There's a lot of history packed in here... but director Bill Pohald is just as interested in exploring Wilson's creative process...

| Nov 18, 2023

“Love & Mercy” is a very inward-looking biopic. It is much more interested in showing the inner brilliance of Brian Wilson on a creative level as well as the mental and emotional turmoil that sends his life careening out of control.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 23, 2022

A creepy, terrific performance from Paul Giamatti as the controlling, manipulative Landy.

| Dec 6, 2021

A terrifying but humane portrait of mental illness and a fascinating glimpse into the creative process of one of history's greatest musicians.

| Original Score: B+ | Aug 10, 2021

Both actors do a great job, the film does justice to the genius of the music and this sad story compelled me to delve into a world of Wilson research.

| Aug 10, 2021

Unfortunately, Love and Mercy makes little effort to grapple with the postwar social climate and conditions in America that produced such an extraordinary figure. This helps account for the movie's relative thinness.

| Aug 11, 2020

I liked this movie.

| Apr 28, 2020

I liked that it was out of the box... It did try to do something different and it affected me.

| Apr 28, 2020

If anything, the film is a loving tribute to the Beach Boys, giving us insight into the bizarre details of the groups' struggles and triumphs.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Jan 22, 2020

With a substantive story, a passionate cast and crew, and an experimental eye and ear, Pohlad has crafted one of the best movies of the year.

| Jan 10, 2020

While this feature-film biopic brings higher aspirations to the table, it doesn't always rise to the occasion demanded by its fascinating subject.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 10, 2019

Unfortunately creative producer and financier Bill Pohlad's revisit to the directorial role becomes a bit of a long and hard slog, regrettably warped by excess.

| Original Score: 2/5 | May 16, 2019

It could have played it safe but it tries things and when it works I loved it.

| Original Score: B- | Apr 26, 2019

Love & Mercy glides forward gracefully, flitting from side to side between the two time periods like a well handled hockey puck. Its shape doesn't resemble any biopic I've ever seen, and that's its strongest quality.

| Original Score: 8.5/10 | Mar 13, 2019

Director Bill Pohlad intricately weaves together the two Brians into a seamless tale.

| Feb 5, 2019

What takes "Love and Mercy" into the territory of greatness is the two leads -- Dano and Cusack.

| Original Score: A | Jan 23, 2019

Love & Mercy is always interesting, but it's only occasionally illuminating.

| Original Score: B | Dec 14, 2018

My only beef would be the casting of Elizabeth Banks, who lacks a certain depth the role requires. Other than that, it's two hours of great music and great acting.

| Original Score: 8/10 | Nov 14, 2018

Its deepest truth isn't the stuff of tell-all biography: the movie shows the kind of personal obsession and hard work that goes into a seemingly carefree pop masterpiece.

| Aug 29, 2018

The film's discrepancies ... make for a disorienting journey that may be better spent listening to Pet Sounds one more time.

| Aug 27, 2018