A mature and compassion insight into one of the greatest young minds in popular music Love & Mercy double lead performances from Dano & Cusack compliment eachother perfectly. Sometimes biopic, sometimes psychological thriller and never devolving into hero worship Pohlad's stylish look into the late years of the beach boys, in particular a deep focus into Pet Sounds, is able to find fresh turf in the often overplayed musical biopic subgenre. Paul Dano brings enough youthful charm and unhinged energy to the role of a young Wilson and his voice really holds up, so much so that smart sound editing enables seemless transitions between his renditions of Beach Boys classics and the studio versions, Cusack stands in contrast with his dazed, vacant approach but the reasons for his performance choices are validated as the narrative develops.