Sounds and he goes into the studio with accomplished musicians to make a new sound whilst battling against the voices in his head. He also has a troubled relationship with his father, who they sacked as there manager earlier on in there career and he constantly seeks for approval from him, which he doesn't receive. The movie then goes ahead of time, to the 1980s, when Brian Wilson (John Cusack) is shown to be a broken, confused man whose under the pharmacological and legal thrall of his abusive therapist Dr. Eugene Landy (Paul Giamatti). He then meets an attractive saleswoman, Melinda Ledbetter (Elizabeth Banks) whilst buying a car and after numerous dates together, she soon realises that Eugene has complete control of his life and that he doesn't let Brian make any decisions about what he can do. She also questions his medication and delves into the legal side of disconnecting the therapists services, which she thinks is causing Brian harm. After finding some compelling evidence, which she uses to take Eugene to court, they have a heated argument at the showroom, were Melinda stands up for herself and shows that she isn't scared of him. The movie then shows how Brian got into such a state, because of the constant voices in his head and his new found drug of choice, LSD. The group also find it hard to understand Brian's musical vision and when his dad sells the rights to there music, it pushes Brian over the edge. It's a touching storyline which does hit some emotional strings but I did find it a bit messy in parts. There isn't much flow to the film, because it goes back and forth in time and it doesn't finish what subject it has started but the acting is top form from Dano and Cusack. I would like to watch a more detailed movie about this musical genius because he certainly had a unique approach to making music, surrounded by the problems in his life. I'm glad to see that he did make a life with Melinda who, more or less, saved his life and the fact that they got married and had kids together, really does prove that everything happens for a reason. As for this movie, I did learn more about Brain Wilson but the script could do with a rewrite. Average!
Round-Up: This is the first movie directed by Bill Pohlad who also produced Brokeback Mountain, A Prairie Companion, Fur, Into The Wild, the Runaways, Fair Game, the weird Tree of Life, 12 Years a Slave and Wild. He also produced Time Out of Mind, which is due to come out this year, starring Richard Gere so he's mostly known for producing movies. As he hasn't got that much experience behind the camera, he didn't do a bad job with this film but I personally think that he shouldn't have taken on a project about an iconic musician as his debut. With that aside, it made some money at the box office and he managed to get some decent actors on board so he can only learn from this experience.
Budget: N/A Worldwide Gross: $28.6million
I recommend this movie to people who are into their biography/drama/music movies starring Paul Dano, John Cusack, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti and Jake Abel. 5/10