Film Reviews by AR

Love and Mercy is the telling of two time periods in the life of The Beach Boys songwriter Brian Wilson. One period is set in the 60's showing Wilson (played by Paul Dano) about to react the peak of his creative and artistic powers with the recordings of the Pet Sounds and Smile albums but also it shows his personal downward spiral with mental and drug problems and the strain it is putting on his relationship with his follow Beach Boys.

The second period is set in the 80's when Wilson (Played by John Cusack) was under the thumb of Doctor Eugene Landy (Paul Giamatti) a radical therapist who was hired at first to help Brian out of his drug addiction and provide treatment from his mental state, but eventually became a Svengali figure who controlled every aspect of Wilson's life. This is when Brian met Melinda Ledbetter (Elizabeth Banks) and their blossoming relationship is the main arc of the story.

I personally think the 60's is the part the film is far more interested in. It's when the film is most alive, creative and psychological. The 80's part seems a like a sub-par TV movie. Paul Dano's Wilson is the superior performance. Cusack unfortunately seems to be playing Wilson like every character he has played before. Banks gets nothing really to do apart from love interest and Giamatti is OTT as Landy.

The Wilson/Landy relationship is just waiting to be made into a film, it's that messed up.

Beach Boys fans definitely investigate this film. The 60's parts are the best bits.

This film came out shortly after Avengers and l think everyone must have had a hard-on for Joss Whedon. The film received huge critical praise for "reinvented the wheel" and "taking horror in new directions". Despite the interesting central idea and addressing the cliches in a witty way l felt very underwhelmed and thought the film was really nothing special.

Swept up in the critical hype and high expectations l really took against this film. It wasn't till a second viewing that l softened up a bit.

It's best if you come to this film knowing as little about it as possible to reap as much reward as is possible.

The film wants to send up and pastiche the horror genre. Though it tries to, in the end it ultimately falls short. Stuff happens where l expected it to and...oh god, they-are-not-using-them-again!

3 stars - a film with some interesting ideas and a good script. Just doesn't hit the heights it tries to.

Let's start with the fact that this is a split-down-the-middle film. You are going to like it or hate it, there is no middle ground. I have to say l am in the former group.

The film is a violent and bloody revenge thriller bathed in colour and moves at a slow pace that is dream like. Don't expect anything deep here, it's unashamedly style over substance. The film contains a lot of Ryan Gosling staring and people walking slowly, which may try some people's patience.

It's a provocative film that's purpose is to provoke a reaction out of you be it positive of negative.

It's an entertaining romp, nothing that hasn't been done better in "The Prestige" but a serviceable few hours. There is a twist at the end that surprised me and l think the film does hold your attention long enough to want to find out it's secrets.

Ok, nothing special but you could do worse for an evening viewing.