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“Love & Mercy” — the Brian Wilson biopic: If you’re a fan of Brian Wilson, if you’ve been a victim of abuse, or both this is a must see.

I’ve known about Brian Wilson’s story for a long time but to see it come to life was both magical and painful. It deeply moved me.

At first I thought it would bother me that two different actors played Brian but both Paul Dano and John Cusack were so spot on as Wilson. I actually ended up liking that aspect of it. It’s really two films in one, a double helix woven together, “pre-bed” & “post-bed.”

Pet Sounds & Smile are two of the greatest masterpieces in music history. I would say, they top anything by the Beatles & I also love The Beatles. I know first hand how painful making a record can be but Brian really had his work cut out for him. “The Wrecking Crew” (a super group of LA sessions musicians who had ghost recorded everything from Sinatra to Sonny & Cher—EVERYTHING & that’s not an exaggeration) was more impressed by Wilson than any other musician they’d worked with before (even Phil Spector) yet people closest to Brian routinely tore him down during the process. In fact, they gutted him so much that the “SMILE” album, a kaleidoscope of swirling, spellbinding sounds, was shelved and abandoned for years.

Brian mainly suffered abuse from his father, Mike Love (his cousin) and then later, Dr.Eugene Landy (his psycho psychiatrist). Watching these three monsters torment Wilson in the movie felt so real. Again, all three actors were dead on to how I envisioned they were in life. It was heartbreaking to see this guy that I completely idolize being eaten alive. It reminded me, if it can happen to Brian Wilson it can happen to anyone.

I don’t really want to get into it but I, like millions of others, have been a victim of abuse. When it happens to you, you wonder what the heck is wrong with me that people think it’s OK to treat me this way? You begin to think, “maybe this is what I deserve?” You disengage and isolate yourself to avoid getting hurt. I could really relate to Wilson’s struggle. All he wants to do is make art and people around him are just constantly berating him, DEVALUING him & most importantly trying to CONTROL him. That’s the trifecta right there. A lot of times abuse can be violent or sexual too but no one should underestimate the trifecta just because the scars aren’t visible. It hurts.

In the film, Melinda Ledbetter, played by Elizabeth Banks, emerges like an angel. Through her, Wilson begins to trust and love again. Things could’ve gone so many other ways for Wilson but he managed to transcend. One can take solace in the fact that Brian Wilson, the coolest, most talented guy on the planet, became a victim. It didn’t happen because he was a bad person but because he was true to himself & true to his art and the jerks couldn’t handle it. He was nice & he let the jerks get too close. The fact is, when you’re brave enough to really put yourself out there, you’re going to have people trying to destroy you. Bullies may be close friends or even family but we learn from Wilson’s struggle that it’s best to extract those people from your life.

If you’re being abused please know that you’re not alone.

Bless you, Brian Wilson. Five Stars.  

My only critique of the film: Not nearly enough Van Dyke Parks! <3 

Twyla Tharp is my spirit animal.

“Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.”

“I had always seen myself as a star; I wanted to be a galaxy.“

“Tomorrow-Rama” illustrated by Bruce McCall