One genre of film that never seems to fall out of favor is the music biopic. Stories of incredible talent, rocketing stardom, followed by the inevitable fall from grace are always popular in Hollywood, but 2014 was something of a mixed bag with Get On Up probably the best. This year is shaping up to be better with the arrival of Love & Mercy, a redemptive story about troubled Beach Boys leader, Brian Wilson.
Directed by Bill Pohlad, a producer on The Tree of Life, the film has Paul Dano as the younger, creatively gifted Wilson, while John Cusack plays him as an older, broken man suffering from severe mental instability and drug abuse. Wilson paid the high price of such incredible success, but his story is actually a happy one. Paul Giamatti plays Dr. Landy, the man who exploited Wilson's personal demons for his own benefit, while Elizabeth Banks is Wilson's wife Melinda who helped him get back on track.
Love & Mercy opens June 5th.
