Brian Wilson, the legendary Beach Boys singer and songwriter, passed away on Wednesday, June 11, at the age of 82.
As we look back on his life, Watch With Us is honoring his legacy by recommending three movies about Wilson’s life.
From documentaries to biopics, these films pay tribute to this influential, somewhat mysterious artist and the incredible legacy he leaves behind.
‘Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road’ (2021)
For a more recent look at Wilson later in his life, check out this 2021 documentary. Rolling Stone editor Jason Fine interviews Wilson in the movie, showcasing their longstanding relationship. The duo drives through Los Angeles together, reminiscing as Wilson offers rare insights into his life and music.
It’s clear that Wilson and Fine have a genuine friendship, making the conversation flow more easily and granting a perspective on Wilson that’s rarely seen. (One critic referred to Wilson as a “notoriously bad interview,” noting that he simply doesn’t like to answer questions about his past.) The documentary also features interviews with musicians like Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and Nick Jonas, all of whom praise Wilson as an influence on their own music.
You can stream Brian Wilson: The Long Promised Road for free on Pluto TV.
‘Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times’ (1995)
This 1995 biopic chronicles the musician’s rise to fame, the early years of the Beach Boys and Wilson’s struggles with addiction and recovery. Director Don Was said that the film “attempts to explain […] precisely why the phrase ‘Brian Wilson is a genius’ has appeared on the lips of three generations of musicians like holy gospel,” and it succeeds in giving the viewer some insight into how he crafts his complex melodies and harmonies, using the studio itself as an instrument.
It’s an intimate portrayal of a reclusive and complicated man who, according to Was, created an “unprecedented and radically advanced approach to rock’ n roll.”
You can rent Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times on Apple TV+.
‘Love & Mercy’ (2014)
For a more dramatized version of Wilson’s story, we recommend you watch Love & Mercy. This biopic depicts Wilson in two eras of his life — the 1960s and the 1980s. The younger and older versions of the musician are portrayed by Paul Dano and John Cusack, respectively, and both actors do an admirable job of portraying the artist’s struggles with mental illness and addiction. The movie also examines Wilson’s creative triumphs throughout the decades and his relationships with controversial therapist Dr. Eugene Landy (Paul Giamatti) and his wife, Melinda Ledbetter (Elizabeth Banks).
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Wilson himself called the film “very factual” in an interview with Vulture, mentioning that the scenes in which Dano’s version of himself was on drugs were “not fun to watch.” The movie presents a complicated picture of the musician’s darkest days, but is ultimately uplifting, leaving the viewer with a satisfying sense of a life well-lived.
You can rent Love & Mercy on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV+.
