Trailer Link

Release Date:

June 5, 2015

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “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.”

Poster: B / C-

Review: (#1) Very reminiscent of the style of posters that would have accompanied films set in the era of the Beach Boys, it’s a tad simplistic and doesn’t speak very effectively to the film’s themes. (#2) This is very rudimentary, using a still image that has been going around for months that also doesn’t have much bearing on the film’s premise.

Trailer: C+ / B+

Review: (#1) Opening a film like this with a faint touch on the more complex themes at play makes it seem like a generic “boy band” biopic that might have a touch of drama, but nothing anyone would care about watching. (#2) Then when you create a trailer like this, you get a whole other experience showing this as more of a dual timeline story that explores the mental struggles of a legendary musician and the dangerous situations around him. Much more effective.

Oscar Prospects:

Paul Dano and John Cusack are strong contenders for Oscar nominations, the rest of the film probably won’t be.

Revisions:

(May 17, 2015) Original