Movie, 2014

Brian Wilson biopic, focusing on both the recording of The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds and a period later in Wilson’s life and his relationship with a used car salesperson, whilst being shackled by a personal minder. The decision to have two actors playing Wilson pays off, with the different times in his life related, but almost inconceivably connected to the same man. The film is well acted, especially by the leads, and the story well-told, with all the familiar snippets of The Beach Boys history over the mid to late 60s richly filled out and almost sidelined by the concentration – Wilson’s and the film’s – away from family towards the studio and emerging session musician friends. A film that could have flopped, but doesn’t.