Thoughts on 'Love and Mercy'

In looking at the possible movies that I could see this weekend (I see a movie in the theater every week, almost without exception), I was pleasantly surprised that Love and Mercy, a film that I had been wanting to see, was playing at my local Harkins theater.  This was the only wide release that was in my wheelhouse (Spy and Insidous 3 are NOT my cup of herbal tea).  Also, through pure Serendipity, I was able to sit next to some good friends.  

You have probably not even heard of this movie, so I will post the synopsis and trailer here before posting my thoughts. 

Synopsis: 

In the 1960s, Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson struggles with emerging psychosis as he attempts to craft his avant-garde pop masterpiece. In the 1980s, he is a broken, confused man under the 24-hour watch of shady therapist Dr. Eugene Landy.

And finally, my thoughts:

• This movie SUPERBLY acted.  It's my favorite performances of both Elizabeth Banks and John Cusack.  One of the friends I saw it with (we'll call him N. Cooley...or maybe just Nate C.) thought that Cusack tried too hard, but I disagreed.  Also, Paul Dano delivers an Oscar-worthy performance as a younger Brian Wilson.  
• This film could probably be placed in the category of 'Oscar Bait.'  I doubt it's going to get a strong push by its studio, but it still feels like an Oscar play.  3/5 of the last Best Picture winners were bio-pics, had strong acting, and didn't have wide audience appeal.
• My friends and I were the youngest kids in the theater, probably by at least 10 years.  It looks like it was marketed to the right crowd.  
• About half the movie takes place in the mid-1980s, and as such the clothes worn by Elizabeth Banks were just amazing.  Her massive 80's belt deserved its own headline in the credits.
• The music scenes (i.e. the scenes where Brian and/or the Beach Boys are recording, creating, or performing) are simply magical.  They were the best part of the film.
• The movie got me really curious about the history of the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson.  I had no idea that the Beach Boys were so influential.  I also didn't know that Brian Wilson was such a genius.  
• After seeing it, I came home and read up on his story because the movie left a lot of unanswered questions, IMO.  It turns out that, like most bio-pics, a lot of the plot points were based on conjecture rather than solid fact.  This practice usually doesn't bother me, but the film wasn't good enough to make me not care about its historicity.  Argo, The King's Speech, or The Social Network are all such good movies that it didn't matter to me if they took leaps.
• The movie does raise mental illness awareness, I think, which is a good thing. 
• However, it never rises to be a particular great movie, overall.  It's worth seeing for the music, the acting, and the fascinating history of Brian Wilson, but I wouldn't say rush out and see it.

Overall I gave it 3/5 Disco Balls. 

Parents Guide:

It doesn't have any nudity, but there is one scene where they run around in some bed sheets.  It has LOTS of drug use.