Love & Mercy (film)

The film alternates between the 1960s and the 1980s. The early timeline begins with a young Brian Wilson suffering a panic attack on an airplane. After recovering, Brian convinces his brothers Carl and Dennis to let him quit touring with the Beach Boys and instead focus on composition and studio work. Despite his father and his cousin Mike Love's criticisms regarding the lyrics and production, Brian completes the Pet Sounds album. It is a critical hit, but sales are underwhelming. LSD is supplied to Wilson by a coterie of hippies who praise him as a "genius", and his mental health subsequently worsens. After the success of a new single, "Good Vibrations", he fails to complete the album Smile, his would-be masterpiece. As Wilson's bandmates are left to finish a simplified version of the album, now titled Smiley Smile, he learns that his father has sold the publishing rights to the Beach Boys' songs without their consent. This timeline ends with Wilson apathetic and detached from life.

In the 1980s, an older and heavily medicated Brian Wilson meets Melinda Ledbetter, a Cadillac saleswoman. She begins a relationship with him, but is disturbed by the controlling influence Wilson's therapist and legal guardian Dr. Eugene Landy has over Wilson's life. Eventually, she disengages from the relationship, but not before, with help from Wilson's housekeeper Gloria Ramos, providing evidence to Wilson's family that Landy has been made a beneficiary in his will. This leads to a restraining order being taken out to prevent Landy from seeing Wilson, who begins a new and more appropriate course of treatment. A few years later, Wilson bumps into Ledbetter again while walking across an intersection. They eventually marry, and Wilson completes Smile as his own solo album.

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• John Cusack as Brian–Future{{refn|group=nb|name=fn1}}
• Paul Dano as Brian–Past{{refn|group=nb|name=fn1|"Brian–Future" and "Brian–Past" are how these roles are officially credited.{{cite web|last1=Adams|first1=Erik|title=Love & Mercy picks Brian Wilson's brain, finds strengths in his ears|url=https://www.avclub.com/review/love-mercy-picks-brian-wilsons-brain-finds-strengt-220232|website=The A.V. Club|date=June 4, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614111930/http://www.avclub.com/review/love-mercy-picks-brian-wilsons-brain-finds-strengt-220232|archive-date=June 14, 2015|df=mdy-all}}}}
• Elizabeth Banks as Melinda Ledbetter{{cite web |last=Siegel |first=Tatiana |title=Elizabeth Banks to Star in Pair of Indies, Including Beach Boys Biopic 'Love & Mercy' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/elizabeth-banks-star-pair-indies-575696 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=August 12, 2013 |date=June 26, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630074311/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/elizabeth-banks-star-pair-indies-575696 |archive-date=June 30, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}
• Paul Giamatti as Dr. Eugene Landy
• Jake Abel as Mike Love
• Kenny Wormald as Dennis Wilson{{cite web|title=Kenny Wormald, Jake Abel to Play Beach Boys in 'Love & Mercy' (Exclusive)|url=https://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/kenny-wormald-jake-abel-play-beach-boys-love-mercy-exclusive-102921|work=The Wrap|access-date=July 13, 2013|date=July 12, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714215438/http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/kenny-wormald-jake-abel-play-beach-boys-love-mercy-exclusive-102921|archive-date=July 14, 2013|df=mdy-all}}
• Brett Davern as Carl Wilson
• Graham Rogers as Al Jardine{{cite web|title=Graham Rogers, Brett Davern Join Brian Wilson Movie (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/graham-rogers-brett-davern-join-brian-wilson-movie-exclusive-1200503217/|work=Variety|access-date=2013-06-30|date=June 30, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702185906/http://variety.com/2013/film/news/graham-rogers-brett-davern-join-brian-wilson-movie-exclusive-1200503217/|archive-date=July 2, 2013|df=mdy-all}}
• Erin Darke as Marilyn Wilson
• Bill Camp as Murry Wilson{{cite news|last1=Rosenberg|first1=Alyssa|title=In movies this fall, all parents are bad parents|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2014/11/14/in-movies-this-fall-all-parents-are-bad-parents/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 14, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312121955/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2014/11/14/in-movies-this-fall-all-parents-are-bad-parents/|archive-date=March 12, 2016|df=mdy-all}}
• Joanna Going as Audree Wilson
• Nick Gehlfuss as Bruce Johnston
• Mark Linett as Chuck Britz
• Johnny Sneed as Hal Blaine{{cite news|last1=Grady|first1=Pam|title='Love & Mercy' biopic an unconventional ode to Brian Wilson|url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/movies/article/Love-Mercy-biopic-an-unconventional-ode-6290559.php|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=May 27, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528073506/http://www.sfchronicle.com/movies/article/Love-Mercy-biopic-an-unconventional-ode-6290559.php|archive-date=May 28, 2015|df=mdy-all}}
• Gary Griffin as Al de Lory
• Teresa Cowles as Carol Kaye
• Vince Meghrouni as Woodwind/Brass Player
• Jeff Meacham as Tony Asher
• Max Schneider as Van Dyke Parks{{cite web|last=Takeda-Morrison|first=Marsha|title=Max Schneider Lands Role in Beach Boys Movie|url=http://www.celebrityteenscoop.com/2013/06/21/schneider-lands-movie/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911200939/http://www.celebrityteenscoop.com/2013/06/21/schneider-lands-movie/|archive-date=September 11, 2013|df=mdy-all|access-date=June 28, 2013}}
• Diana Maria Riva as Gloria
• Erik Eidem as Doug
• Dylan Kenin as Rob
• Carolyn Stotesbery as Sarah
• Fred Cross as Cadillac Colleague
• Tyson Ritter as Hipster #1
• Jeff Galfer as Hipster #2
• Morgan Phillips as Evan Landy
• Wayne Basturp as Process Server
• Oliver Pohlad as Young Brian
• Jonathan Slavin as Phil Spector{{cite web|last1=Lafferty|first1=Jennifer|title=John Cusack Stars in Beach Boys Biopic 'Love & Mercy'|url=http://www.stack.com/2014/12/31/john-cusack-beach-boys-love-and-mercy/|work=Stack Gamer|date=December 31, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924105442/http://www.stack.com/2014/12/31/john-cusack-beach-boys-love-and-mercy/|archive-date=September 24, 2015|df=mdy-all}}

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|quote=I have no interest in making a biopic. ... What's fascinating to me is to look at the different elements in his life, like that super-creative period when he was doing Pet Sounds and the later part when he was redeemed. ... You don't have to know the music here in the same way you didn't have to know the math in Beautiful Mind ... What we want to do is let you experience the story in a personal way.

|source=—Bill Pohlad, June 2011{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/06/brian-wilson-movie-pet-sounds-moverman-wells-pohlad-beach-boys-smile.html|title=Beach Boy Brian Wilson's story will come to the screen, courtesy of the screenwriter of 'I'm Not There'|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 23, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005070014/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/06/brian-wilson-movie-pet-sounds-moverman-wells-pohlad-beach-boys-smile.html|archive-date=October 5, 2013|df=mdy-all}}

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A theatrical film adaptation of Wilson's life, titled Love and Mercy, was first proposed in 1988, and was planned to star William Hurt as Wilson and Richard Dreyfuss as Landy.{{cite AV media|medium=video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_ENkW7snt0|title="Brian Wilson Movie News 1988"|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523164137/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_ENkW7snt0|archive-date=May 23, 2015|df=mdy-all}}{{cite AV media|medium=video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3r0Lc3vGKs|title="Brian Wilson on "Crook & Chase"|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519005715/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3r0Lc3vGKs|archive-date=May 19, 2015|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|last1=Marlatt|first1=Benjamin|title=Who Knew Surf Rock Could Get So Complicated?|url=http://moviepilot.com/reviews/2015/07/19/who-knew-surf-rock-could-get-so-complicated-3394853|work=MoviePilot|date=July 19, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018042830/http://moviepilot.com/reviews/2015/07/19/who-knew-surf-rock-could-get-so-complicated-3394853|archive-date=October 18, 2015|df=mdy-all}} It derived its title from Wilson's single, "Love and Mercy" (1988), which appeared as the opening track to his debut solo album Brian Wilson. While the project stagnated in development hell, the Beach Boys were eventually featured as the subject of two made-for-TV dramatizations: Summer Dreams: The Story of The Beach Boys (1990) which was widely derided for their historical inaccuracies and The Beach Boys: An American Family (2000) which Brian Wilson harshly criticized.{{cite magazine|last=Greene|first=Andy|title=Brian Wilson Movie in the Works|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/brian-wilson-movie-in-the-works-20110624|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 24, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107031412/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/brian-wilson-movie-in-the-works-20110624|archive-date=November 7, 2017|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|last=Bocanegra|first=Henry|title=Rock N' Roll Dream: A Conversation with Brian Wilson|url=http://www.houseofshred.com/features/rocknroll101/brian_wilson/rnr101_brianwilson.htm|work=House of Shred|publisher=houseofshred.com|access-date=29 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130033756/http://www.houseofshred.com/features/rocknroll101/brian_wilson/rnr101_brianwilson.htm|archive-date=30 January 2008}}{{refn|group=nb|Pohlad said he did not want to be "affected" by other films, and purposely avoided watching Summer Dreams and An American Family.}} Rolling Stone reported in 1999 that Melinda hoped to organize a Wilson biopic which starred Jeff Bridges.{{cite magazine|last1=Fine|first1=Jason|title=Brian Wilson's Summer Plans|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 8, 1999|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/brians-summer-plans-19990708|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831220643/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/brians-summer-plans-19990708|archive-date=August 31, 2017|df=mdy-all}}

In 2006, the Wilson biopic project was briefly revived, and was to have included involvement from producers Mark Gordon, Lawrence Inglee, Jordan Wynn, and David Leaf. Nothing further was reported.{{cite web|last1=Fleming|first1=Michael|title=Surf's up for Wilson bio|url=https://variety.com/2006/film/news/surf-s-up-for-wilson-bio-1117953948/|work=Variety|access-date=July 19, 2014|date=November 14, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812005225/http://variety.com/2006/film/news/surf-s-up-for-wilson-bio-1117953948/|archive-date=August 12, 2014|df=mdy-all}} As film producer/director Bill Pohlad cultivated an obsession with the 1997 box set The Pet Sounds Sessions, he became interested in Brian Wilson's life while eventual producers John Wells and Claire Rudnick Polstein were attempting to make a Beach Boys film.{{cite web|last1=Zeitchik|first1=Steven|title=TIFF 2014: John Cusack and Paul Dano channel a Brian Wilson melody|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/filmfestivals/la-et-mn-toronto-film-festival-john-cusack-paul-dano-brian-wilson-s-20140908-story.html#page=1|work=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 11, 2014|date=September 8, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911010058/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/filmfestivals/la-et-mn-toronto-film-festival-john-cusack-paul-dano-brian-wilson-s-20140908-story.html#page=1|archive-date=September 11, 2014|df=mdy-all}} Love & Mercy is the second feature directed by Pohlad—decades from his previous—and was financed with his own money.{{cite web|last1=Cieply|first1=Michael|title=Filmmaker Pins Hopes on a Beach Boy|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/08/business/media/filmmaker-William-Pohlad-pins-hopes-on-a-beach-boy.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 8, 2014|date=September 7, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908093146/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/08/business/media/filmmaker-William-Pohlad-pins-hopes-on-a-beach-boy.html?_r=0|archive-date=September 8, 2014|df=mdy-all}} After the film was formally announced on June 23, 2011, information about it remained relatively scarce until its unveiling in September 2014.

Pohlad deemed the original script he received (titled Heroes and Villains, after the Beach Boys' song) unsatisfactory, and so he enlisted writer-director Oren Moverman, who had previously found success with the impressionistic Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There (2007),{{cite web|last1=Pond|first1=Steve|title=Bold Brian Wilson Biopic 'Love & Mercy' Takes Two Actors, Paul Dano and John Cusack, to Play One Troubled Genius|url=https://www.thewrap.com/bold-brian-wilson-biopic-love-mercy-takes-two-actors-paul-dano-and-john-cusak-to-play-one-troubled-genius/|work=TheWrap|access-date=September 10, 2014|date=September 10, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911080727/http://www.thewrap.com/bold-brian-wilson-biopic-love-mercy-takes-two-actors-paul-dano-and-john-cusak-to-play-one-troubled-genius/|archive-date=September 11, 2014|df=mdy-all}} which Pohlad believed was "an admirable effort ... [but] went too far".{{cite news|last1=Light|first1=Alan|title=In 'Love & Mercy,' Brian Wilson Is Portrayed by John Cusack and Paul Dano|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/movies/in-love-mercy-brian-wilson-is-portrayed-by-john-cusack-and-paul-dano.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=May 29, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214082615/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/movies/in-love-mercy-brian-wilson-is-portrayed-by-john-cusack-and-paul-dano.html?_r=0|archive-date=February 14, 2018|df=mdy-all}} Pohlad claimed that Love & Mercy drew significant interest from "pretty big people in all parts of the business ... But a lot of them honestly were such Beach Boys fans that they almost were too close to it. They couldn't see the forest for the trees." Originally, Pohlad intended to produce and have Moverman direct. When Moverman found that Pohlad had a clear vision for the film to be, he suggested that Pohlad direct the movie instead.{{cite web|last1=Tapley|first1=Kristopher|title=Bill Pohlad wants 'Love & Mercy' to take you inside the genius of Beach Boy Brian Wilson|url=http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/bill-pohlad-wants-love-mercy-to-take-you-inside-the-genius-of-beach-boy-brian-wilson|work=HitFix|date=May 21, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524011632/http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/bill-pohlad-wants-love-mercy-to-take-you-inside-the-genius-of-beach-boy-brian-wilson|archive-date=May 24, 2015|df=mdy-all}}

Rather than having a conventional story, in June 2011 the biopic was reported to focus on specific elements of Wilson's life. At this stage, Pohlad contemplated focusing on three eras of Wilson's life instead of two: "It was Brian past, which was the 1960s Brian. Brian present, which was the guy in bed. And Brian future, which became the John Cusack era. And kind of by interweaving those we'd show, without having to tell every beat." Philip Seymour Hoffman was considered for the projected "Brian–Present" role.{{cite AV media|medium=video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_ENkW7snt0|title="EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW – Love & Mercy director Bill Pohlad"|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523164137/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_ENkW7snt0|archive-date=May 23, 2015|df=mdy-all}} When Moverman was asked about his nontraditional approach to musician's stories, he answered:

{{blockquote|You can be more adventurous with film structure because musicians create structures and personas and characters, because they're performers. ... You're not just trying to tell a story, you're also trying to create a cinematic equivalent of what the man's music was about. Same thing with Brian. You listen to the music, you realize what was adventurous and experimental about what he was doing, and then you ask yourself, How do we tell his story in that way, too? Can we create strange chord shifts in the cinematic structure of this movie? Can we move between things that are not supposed to work together and make them work in harmony somehow?}}

In November 2011, Wilson stated that he didn't know when the film would be done, and he was currently "trying to get the script so it's accurate".{{cite web|title=Brian Wilson on the Beach Boys, Gershwin and his upcoming biopic|url=http://www.ifc.com/fix/2011/11/brian-wilson-on-biopic-the-beach-boys-gershwin|work=IFC|access-date=August 28, 2013|date=November 16, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005021909/http://www.ifc.com/fix/2011/11/brian-wilson-on-biopic-the-beach-boys-gershwin|archive-date=October 5, 2013|df=mdy-all}} Though Wilson was consulted on the film, Ledbetter was deeply involved in communications. Wilson later clarified: "I had no control or involvement in the film, but my wife did. She made sure they cast the characters right, you know so they could capture my personality and the records and stuff like that."{{cite news|last1=Schaefer|first1=Stephen|title='Love & Mercy' reveals Beach Boy's emotional struggles|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/movies/movie_news/2015/06/love_mercy_reveals_beach_boy_s_emotional_struggles|work=Boston Herald|date=June 2, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602214624/http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/movies/movie_news/2015/06/love_mercy_reveals_beach_boy_s_emotional_struggles|archive-date=June 2, 2015|df=mdy-all}} It was reported that Wilson offered some editing notes after attending a table read{{cite web|last1=Dillon|first1=Mark|title=Beach Boy Brian Wilson back in the spotlight with a new movie, a new album and a summer tour|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2015/05/31/beach-boy-brian-wilson-back-in-the-spotlight-with-a-new-movie-a-new-album-and-a-summer-tour.html|work=Toronto Star|date=May 31, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107113959/https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2015/05/31/beach-boy-brian-wilson-back-in-the-spotlight-with-a-new-movie-a-new-album-and-a-summer-tour.html|archive-date=November 7, 2017|df=mdy-all}} and after watching a rough cut of the film by himself. Pohlad explained the purpose of the table read: "[It was] to make sure he would understand what we were doing. He sat there and I wasn't sure if we lost him or if he was still with us. But later, he called with some insightful notes. Not a lot of notes, like three or four, but really insightful comments."{{cite web|last1=Cohen|first1=Howard|title='Love & Mercy' Director 'I Didn't Want It to Be a Biopic'|url=https://www.popmatters.com/wire/194163-love-mercy-director-i-didnt-want-it-to-be-a-biopic/|work=PopMatters|date=June 5, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608020926/http://www.popmatters.com/wire/194163-love-mercy-director-i-didnt-want-it-to-be-a-biopic/|archive-date=June 8, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Pohlad added during a Q&A: "They [Ledbetter and Wilson] were never all over us about it – 'Don't do that,' or 'I'm funnier than that' ... [His notes] were all very directed to – they weren't like ego things, they were more like how the process worked ... just keeping us on track versus 'make me look better' or something like that."{{cite AV media|medium=video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VT-uPyCfXY|title=Love & Mercy – Q&A|minutes=5:10|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101161604/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VT-uPyCfXY|archive-date=January 1, 2016|df=mdy-all}} Wilson's veteran collaborator Van Dyke Parks – portrayed by Max Schneider – stated that he had no involvement in the film, and awaited its historical accuracy in what he called "Mrs. Wilson's biopic".{{cite tweet |user= BrianWilsonLive|number= 372734954373128192 |date= August 28, 2013 |title= @MikeOk: Any contact with "Love & Mercy?"-VDP:Nope. Let's see what's in a name, in Mrs. Wilson's bio-pic. Hang on! pic.twitter.com/aSJYykM8WP }} On February 8, 2012, Moverman announced that the script was complete.{{cite web|title=Oren Moverman Says His Brian Wilson Biopic Script Is Done, Takes "Unconventional Storytelling" Approach|url=http://www.indiewire.com/theplaylist/oren-moverman-says-his-brain-wilson-biopic-script-is-done-takes-unconventional-storytelling-approach|work=IndieWire|access-date=August 28, 2013|date=February 8, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727091742/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/oren-moverman-says-his-brain-wilson-biopic-script-is-done-takes-unconventional-storytelling-approach|archive-date=July 27, 2013|df=mdy-all}}

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Paul Dano was cast as the young Wilson and believed, "I don't think it's a totally traditional biopic. I think it's gonna be a fun and accessible film, and I think it's hopefully going to be interesting, like the man that it's depicting. I think he [Moverman] did an amazing job cracking this story, and I can't imagine anyone else having done it, aside from him. I know they tried to make movies about Brian for a long time, and I think music stories are tough to tell in an interesting way." When asked how familiar he was with Wilson before getting involved, Dano answered that he knew the Beach Boys' music, but was not aware of the extent of Wilson's troubles. He proceeded to immerse himself in Wilson's life by reading, listening, and watching as much information pertinent to Wilson as he could, purposefully abstaining from meeting him in person until he was sure he had absorbed everything in full.{{cite magazine|last1=Fear|first1=David|title=Heroes and Villains: 'Love & Mercy'{{'s}} Paul Dano on Playing Brian Wilson|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/features/love-and-mercy-paul-dano-on-brian-wilson-20140913|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=September 13, 2014|date=September 13, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914013741/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/features/love-and-mercy-paul-dano-on-brian-wilson-20140913|archive-date=September 14, 2014|df=mdy-all}}

Dano reportedly prepared for the role by "filling up" on Wilson's Pet Sounds while learning how to play piano.{{cite web|title=Paul Dano Talks 12 YEARS A SLAVE, PRISONERS, Playing Brian Wilson in LOVE & MERCY, WARCRAFT Rumors, His Punchable Face, and More|url=https://collider.com/paul-dano-12-years-a-slave-prisoners-interview/|work=Collider|access-date=November 26, 2013|date=October 30, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20131126095626/http://collider.com/paul-dano-12-years-a-slave-prisoners-interview/|archive-date=November 26, 2013|df=mdy-all}} He explained, "Without question, learning to play and sing and listening to the music was the most important, because the most true Brian to me is in Pet Sounds. If you want to know him, you go listen to it." He related to Wilson's character adding, "Some of it is frankly deeply personal. Brian talked about trying to make music that would heal people. Knowing that his life was so hard and that was his attitude I felt like that's somebody I want to spend time with. Whether I needed love and mercy at the time or I wanted to give it I'm not sure."{{cite web|last1=Sharkey|first1=Betsy|title=Paul Dano finds sunnier side of Brian Wilson in 'Love & Mercy'|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-critics-notebook-paul-dano-love-mercy-20140921-column.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 20, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920235136/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-critics-notebook-paul-dano-love-mercy-20140921-column.html|archive-date=September 20, 2014|df=mdy-all}} Of his musical performances, he recalls, "There are a few scenes where you hear me start a line of a song and by the end of the session, you're hearing Brian's vocals. I have to give credit to the sound people, the transitions are really smooth; you can't tell that one half of it is the real thing and one half is me faking it, so I thank those guys a lot." Dano also prepared for the role by gaining weight.

John Cusack, who plays Dano's older counterpart, was chosen for the role after Pohlad watched Don Was' biographical film I Just Wasn't Made for These Times (1995). Pohlad found portraying the 1980s Wilson to be difficult, since he believed Wilson's appearance changed rapidly in that era, but Cusack immediately popped into his head after watching the biography.{{cite AV media|medium=video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBbHzjkQZzY|title="Variety interview"|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207122255/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBbHzjkQZzY|archive-date=December 7, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Pohlad admitted: "He hasn't necessarily always either gotten or taken the greatest roles, but I thought this one would be a good one that would really allow him to shine, and he's truly delivered on that. A lot of people still come up and say, 'Oh, that Paul Dano looks exactly like Brian, but why'd you pick John Cusack? He doesn't look at all like Brian.' Actually, he does, if you look back at that one era."{{cite web|last1=Pahle|first1=Rebecca|title=Pet Project: Bill Pohlad's 'Love & Mercy' examines the turbulent life of The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/node/18596|work=Film Journal|date=May 26, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527020333/http://www.filmjournal.com/node/18596|archive-date=May 27, 2015|df=mdy-all}} After being selected, Cusack listened to the 2011 release of The Smile Sessions, enthusing, "You get a portrait of the genius at work at the apex of his powers at the time before he kind of went into the ashes," and, "It's hard to overestimate his influence on music. Pet Sounds was a year before Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts, and everything you hear in the Beatles is there. And then you listen more. Especially to The Smile Sessions, and you hear all these other connections. Boom, there's ELO, there's another band." Cusack later recommended I Just Wasn't Made for These Times as a "companion piece" to Love & Mercy.

File:Brian Wilson,1960s.jpg

The decision to have two actors play Wilson was somewhat based on the notion that Wilson today is perceived as a completely different person from when he was in his 20s.{{cite news|last1=O'Sullivan|first1=Michael|title=Finding Beach Boy Brian Wilson|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/finding-beach-boy-brian-wilson/2015/05/27/eaeec0f6-03ac-11e5-a428-c984eb077d4e_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 29, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918155443/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/finding-beach-boy-brian-wilson/2015/05/27/eaeec0f6-03ac-11e5-a428-c984eb077d4e_story.html|archive-date=September 18, 2017|df=mdy-all}} Dano believes: "It's important to see the juxtaposition of the two people, especially when you see Brian in the studio so vital, and then see the older Brian quiet, almost traumatized. There is a mystery there, how did that person become that?"{{cite news|last1=Tulich|first1=Katherine|title=Dano fine-tuned his role to the music|url=http://www.glendalenewspress.com/entertainment/tn-gnp-dano-fine-tuned-his-role-to-the-music-20150614,0,1004591.story|work=Glendale News Press|date=June 14, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150617111523/http://www.glendalenewspress.com/entertainment/tn-gnp-dano-fine-tuned-his-role-to-the-music-20150614,0,1004591.story|archive-date=June 17, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Cusack elaborated on his experience with meeting Wilson: "When Brian would talk about the younger version of himself, he was completely dispassionate, like it was someone other than him—in a more extreme way than other people look back on when they were 21. Seeing him talking about it, he just had no ownership of himself." Pohlad encouraged Cusack and Dano not to work together and conjure an impression of Wilson between themselves, and instead try to get an independent sense of who Wilson is from the inside.

Paul Giamatti said of the film, "I play Dr. Landy, the crazy psychotherapist. It's a great character. Brian Wilson had a severe freakout and his family got in touch with a psychotherapist out in L.A. named Eugene Landy who took over. That's where most of the story comes from, because the doctor was basically insane. He made Brian play in a sandbox, I mean crazy stuff."{{cite web|last=Olds|first=Dorru|title=Paul Giamatti Talks Hair and Movies With TheBlot|url=http://theblot.com/paul-giamatti-talks-hair-and-movies-776723|work=The Blot Magazine|access-date=November 26, 2013|date=October 4, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003227/http://theblot.com/paul-giamatti-talks-hair-and-movies-776723|archive-date=December 3, 2013|df=mdy-all}}{{refn|group=nb|Giamatti may have been referring to Wilson's 1976 guest appearance on Saturday Night Live in which he performed a solo piano rendition of "Good Vibrations" while stationed in a sandbox,{{cite AV media|medium=video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydj86dfm-zA|title="Wilson performing Good Vibrations, 1976"|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151201234528/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydj86dfm-zA|archive-date=December 1, 2015|df=mdy-all}} which was in itself a nod to lore pertaining to the Smile sessions.}} Giamatti prepared for the role by engrossing himself in contemporary articles, meeting the real life Landy's early career acquaintances, and listening to hours of tapes wherein Giamatti says "he'd just keep talking and talking, in these completely huge paragraphs. They were brilliant-sounding, but if you dug into them they didn't make much sense."{{cite journal|last1=Zeitchik|first1=Steven|title=Brian Wilson biopic 'Love & Mercy' a complex venture for Cusack, Giamatti|journal=The Los Angeles Times|date=April 24, 2015|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-ca-movie-sneaks-love-mercy-brian-wilson-20150426-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425104028/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-ca-movie-sneaks-love-mercy-brian-wilson-20150426-story.html|archive-date=April 25, 2015|df=mdy-all}}

File:16 mm Film camera.JPG shot by an Arri 16SR3 camera was used to give the movie's 1960s setting a period-authentic feel]]

Looking for a seasoned director of photography, Pohlad sought cinematographer Robert Yeoman,{{cite journal|last1=Dillon|first1=Mark|title=Harmony and Discord|journal=American Cinematographer|date=July 2015}} who is best known for his credits on Wes Anderson films. Yeoman recalled: "I loved the script and the take on the story. Bill had a lot of great ideas and I felt it would be an amazing film to be part of." He strongly felt that the film should not be shot in Louisiana for tax incentives, and also resisted digital capture, explaining: "The story takes place in an analog time, so I felt we needed the grain and texture of film to give [the settings] a realistic feel." Every scene set in 1960s recording studios was shot in Super 16, as well as a few other select scenes. In contrast to Pohlad's desire for the decade to look warm and romantic, the 1980s scenes were given a cold white and blue cast.

The film's studio depictions strove to recapture Wilson's elaborate recording processes during the sessions for Beach Boys albums Pet Sounds and the unfinished Smile. To this end, the scenes were shot "documentary style," and real musicians were hired to act as the session musicians Wilson used. They were also filmed in the actual studios where the Beach Boys' music was recorded in the 1960s,{{cite web|title=Brian Wilson's Brilliance and Pain Explored in 'Love & Mercy': Movie Review|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/love-and-mercy-review/|work=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=May 25, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526002741/http://ultimateclassicrock.com/love-and-mercy-review/|archive-date=May 26, 2015|df=mdy-all}} such as the Studio 3-room at EastWest Studios, which was then known as United Western Recorders. Pohlad claimed that they were real sessions with direction largely improvised by Dano, who instructed the musicians based on his impression of Wilson's tone and the way that he worked: "We had two Super 16 handheld cameras going, and for most of that we were just able to grab shots as we would if we were shooting a documentary." About the musicians, he added: "We didn't really rehearse with them, or tell them much what we were doing. They brought their instruments, and we dressed them in period clothing, and we basically sat them down like they were there for a session."{{cite news|last1=Steinberg|first1=Don|title=Paul Dano and John Cusack Play Brian Wilson in 'Love & Mercy'|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=May 28, 2015|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/paul-dano-and-john-cusack-play-brian-wilson-in-love-mercy-1432838100|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305102146/http://www.wsj.com/articles/paul-dano-and-john-cusack-play-brian-wilson-in-love-mercy-1432838100|archive-date=March 5, 2016|df=mdy-all}} Yeoman was "purposely kept out of the rehearsals, so he never really knew what was coming—he just had to get it," Pohlad says.{{cite news|last1=Johnston|first1=Trevor|title=I can hear music: Bill Pohlad on his Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/interviews/bill-pohlad-love-mercy|publisher=BFI|date=July 8, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711111103/http://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/interviews/bill-pohlad-love-mercy|archive-date=July 11, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Fly on the wall documentary films such as Sympathy for the Devil (1968) and Let It Be (1970) were used as references.

Principal photography began on July 15, 2013, in the Hollywood area and expanded to various locations around Southern California.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-on-location-beach-boys-biopic-20130716,0,5921775.story|title=Beach Boys biopic from TV's John Wells shooting in Southland|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 16, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717210034/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-on-location-beach-boys-biopic-20130716,0,5921775.story|archive-date=July 17, 2013|df=mdy-all}} Shooting lasted for 35 days. Wilson announced the film's wrapping through his Twitter page by posting a photo of himself and his wife along with Cusack.{{cite tweet |user=BrianWilsonLive |number=372354232562630657 |date=August 27, 2013 |title=Brian & Melinda Wilson with John Cusack}} The film's wrap party featured a special appearance by Wilson, who performed a solo live set.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} In January 2014, Pohlad reported that he was currently editing the film in New York.{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Susie|title=Bill Pohlad on Producing '12 Years A Slave'|url=http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/01/20/bill-pohlad-on-producing-12-years-a-slave/|publisher=CBS|access-date=August 29, 2014|location=Minneapolis|date=January 20, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904033535/http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/01/20/bill-pohlad-on-producing-12-years-a-slave/|archive-date=September 4, 2014|df=mdy-all}} In July, a casting call was made for additional filming requiring a depiction of 1980s period cars.{{cite web|title="Love & Mercy" Movie Casting Call for Cars in Los Angeles|url=http://www.projectcasting.com/casting-calls-and-auditions/love-mercy-movie-casting-call-for-extras-cars-in-los-angeles/|publisher=Project Casting|access-date=July 23, 2014|date=July 17, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720012724/http://www.projectcasting.com/casting-calls-and-auditions/love-mercy-movie-casting-call-for-extras-cars-in-los-angeles/|archive-date=July 20, 2014|df=mdy-all}}

{{Main|Music from Love & Mercy}}

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|quote=I was nervous about a couple of different things. ... I felt that music films generally have reached such a level of utter (garbage). So I put off reading (the script), assuming those things, but then I did read it and I thought it was a brilliant script.

|source=—Atticus Ross, May 2015{{cite web|last1=Baker|first1=Jeff|title=Atticus Ross talks Brian Wilson, 'Pet Sounds,' 'Portlandia' and his Beach Boys mash-up|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/2015/06/atticus_ross_talks_brian_wilso.html|work=Oregon Live|date=June 3, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805114837/http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/2015/06/atticus_ross_talks_brian_wilso.html|archive-date=August 5, 2015|df=mdy-all}}

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English composer Atticus Ross was commissioned for an original score.{{cite magazine|last1=Kit|first1=Borys|title=Paul Dano to Play Young Brian Wilson in Upcoming Biopic|magazine=Billboard |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1509332/paul-dano-to-play-young-brian-wilson-in-upcoming-biopic|access-date=August 2, 2014|date=January 18, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822112932/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1509332/paul-dano-to-play-young-brian-wilson-in-upcoming-biopic|archive-date=August 22, 2014|df=mdy-all}} Ross, who is selective about the films he works on, says he agreed to Love & Mercy because "I liked him [Pohlad] from the moment of meeting him. He's a guy with vision and that's what, as a musician, you need from the director. His company was built on making the kind of films that I would love to be working on."{{cite news|last1=Covert|first1=Colin|title=With Brian Wilson bio-pic 'Love & Mercy,' Bill Pohlad returns to his 'first love' – directing|url=http://www.startribune.com/with-brian-wilson-bio-pic-love-mercy-bill-pohlad-returns-to-his-first-love-directing/305471221/|date=May 30, 2015|work=Star Tribune|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907173333/http://www.startribune.com/with-brian-wilson-bio-pic-love-mercy-bill-pohlad-returns-to-his-first-love-directing/305471221/|archive-date=September 7, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Inspiration for the score came from the Beatles' "Revolution 9" (1968) and the Beatles/Jay-Z mashup album The Grey Album (2004).{{cite web|last1=Abrams|first1=Bryan|title=Composer Atticus Ross on Brian Wilson Biopic Love & Mercy & More|url=http://www.thecredits.org/2015/05/iconic-composer-atticus-ross-on-love-mercy-music-more/|work=The Credits|date=May 19, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905143947/http://www.thecredits.org/2015/05/iconic-composer-atticus-ross-on-love-mercy-music-more/|archive-date=September 5, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Variety observed that Ross's score "reincorporates snatches of the Beach Boys' effervescent melodies into something that sounds intriguingly similar to Animal Collective.{{cite web|last1=Barker|first1=Andrew|title=Toronto Film Review: 'Love & Mercy'|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/festivals/toronto-film-review-love-mercy-1201301472/|date=January 2, 2018|work=Variety|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624100145/http://variety.com/2014/film/festivals/toronto-film-review-love-mercy-1201301472/|archive-date=June 24, 2017|df=mdy-all}}

Pohlad commented on the film's use of original Beach Boys multitrack session tapes, "[S]o much of what developed out of it was based on the ability to get into tracks. From a music perspective, certainly, the ability of Atticus and I to get into the tracks and play with them was important. Also to have the music in the film was important. It was not ever going to be a Mamma Mia! kind of movie. We didn't want that."{{refn|group=nb|In 2010, John Stamos announced that he was to co-produce a non-biographical film of the Beach Boys modeled after the musical film Mamma Mia! (2008).{{cite magazine|title=John Stamos' Beach Boys Movie to Be a 'Celebration'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/john-stamos-beach-boys-movie-to-be-a-celebration-20101014|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=October 14, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922121518/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/john-stamos-beach-boys-movie-to-be-a-celebration-20101014|archive-date=September 22, 2016|df=mdy-all}}}}

In June 2014, touring Beach Boy co-founder Mike Love reported that Wilson had been in the studio recording music which would be used in the film.{{cite web|last1=Wake|first1=Matt|title=Beach Boys' Mike Love on writing 'Good Vibrations,' Brian Wilson, hanging with Beatles, Huntsville set-list|url=http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/06/beach_boys_mike_love_on_writin.html|access-date=July 2, 2014|date=June 30, 2014|url-status=live|work=alabama.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713013234/http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/06/beach_boys_mike_love_on_writin.html|archive-date=July 13, 2014|df=mdy-all}}

On September 19, 2014, Pohlad announced that the film's soundtrack would be released by Capitol Records sometime in the future,{{cite magazine|last1=Bliss|first1=Karen|title='Love & Mercy' Stars John Cusack & Paul Dano on How They Became Brian Wilson|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6258962/love-mercy-john-cusack-paul-dano-brian-wilson-beach-boys|magazine=Billboard|date=September 19, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128112835/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6258962/love-mercy-john-cusack-paul-dano-brian-wilson-beach-boys|archive-date=January 28, 2015|df=mdy-all}} later reported for release in 2015.{{cite web|last1=Prisco|first1=Jaime|title=Beach Boys' Brian Wilson Biographical Film 'Love & Mercy' Starring Paul Dano and John Cusack Due Out in June|url=http://www.classicalite.com/articles/17958/20150226/beach-boys-brian-wilson-film-love-mercy-paul-dano-john-cusack-june.htm|work=Classicalite|date=February 26, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923204613/http://www.classicalite.com/articles/17958/20150226/beach-boys-brian-wilson-film-love-mercy-paul-dano-john-cusack-june.htm|archive-date=September 23, 2015|df=mdy-all}} On June 2, 2015, Pohlad reported that there were complications but that the soundtrack should be released shortly after the film. On August 13, the digital global release date was announced for the following day.{{cite web|title=Capitol Records to release "Music from "Love & Mercy," official soundtrack to Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions/River Road's acclaimed Brian Wilson biopic.|url=http://www.brianwilson.com/news/2015/8/13/capitol-records-to-release-music-from-love-mercy-official-soundtrack-to-lionsgateroadside-attractionsriver-roads-acclaimed-brian-wilson-biopic|website=brianwilson.com|date=August 13, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907052411/http://www.brianwilson.com/news/2015/8/13/capitol-records-to-release-music-from-love-mercy-official-soundtrack-to-lionsgateroadside-attractionsriver-roads-acclaimed-brian-wilson-biopic|archive-date=September 7, 2015|df=mdy-all}}

{{Further|#Wilson, Ledbetter, et al.|l1=Wilson, Ledbetter, et al.}}

{{for|more information on the real life events depicted in the film|Pet Sounds|Collapse of Smile|Eugene Landy#Second treatment of Brian Wilson (1982–1991)}}

Slate magazine wrote in its analysis of the film's fact and fiction: "While Love & Mercy makes some perhaps necessary adjustments to simplify the musician's story, the film is generally quite meticulous in its presentation of the events of Wilson's life."{{cite web|last1=Visci|first1=Marissa|title=Here's What's Fact and What's Fiction in Love & Mercy, the New Biopic About Brian Wilson|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/06/10/love_mercy_fact_vs_fiction_how_the_new_brian_wilson_biopic_starring_john.html|work=Slate|date=June 10, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903034909/http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2015/06/10/love_mercy_fact_vs_fiction_how_the_new_brian_wilson_biopic_starring_john.html|archive-date=September 3, 2017|df=mdy-all}} Vulture "fact-checked" the film and found that it has "whopping gaps [but] few of them matter."{{cite web|last1=Edelstein|first1=David|title=Brian Wilson Biopic Love & Mercy Has the Right Vibrations – Good, Bad, Weird|url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/06/movie-review-love-and-mercy.html|work=Vulture|date=June 5, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722132514/http://www.vulture.com/2015/06/movie-review-love-and-mercy.html|archive-date=July 22, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Consequence of Sound reported that the film recreates "several iconic portraits and moments", including the photo shoot of the band's Surfin' Safari (1962) to the performance of the live album Beach Boys Concert (1964): "These are all handled with the utmost accuracy, seemingly down to the lines in the sand, and that acute attention to detail carries over into just about every other facet of the film."{{cite web|last1=Roffman|first1=Michael|title=SXSW Film Review: Love & Mercy|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/03/sxsw-film-review-love-mercy/|work=Consequence of Sound|date=March 16, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20170105164647/http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/03/sxsw-film-review-love-mercy/|archive-date=January 5, 2017|df=mdy-all}} Audio engineer Mark Linett, who has a longstanding association with Wilson, was employed as a technical consultant. He also plays the role of Chuck Britz, the engineer who often worked with Wilson during the 1960s. Keyboardist Darian Sahanaja, who plays in Wilson's touring band, was the supervising musical consultant who helped coordinate the film's musical segments. He also served as Dano's music coach.{{cite news|last1=Forman|first1=Bill|title=Inside Brian Wilson Musician Darian Sahanaja on playing with the revered Beach Boy and consulting on Love & Mercy|url=http://www.csindy.com/coloradosprings/darian-sahanaja-on-playing-with-brian-wilson/Content?oid=3105483|work=Colorado Springs Independent|date=June 5, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611195034/http://www.csindy.com/coloradosprings/darian-sahanaja-on-playing-with-brian-wilson/Content?oid=3105483|archive-date=June 11, 2015|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|first1=Peter|last1=Gilstrap|title=Inside Brian Wilson's room: The famed Beach Boy opens up about mental illness, medication, manipulation and the movie about his life|url=http://www.salon.com/2015/06/03/inside_brian_wilsons_room_the_famed_beach_boy_opens_up_about_mental_illness_medication_manipulation_and_the_movie_about_his_life/|work=Salon|date=June 3, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804234324/http://www.salon.com/2015/06/03/inside_brian_wilsons_room_the_famed_beach_boy_opens_up_about_mental_illness_medication_manipulation_and_the_movie_about_his_life/|archive-date=August 4, 2015|df=mdy-all}}{{cite magazine|last1=Greene|first1=Andy|title=Meet Brian Wilson's Secret Weapon: Darian Sahanaja|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 30, 2015|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/meet-brian-wilsons-secret-weapon-darian-sahanaja-20150630|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704005729/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/meet-brian-wilsons-secret-weapon-darian-sahanaja-20150630|archive-date=July 4, 2017|df=mdy-all}}

{{quote box

|align=right

|salign = left

|quote=There are so many things that went on in his life that were like, you've got to be kidding. ... Nobody's ever going to believe that, but with a lot of things in the movie, we didn't want to back away from it or create something that was false. ... So we tried to make it as genuine as we could and to be straightforward about it and not back away.

|source=—Bill Pohlad, June 2015

|width = 25%

}}

Real footage of Wilson appears in the film because of Pohlad's concern that audiences wouldn't believe Wilson actually acts like how he is portrayed in the movie. In Giamatti's view: "The problem was that no one is going to believe a lot of this was for real. It's so much more bizarre than you could actually show." Some events in Wilson's life were, in Pohlad's words, "something that seems like a screenwriter made up just to take the easy way out," though he maintains that no "Hollywood touch" was added to the story. While there was an expectation among the cast and crew that audiences would find elements of the film too outlandish or grandstanding, the decision was made to keep everything as factual as possible.{{cite web|last1=Ruskin|first1=Zack|title=Inside Brian Wilson: An Interview with Bill Pohlad|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/06/interview-director-bill-pohlad/|work=Consequence of Sound|date=June 2, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20151015134503/http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/06/interview-director-bill-pohlad/|archive-date=October 15, 2015|df=mdy-all}}

In order to write the script, Moverman consulted a wealth of books and articles in addition to speaking to people who knew Wilson in the 1960s and 1980s.{{cite web|last1=Fernandez|first1=Jay A.|title=Behind the Beach Boys: A Q&A with Oren Moverman|url=http://www.wordandfilm.com/2015/06/qa-woren-moverman-co-writer-brian-wilson-biopic-love-mercy/|work=Word and Film|date=June 4, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711004932/http://www.wordandfilm.com/2015/06/qa-woren-moverman-co-writer-brian-wilson-biopic-love-mercy/|archive-date=July 11, 2015|df=mdy-all|access-date=August 1, 2015}} He felt that Landy was the most difficult character to write for, as he says: "even though many things that he [Landy] says in the movie I actually have recording of, in real life he was a cartoon and in real life he was so over the top."{{cite web|last1=Weintraub|first1=Steve|title=LOVE & MERCY Screenwriter Oren Moverman on Brian Wilson's Mythology, Fact vs. Fiction, and More|url=https://collider.com/love-and-mercy-oren-moverman-on-making-a-cinematic-brian-williams-biopic/|work=Collider|date=June 6, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20150607113013/http://collider.com/love-and-mercy-oren-moverman-on-making-a-cinematic-brian-williams-biopic/|archive-date=June 7, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Moverman has maintained that everything in the 1980s portions actually happened based on conversations he had had with Ledbetter, with a few exceptions being some topics of conversation spoken by the character Wilson in the film – they derived from Moverman's research but were unknown to have happened in real life.

Slate pointed out that, contrary to what is depicted in the film, Landy did not accompany Wilson and Ledbetter on their first date. Instead, his assistants did, though Landy checked in by phone numerous times. In the 2006 biography Catch a Wave, Peter Ames Carlin credited Beach Boys fan Peter Reum and biographer David Leaf for bringing Brian's condition to the attention of Carl Wilson, whereas the film depicts Ledbetter contacting Carl by phone. Slate adds that Ledbetter is aided in the film by Wilson's housekeeper, Gloria Ramos, who – along with Leaf – is given special thanks in the liner notes to several of Wilson's albums. The Weeklings observed that Carl is "barely an entity" in the film despite having had a major role in getting rid of Landy.{{cite web|last1=Warren|first1=Robert Burke|title=Love & Mercy and the Saving of Brian WILSON|url=http://www.theweeklings.com/rbwarren/2015/06/15/love-mercy-and-the-saving-of-brian-wilson/|work=The Weeklings|date=June 15, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615191421/http://www.theweeklings.com/rbwarren/2015/06/15/love-mercy-and-the-saving-of-brian-wilson/|archive-date=June 15, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Other notable real life people who appear in the film – but are given markedly reduced significance – include Wilson's family in the 1960s and Smile collaborator Van Dyke Parks.{{cite web|last1=Wolgamott|first1=L. Kent|title=Review: 'Love & Mercy' a superb biopic about Beach Boys' Brian Wilson|url=http://journalstar.com/entertainment/movies/review-love-mercy-a-superb-biopic-about-beach-boys-brian/article_aeb1b8ce-3036-5bf3-be3e-0c9bd2164baa.html|work=Journal Star|date=June 18, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624192310/http://journalstar.com/entertainment/movies/review-love-mercy-a-superb-biopic-about-beach-boys-brian/article_aeb1b8ce-3036-5bf3-be3e-0c9bd2164baa.html|archive-date=June 24, 2015|df=mdy-all}}

In July 2014, a premiere screening was announced in the Special Presentations section of the September 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. It was shown on September 7, 8 and 11. Wilson was in attendance at the first screening.{{cite web|last1=Burns|first1=Andy|title=TIFF 2014: Love & Mercy Reviewed|url=http://biffbampop.com/2014/09/08/tiff-2014-love-and-mercy-reviewed/|work=Biff Bam Pop!|access-date=September 8, 2014|date=September 8, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20140910020454/http://biffbampop.com/2014/09/08/tiff-2014-love-and-mercy-reviewed/|archive-date=September 10, 2014|df=mdy-all}} Ioncinema ranked Love & Mercy #153 in its list of "Top 200 Most Anticipated Films for 2014" and wrote: "you can be sure that programmers from Cannes to Toronto have already found time to grab a first look. This will receive a red carpet showing wherever it premieres and should at that point be picked up for distribution."{{cite web|last1=Lavallee|first1=Eric|title=Top 200 Most Anticipated Films for 2014: #153. Bill Pohlad's Love & Mercy|url=http://www.ioncinema.com/news/annual-top-films-lists/top-200-most-anticipated-films-for-2014-153-bill-pohlad-love-and-mercy#sthash.nop6DJ3z.dpuf|work=Ioncinema|access-date=July 13, 2014|date=February 7, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714181147/http://www.ioncinema.com/news/annual-top-films-lists/top-200-most-anticipated-films-for-2014-153-bill-pohlad-love-and-mercy#sthash.nop6DJ3z.dpuf|archive-date=July 14, 2014|df=mdy-all}} The Huffington Post speculated the film to be one of eighteen most-talked-about at the 2014 Toronto Film Festival.{{cite web|last1=Rosen|first1=Christopher|title=18 Movies Everyone Will Talk About at TIFF 2014|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/23/tiff-2014-lineup_n_5610857.html|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=August 2, 2014|date=July 23, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726161009/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/23/tiff-2014-lineup_n_5610857.html|archive-date=July 26, 2014|df=mdy-all}} The Hollywood Reporter revealed that it was in the festival's top 15 in ticket sales.{{cite web|last1=McClintock|first1=Pamela|title=Toronto: Stars Power 15 Hottest Festival Titles|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-stars-power-15-hottest-728378|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=September 4, 2014|date=September 2, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905060915/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-stars-power-15-hottest-728378|archive-date=September 5, 2014|df=mdy-all}}

North American rights were purchased for $3 million.{{cite web|last1=Siegel|first1=Tatiana|title=Toronto: Lionsgate Nabs Beach Boys Biopic 'Love & Mercy'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-lionsgate-nabs-beach-boys-731840|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=September 10, 2014|date=September 10, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911062615/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-lionsgate-nabs-beach-boys-731840|archive-date=September 11, 2014|df=mdy-all}} For its premiere in Europe, the film was screened in the Berlinale Special Galas section of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival.{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/presse/pressemitteilungen/alle/Alle-Detail_26516.html |title=Many World Premieres in the Berlinale Special 2015 |access-date=January 17, 2015 |work=Berlinale |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121134023/http://www.berlinale.de/en/presse/pressemitteilungen/alle/Alle-Detail_26516.html |archive-date=January 21, 2015 |df=mdy-all }} Wilson also attended this screening.{{cite web|last1=Roxborough|first1=Scott|title=Berlin: Good Vibrations as Beach Boy Brian Wilson, Donovan Set for Festival|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/berlin-beach-boy-brian-wilson-767501|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=January 27, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130082703/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/berlin-beach-boy-brian-wilson-767501|archive-date=January 30, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Its American premier was at the South by Southwest (SXSW) film festival in March 2015.{{cite web|last1=Minsker|first1=Evan|title=Brian Wilson Biopic, Tower Records Documentary to Screen at SXSW|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/58330-brian-wilson-biopic-tower-records-documentary-to-screen-at-sxsw/|website=Pitchfork|date=February 4, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205142215/http://pitchfork.com/news/58330-brian-wilson-biopic-tower-records-documentary-to-screen-at-sxsw/|archive-date=February 5, 2015|df=mdy-all}}

Roadside Attractions distributed the film to North American theaters on June 5, 2015. In other countries, the film will be released by Lions Gate Entertainment.{{cite news|last1=Fessier|first1=Bruce|title=Beach Boys' Brian Wilson talks Robin Williams|url=http://www.desertsun.com/story/life/entertainment/music/2014/08/27/beach-boys-brian-wilson/14716185/|access-date=August 28, 2014|work=The Desert Sun|date=August 28, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903201348/http://www.desertsun.com/story/life/entertainment/music/2014/08/27/beach-boys-brian-wilson/14716185/|archive-date=September 3, 2014|df=mdy-all}} A teaser trailer for the film was released in February 2015,{{cite magazine|last1=Grow|first1=Kory|title=See Brian Wilson's Struggle in 'Love & Mercy' Trailer|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/see-brian-wilsons-struggle-in-love-and-mercy-trailer-20150226|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=February 26, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922010841/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/see-brian-wilsons-struggle-in-love-and-mercy-trailer-20150226|archive-date=September 22, 2017|df=mdy-all}} with an extended trailer following in April.{{cite magazine|last1=Grow|first1=Kory|title=Brian Wilson Faces Manipulation in New 'Love & Mercy' Trailer|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/videos/brian-wilson-faces-manipulation-in-new-love-mercy-trailer-20150414|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 14, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103163103/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/videos/brian-wilson-faces-manipulation-in-new-love-mercy-trailer-20150414|archive-date=January 3, 2017|df=mdy-all}} Co-president of Roadside Attractions Howard Cohen said that it refrained from "rushing" the film for the 2014 awards season: "Pretty early on, we said, 'let's put it in June; let's give it space. Let's let it be the movie for its audience when it comes out, as opposed to [being] one of eight.'"{{cite news|last1=Foundas|first1=Scott|title='Love & Mercy': Bill Pohlad Takes on Beach Boys Icon Brian Wilson's Tortured Past|work=Variety|date=May 26, 2015|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/love-mercy-brian-wilson-bill-pohlad-beach-boys-1201505018/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930215046/http://variety.com/2015/film/news/love-mercy-brian-wilson-bill-pohlad-beach-boys-1201505018/|archive-date=September 30, 2017|df=mdy-all}} On August 25, 2015, the film was made available on digital media{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} and September 15 on physical Blu-ray.{{cite web|title=Love & Mercy Blu-ray|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=17179|website=Blu-ray.com|date=July 15, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150718015354/http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=17179|archive-date=July 18, 2015|df=mdy-all}}

File:Brian Wilson 2012.jpg|date=April 1, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702184212/https://www.yahoo.com/music/brian-wilsons-impeccable-re-return-i-take-a-lot-115224663666.html|archive-date=July 2, 2015|df=mdy-all}}]]

In October 2013, Wilson enthused, "We've seen some of the film. So far, so good. The guy who plays me, John Cusack, he's really good. And he sings well,"{{cite news|last=Ruggiero|first=Bob|title=For Brian Wilson and Al Jardine, Life's a (Busy) Beach|url=http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2013/10/life_is_a_busy_beach_for_brian.php|work=Houston Press|access-date=October 2, 2013|date=October 1, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20131003203411/http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2013/10/life_is_a_busy_beach_for_brian.php|archive-date=October 3, 2013|df=mdy-all}} and that "It's quite a thrill to have a movie made of my life. ... I'm very sentimental about it, and it's very, very good. It was a trip to see. The actors and actresses portrayed everybody really well."{{cite magazine|last=Graff|first=Gary|title=Brian Wilson Says Album With Jeff Beck Is 'Different Than Anything I've Ever Done'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5755435/brian-wilson-says-album-with-jeff-beck-is-different-than-anything-ive-ever|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 15, 2013|location=Detroit|date=October 14, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014145441/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5755435/brian-wilson-says-album-with-jeff-beck-is-different-than-anything-ive-ever|archive-date=October 14, 2013|df=mdy-all}} Dano worried that the film's highly personal content would trouble Wilson, but he reported that Wilson loved the film at its premiere screening, saying "he's a little unfiltered, so you would know if he didn't."{{cite web|last1=Hodgson|first1=Jeffrey|title=For Beach Boy biopic, actors tap Wilson's good musical vibrations|url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/beach-boy-biopic-actors-tap-wilsons-good-musical-210040508.html|access-date=September 10, 2014|date=September 9, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910200140/https://uk.news.yahoo.com/beach-boy-biopic-actors-tap-wilsons-good-musical-210040508.html|archive-date=September 10, 2014|df=mdy-all}}

Wilson felt that the film was "very factual" (with Dano succeeding at his portrayal better than Cusack){{cite web|last1=Charlton|first1=Lauretta|title=Brian Wilson on His New Album and Biopic|date=March 26, 2015|url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/03/brian-wilson-interview.html|work=Vulture|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327040629/http://www.vulture.com/2015/03/brian-wilson-interview.html|archive-date=March 27, 2015|df=mdy-all}} and that each character was cast so well that he "actually believed those characters were really who they were, like the guy who played Doctor Landy was so right on ... that it absolutely scared me. [I was] like absolutely in fear for about ten minutes."{{cite AV media|medium=video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMzuo5eBR2M|title="John Cusack, Brian Wilson and Bill Pohlad talk to FOX 7 about "Love & Mercy"|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151206214450/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMzuo5eBR2M|archive-date=December 6, 2015|df=mdy-all}} On the studio scenes: "[They were] very factual, accurate, stimulating. I was really blown away by how close [Dano] got to my personality. It's amazing."{{cite news|last1=Caro|first1=Mark|title=Brian Wilson, John Cusack on the alchemy of 'Love & Mercy'|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-brian-wilson-john-cusack-20150529-story.html#page=1|work=Chicago Tribune|date=May 29, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530040740/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-brian-wilson-john-cusack-20150529-story.html#page=1|archive-date=May 30, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Wilson said that he was "very concerned" but hopeful that the other surviving Beach Boys would enjoy the film.{{cite web|work=ABC Radio|title=Brian Wilson Says New Biopic "Brings Back Some Good Memories and Some Lousy Memories"|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2015/6/5/brian-wilson-says-new-biopic-brings-back-some-good-memories.html|date=June 5, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20150608094355/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2015/6/5/brian-wilson-says-new-biopic-brings-back-some-good-memories.html|archive-date=June 8, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Regarding the trust that Wilson and Ledbetter gave Pohlad for him to construct a true portrait of their lives, Pohlad recounted:

{{blockquote|Melinda was the first one to see the first, rougher cut of it, before Brian did. It's as much about her as it is about Brian. I was curious to see what her reaction would be, and she was definitely shaken. ... You think, "Oh, I didn't say that," or "It was better than that" or worse than that. It's a tough thing, so you need some time to let it sink in. I know that Brian believes in many cases in the movie that we were, let's say, fairer to certain people than they actually deserved, maybe. Without getting into details. As harsh as it might be, he thinks that there was some reality that was even harsher than that.}}

Ledbetter said after watching the film: "I remembered that what Landy did to Brian was even worse. You don't get a sense of it in the movie, but it happened on a daily basis, for years."{{cite news|last1=Phull|first1=Hardeep|title=How one quack doctor almost destroyed Brian Wilson's career|url=https://nypost.com/2015/06/04/how-one-quack-doctor-almost-destroyed-brian-wilsons-career/|work=New York Post|date=June 4, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119021609/https://nypost.com/2015/06/04/how-one-quack-doctor-almost-destroyed-brian-wilsons-career/|archive-date=November 19, 2017|df=mdy-all}} Al Jardine called the movie "a great biography and pretty darn close to the way I remember it."{{cite news|last1=O'Shei|first1=Tim|title=A conversation with Brian Wilson|url=http://buffalo.com/2015/10/06/featured/a-conversation-with-brian-wilson/|work=The Buffalo News|date=October 6, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191251/http://buffalo.com/2015/10/06/featured/a-conversation-with-brian-wilson/|archive-date=March 4, 2016|df=mdy-all}} Landy's son Evan has disputed the film's accuracy, believing that his father was unfairly portrayed.{{cite news|last1=Whitall|first1=Susan|title=Brian Wilson talks about 'Love & Mercy,' concert tour|url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/06/29/brian-wilson-beach-boys-love-mercy-fox-theatre-rodriguez/29475757/|work=The Detroit News|date=June 29, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805101925/http://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/06/29/brian-wilson-beach-boys-love-mercy-fox-theatre-rodriguez/29475757/|archive-date=August 5, 2015|df=mdy-all}}

File:Mike Love (7314675622).jpg, Mike Love said that he was denied an advance screening of the film, adding: "I don't really need to see it. I've lived it."{{cite magazine|last=Hedegaard|first=Erik|magazine=Rolling Stone|title=The Ballad of Mike Love |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-ballad-of-mike-love-170168/ |date=February 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180912154740/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-ballad-of-mike-love-170168/ |archive-date=September 12, 2018}}]]

A few days after the film's wide distribution, Mike Love reported that he was waiting for a chance to see the film before offering his opinion. He also addressed comments by Evan Landy that had been published in the New York Post, calling the article "very interesting because you get an intimate look at someone who was with Brian every day for a few years".{{cite journal|last1=Gillette|first1=Sam|title=Mike Love of Beach Boys on Love & Mercy: 'Poor Brian, He's Had a Rough, Rough Time'|journal=Bedford and Bowery|date=June 10, 2015|url=http://bedfordandbowery.com/2015/06/mike-love-of-beach-boys-on-love-mercy-poor-brian-hes-had-a-rough-rough-time/|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20150703133246/http://bedfordandbowery.com/2015/06/mike-love-of-beach-boys-on-love-mercy-poor-brian-hes-had-a-rough-rough-time/|archive-date=July 3, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Asked if he was aware of inaccuracies in the film, he responded: "That Melinda saved Brian from Dr. Landy. That was my brother Stan Love and Carl [Wilson] who stepped in. Landy was, in fact, over-reaching." He also denied that he was ever verbally cruel to Brian: "Total bull, a fallacy. Brian and I had always been friends."{{cite news|last1=Kerns|first1=William|title=Kerns: Love providing 'Good Vibrations' as original Beach Boy|url=http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2016-03-05/kerns-love-providing-good-vibrations-original-beach-boy#.VuTbWlUrJvw|date=March 5, 2016|work=Lubbock Online|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313125312/http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2016-03-05/kerns-love-providing-good-vibrations-original-beach-boy#.VuTbWlUrJvw|archive-date=March 13, 2016|df=mdy-all}} In a late 2016 interview to promote his autobiography, Good Vibrations, he described the film as "a fairy tale" that "should have been done by Disney" and referred to his memoir for further explanation.{{cite web |last1=Tamarkin |first1=Jeff |title=Beach Boys' Mike Love Talks 'Pet Sounds' |url=https://bestclassicbands.com/mike-love-interview-pet-sounds-9-13-1666/ |website=Best Classic Bands |date=March 15, 2023 |access-date=March 31, 2023}}

Van Dyke Parks, who had not watched the film, expressed disappointment over its alleged omissions and stated: "I've likened the bowed, secco 8th-note cello triplets in 'Good Vibrations' (my idea) to the signature shot of the 'ruby slippers' in The Wizard of Oz. An audio tape in the Capitol Records' archives reveals my voice [at the session] ... And nothing can explain the number of times one hears 'Count it off Van Dyke.'"{{cite web|last1=Zollo|first1=Paul|title=The Paul Zollo Blog: Van Dyke Parks On His Portrayal In Love & Mercy|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2015/06/paul-zollo-blog-van-dyke-parks-portrayal-love-mercy/|website=American Songwriter|date=June 25, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626131243/http://www.americansongwriter.com/2015/06/paul-zollo-blog-van-dyke-parks-portrayal-love-mercy/|archive-date=June 26, 2015|df=mdy-all}}

The film earned $2.1 million during its opening weekend, averaging $4,421 between 480 theaters; eventually expanding to 792 theaters. It went on to gross $12.6 million in the United States and Canada and $16.1 million in other territories for a total gross of $28.6 million.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 90% based on 216 reviews, with an average rating of 7.70/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "As unconventional and unwieldy as the life and legacy it honors, Love & Mercy should prove moving for Brian Wilson fans while still satisfying neophytes."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/love_and_mercy/|title=Love & Mercy (2015)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango Media|access-date=January 22, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127035552/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/love_and_mercy/|archive-date=November 27, 2017|df=mdy-all}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 80 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/love-mercy|title=Love & Mercy Reviews|website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=May 6, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616225859/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/love-mercy|archive-date=June 16, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2015/06/spy-no-1-weekend-box-office-insidious-entourage-1201438729|title='Spy' No. 1; 'San Andreas' Above 'Insidious 3' & 'Entourage' In Third Down Weekend- Monday Final|first=Anthony D'Alessandro, Anita|last=Busch|date=June 8, 2015|website=deadline.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423034007/http://deadline.com/2015/06/spy-no-1-weekend-box-office-insidious-entourage-1201438729/|archive-date=April 23, 2018|df=mdy-all}}

The film was well received at the 2014 Toronto Film Festival screening. Audiences rose for a standing ovation, while early reviews unanimously lauded the film.{{cite web|last1=Campbell|first1=Tim|title=Good Vibrations for Bill Pohlad's Beach Boy biopic|url=http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/blogs/274494371.html|work=Star Tribune|access-date=September 9, 2014|date=September 9, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911003821/http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/blogs/274494371.html|archive-date=September 11, 2014|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|last1=Lammers|first1=Tim|title=Minnesota filmmaker Pohlad unveils Brian Wilson biopic|url=http://bringmethenews.com/2014/09/08/minnesota-filmmaker-pohlad-unveils-brian-wilson-biopic/|access-date=September 8, 2014|website=bringmethenews.com |location=Minnesota|date=September 8, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20140910222034/http://bringmethenews.com/2014/09/08/minnesota-filmmaker-pohlad-unveils-brian-wilson-biopic/|archive-date=September 10, 2014|df=mdy-all}} Among many music-related films shown at the Toronto Festival,{{refn|group=nb|Including Roger Waters: The Wall, The Last Five Years, and Eden.}} The Wrap deemed Love & Mercy the "boldest" of the crop, while The Washington Post proclaimed that it had "stolen the show," comparing to its other films as "an unexpected, undisputed triumph."{{cite news|last1=Hornaday|first1=Ann|title=At film festival, Bill Murray makes a splash, but Brian Wilson biopic steals the show|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/at-film-festival-bill-murray-makes-a-splash-but-brian-wilson-biopic-steals-the-show/2014/09/10/f1e4a52e-3878-11e4-8601-97ba88884ffd_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=May 1, 2023|date=September 10, 2014}} The film continued to receive a positive reception at further screenings.{{cite web|last1=Topel|first1=Fred|title=SXSW 2015 Review: 'Love & Mercy' Smiles on Brian Wilson|url=http://www.craveonline.com/film/reviews/834675-sxsw-2015-review-love-mercy|website=Crave Online|date=March 15, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318051150/http://www.craveonline.com/film/reviews/834675-sxsw-2015-review-love-mercy|archive-date=March 18, 2015|df=mdy-all}}{{refn|group=nb|Several reviewers described Love & Mercy as distinctive from typical biopics. Dano, Banks, and Cusack's performances received praise, with some naming Cusack's portrayal one of his best performances to date,{{cite news|last1=Bell|first1=Josh|title='Love & Mercy' Captures the Essence of Beach Boy Brian Wilson|url=http://lasvegasweekly.com/ae/film/2015/jun/03/film-review-love-and-mercy-brian-wilson/|work=Las Vegas Weekly|date=June 3, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611140217/http://lasvegasweekly.com/ae/film/2015/jun/03/film-review-love-and-mercy-brian-wilson/|archive-date=June 11, 2015|df=mdy-all}} and Dano's as Oscar-worthy.{{cite web|last1=Bennett|first1=Bruce|title=Loving this Beach Boy-based film isn't hard|url=http://www.thespectrum.com/story/entertainment/2015/07/30/loving-beach-boy-based-film-hard/30849035/|work=The Spectrum|date=July 30, 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Pond|first1=Neil|title=Review: Love & Mercy Has Good Vibrations|url=http://parade.com/410178/npond/review-love-mercy-has-good-vibrations/|work=Parade|date=July 18, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801023910/http://parade.com/410178/npond/review-love-mercy-has-good-vibrations/|archive-date=August 1, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Other highlights included the original score by Atticus Ross, cinematography by Robert Yeoman,{{cite news|last1=McWeeny|first1=Drew|title=Review: John Cusack and Paul Dano give voice to Brian Wilson's broken soul in 'Love & Mercy'|url=http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captured/review-john-cusack-and-paul-dano-give-voice-to-brian-wilsons-broken-soul-in-love-mercy|work=HitFix|date=September 10, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703093429/http://www.hitfix.com/motion-captured/review-john-cusack-and-paul-dano-give-voice-to-brian-wilsons-broken-soul-in-love-mercy|archive-date=July 3, 2015|df=mdy-all}} and the film's depiction of the songwriting/recording process.{{cite web|last1=Gleiberman|first1=Owen|title=Toronto review: Brian Wilson film Love & Mercy|url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20140911-beach-boys-film-a-miracle|work=BBC|access-date=September 11, 2014|date=September 11, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912074447/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20140911-beach-boys-film-a-miracle|archive-date=September 12, 2014|df=mdy-all}} Many publications awarded the film a perfect score,{{refn|group=nb|Including the San Francisco Chronicle,{{cite news|last1=LaSalle|first1=Mick|title='Love & Mercy': Wilson biopic a great movie about an artist|url=http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Love-Mercy-great-movie-about-an-artist-6305334.php|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=June 4, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606054727/http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Love-Mercy-great-movie-about-an-artist-6305334.php|archive-date=June 6, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Chicago Tribune,{{cite news|last1=Phillips|first1=Michael|title='Love & Mercy' review: Brian Wilson biopic sings|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-love-and-mercy-review-brian-wilson-review-phillips-20150602-column.html|work=Chicago Tribune|date=June 2, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605233029/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-love-and-mercy-review-brian-wilson-review-phillips-20150602-column.html|archive-date=June 5, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Washington Post,{{cite news|last1=Hornaday|first1=Ann|title='Love & Mercy' channels Brian Wilson's angels and demons|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/love-and-mercy-channels-brian-wilsons-angels-and-demons/2015/06/04/4c10964a-0955-11e5-95fd-d580f1c5d44e_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 4, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923002214/https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/love-and-mercy-channels-brian-wilsons-angels-and-demons/2015/06/04/4c10964a-0955-11e5-95fd-d580f1c5d44e_story.html|archive-date=September 23, 2017|df=mdy-all}} Tampa Bay Times,{{cite news|last1=Persall|first1=Steve|title=Review: 'Love & Mercy' a stunning biopic of Beach Boy Brian Wilson|url=https://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/movies/review-love--mercy-a-stunning-biopic-of-beach-boy-brian-wilson/2231967/|work=The Tampa Bay Times|date=June 2, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608002847/http://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/movies/review-love--mercy-a-stunning-biopic-of-beach-boy-brian-wilson/2231967|archive-date=June 8, 2015|df=mdy-all}} Village Voice,{{cite news|first1=Stephanie|last1=Zacharek|title=Love & Mercy Lets Us Hear Brian Wilson Turn Pain into Sound|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2015-06-03/film/love-and-mercy-movie-review/|work=The Village Voice|date=June 3, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607024921/http://www.villagevoice.com/2015-06-03/film/love-and-mercy-movie-review/|archive-date=June 7, 2015|df=mdy-all}} BBC, and HitFix.}} while reviews speculated that the movie would be a contender for the Academy Awards.{{cite news|last1=Hughes|first1=Mark|title=Review: 'Love & Mercy' Is An Oscar-Caliber Beach Boys Biopic|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2015/06/05/review-love-and-mercy-is-an-oscar-caliber-beach-boys-biopic/|work=Forbes|date=June 5, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923003741/https://www.forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2015/06/05/review-love-and-mercy-is-an-oscar-caliber-beach-boys-biopic/|archive-date=September 23, 2017|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|last1=Malkin|first1=Marc|title=Early Oscar Buzz for Love & Mercy: Tells the Real Story Behind Beach Boys Icon Brian Wilson's Tortured Life|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/662869/early-oscar-buzz-for-love-mercy-tells-the-real-story-behind-beach-boys-icon-brian-wilson-s-tortured-life|website=Eonline|date=June 4, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817144751/http://www.eonline.com/news/662869/early-oscar-buzz-for-love-mercy-tells-the-real-story-behind-beach-boys-icon-brian-wilson-s-tortured-life|archive-date=August 17, 2015|df=mdy-all}}{{cite news|last1=Feinberg|first1=Scott|title=Oscars at Mid-Year: Which Films Are Already Contenders? (Analysis)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/oscar-contenders-2015-films-are-803978|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 22, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150729205038/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/oscar-contenders-2015-films-are-803978|archive-date=July 29, 2015|df=mdy-all}}}}

The film was listed as one of the best movies of 2015 by TIME{{cite magazine|title=Here Are the Best Movies of 2015 So Far|url=https://time.com/3927082/best-movies-2015-so-far/|magazine=TIME|date=June 23, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806114930/http://time.com/3927082/best-movies-2015-so-far/|archive-date=August 6, 2015|df=mdy-all}} and by Rolling Stone who also deemed it "one of the best music biopics ever".{{cite magazine|last1=Travers|first1=Peter|title=7 Best Movies of 2015 So Far|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/lists/7-best-movies-of-2015-so-far-20150623/love-mercy-20150622|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 23, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304133920/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/lists/7-best-movies-of-2015-so-far-20150623/love-mercy-20150622|archive-date=March 4, 2017|df=mdy-all}} Consequence of Sound said: "Not since Anton Corbijn's Control, his excellent 2007 retelling of the life and death of Ian Curtis and Joy Division, has a biopic felt so authentic and conditional of its own subject." NPR wrote in an analysis of recent music films: "Love & Mercy makes a fascinating leap by suggesting that the Beach Boys auteur constructed his inimitable soundscapes as a way of dealing with auditory hallucinations – making pop songs that go deep, in part, because they were designed to converse with the voices in his head."{{cite web|last1=Powers|first1=Ann|title=Why Films About Musicians Leave So Much Music Off Screen|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2015/07/07/420818746/why-films-about-musicians-leave-so-much-music-off-screen|website=NPR|date=July 7, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825044039/http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2015/07/07/420818746/why-films-about-musicians-leave-so-much-music-off-screen|archive-date=August 25, 2017|df=mdy-all}} The Hollywood Reporter reviewed it favorably, calling it "a deeply satisfying pop biopic whose subject's bifurcated creative life lends itself to an unconventional structure ... [Cusack's] effectiveness [is] limited only by his lack of a physical resemblance to the songwriter. That will be a stumbling block for some fans, but those who can get beyond it will find a very fine film about a singular artist."{{cite web|last1=DeFore|first1=John|title='Love & Mercy': Toronto Review|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/love-mercy-toronto-review-730952|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=September 8, 2014|date=September 8, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908145024/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/love-mercy-toronto-review-730952|archive-date=September 8, 2014|df=mdy-all}}

The Guardian awarded the film three stars out of five, praising Cusack and Dano's performances, but criticizing the film's "neat" portrayal of Wilson's mental illness and other aspects of his life.{{cite news|last1=Barnes|first1=Henry|title=Love & Mercy review – a warm tribute to the extraordinary life of Brian Wilson|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/sep/08/love-and-mercy-review-brian-wilson-biopic|work=The Guardian|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203025810/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/sep/08/love-and-mercy-review-brian-wilson-biopic|archive-date=December 3, 2016|df=mdy-all}} IndieWire gave the film a B+ and wrote that, while Landy's character lacked depth, "It's fascinating to watch the songwriter dash frantically around the studio, orchestrating a dozen sounds into auditory unity that only he understands. No matter what else happens in the plot, Love & Mercy excels at placing the music front and center."{{cite news|last1=Kohn|first1=Eric|title=Toronto Review: Brian Wilson Portrait 'Love & Mercy' Isn't Your Average Biopic|url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/toronto-review-brian-wilson-portrait-love-mercy-isnt-your-average-biopic-20140909|work=IndieWire|access-date=September 10, 2014|date=September 9, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911001635/http://www.indiewire.com/article/toronto-review-brian-wilson-portrait-love-mercy-isnt-your-average-biopic-20140909|archive-date=September 11, 2014|df=mdy-all}} An additional review by the publication wrote: "[T]he film has plenty of love and mercy for its subject, but also some edginess, in what is a fascinating look at one of popular music's most important and influential songwriters."{{cite web|last1=Jagernauth|first1=Kevin|title=TIFF Review: 'Love & Mercy' Starring Paul Dano, John Cusack, Elizabeth Banks & Paul Giamatti|url=http://www.indiewire.com/theplaylist/tiff-review-love-mercy-starring-paul-dano-john-cusack-elizabeth-banks-paul-giamatti-20140908|website=IndieWire|access-date=September 8, 2014|date=September 8, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20140909110919/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/tiff-review-love-mercy-starring-paul-dano-john-cusack-elizabeth-banks-paul-giamatti-20140908|archive-date=September 9, 2014|df=mdy-all}} Maclean's took issue with the film's glorification of Wilson, claiming that it reduced from "biography" into "hagiography", yet maintains "the soundtrack is unimpeachable, and Pohlad offers a riveting look at how Wilson crafted such aural wonders as 'God Only Knows' and 'Good Vibrations'."{{cite web|last1=Hertz|first1=Barry|title=TIFF 2014 Diary: Getting good vibrations with Brian Wilson|url=http://www.macleans.ca/culture/tiff-2014-diary-getting-good-vibrations-with-brian-wilson/|website=Maclean's|access-date=September 9, 2014|location=Canada|date=September 9, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909162720/http://www.macleans.ca/culture/tiff-2014-diary-getting-good-vibrations-with-brian-wilson/|archive-date=September 9, 2014|df=mdy-all}}

The publication Biography felt that the film's source material "inadvertently" reiterates plot devices used by typical biopics, and that, "For better or worse, Brian Wilson is suitably charismatic when he's absolutely bonkers and hearing voices, and relatively boring after he's supposedly cured by a new drug regimen and his wife's benevolence."{{cite web|last1=Porton|first1=Richard|title=TIFF: "Love & Mercy" & The Tortured Genius of Brian Wilson|url=http://www.biography.com/news/love-and-mercy-brian-wilson-review|website=Biography|access-date=September 11, 2014|date=September 11, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911193535/http://www.biography.com/news/love-and-mercy-brian-wilson-review|archive-date=September 11, 2014|df=mdy-all}} Grantland was less enthusiastic, writing that the film's characters were treated too graciously in contrast to Giamatti's Landy, in order for the 1980s scenes to remain interesting; however, the treatment assures that "the 1960s sequences work because they use the musician's damaged psyche as a creative spark", something which Dano excelled at during his performance.{{cite web|last1=Morris|first1=Wesley|title=Toronto Film Festival Diary: John Cusack As a Beach Boy, Jon Stewart and Chris Rock As Directors, and Naomi Watts 'Dancing' to 2Pac|url=http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/toronto-film-festival-2014-john-cusack-jon-stewart-chris-rock/|website=Grantland|access-date=September 11, 2014|date=September 9, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911035538/http://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/toronto-film-festival-2014-john-cusack-jon-stewart-chris-rock/|archive-date=September 11, 2014|df=mdy-all}}

{{reflist|group=nb}}

{{reflist}}

• {{mojo title|loveandmercy|Love & Mercy}}
• {{IMDb title|0903657|Love & Mercy}}
• {{Metacritic film|title=Love & Mercy}}
• {{rotten-tomatoes|love_and_mercy|Love & Mercy}}

{{Oren Moverman}}

{{Brian Wilson}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Love and Mercy}}

Category:Brian Wilson

Category:2014 films

Category:2010s psychological drama films

Category:American biographical films

Category:American musical films

Category:American psychological drama films

Category:American rock music films

Category:Biographical films about musicians

Category:Biographical films about singers

Category:Films about bipolar disorder

Category:Films about musical groups

Category:American docudrama films

Category:Drama films based on actual events

Category:Films about psychiatry

Category:Films about the Beach Boys

Category:Films set in the 1960s

Category:Films set in 1964

Category:Films set in 1965

Category:Films set in 1966

Category:Films set in 1967

Category:Films set in 1968

Category:Films set in the 1970s

Category:Films set in the 1980s

Category:Films set in 1986

Category:Films set in 1987

Category:Films set in Los Angeles

Category:Films set in Los Angeles County, California

Category:Films set in Malibu, California

Category:Films shot in Los Angeles

Category:Lionsgate films

Category:Musical films based on actual events

Category:American nonlinear narrative films

Category:Films with screenplays by Oren Moverman

Category:Roadside Attractions films

Category:Films set in the 1990s

Category:Films scored by Atticus Ross

Category:2014 drama films

Category:2014 independent films

Category:2010s English-language films

Category:Films directed by Bill Pohlad

Category:2010s American films

Category:English-language independent films

Category:English-language musical films

Category:2014 musical films