by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Who is the greatest musical artist of all time? That is quite the bold undertaking to attempt and identify a single individual who could possibly stand above all the other artists to create iconic and legendary music. But it is not hard to identify true genius when it comes to this art form (like any). But not every story is a beautiful story of success above struggle. One of the greatest geniuses to ever create popular music was one single member of the iconic “surf rock” band of the ‘60s, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys.
What is so fascinating about Wilson’s story? He was hiding in plain sight creating music in a popular band best known for songs about surfing and picking up girls. But The Beach Boys have a transcendent sound that rises above all other surf rock bands of the time. They were much more The Beatles than they were others in their genre. Wilson’s creative forces caught the attention of his peers, including The Beatles. But Wilson’s story is more than just a great songwriter. Unfortunately, something much more tragic impacted his life full of pressure and mental illness and isolation.
This story seems ripe for telling. Love & Mercy dramatized the life of Wilson through powerful performances of Paul Dano and John Cusack. But Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road is a whole other animal. Director Brent Wilson takes some common elements of documentaries and combines them with the raw and poignant footage of driving around with Wilson himself. He is vulnerable and passionate in so many ways. This simple footage of two men driving around in a car listening to music and trading stories is something special. Wilson is incredibly expressive and empathetic, allowing the audience to immediately feel a moving connection to him in many ways. One moment when he hears of the death of a friend just sparks a raw and impactful emotional reaction both for Wilson and the audience.
Besides this unique and emotional resonant approach to filmmaking, what other aspects does (the other) Wilson capture in his filmmaking? There is the standard rock-doc approach of telling the history of The Beach Boys while also talking about Wilson’s own life and his relationships to his family and friends. Wilson can add many layers to his own story, which is moving and relatable. But along with his own thoughts, the audience is treated to the perspectives of some of music’s greatest artists, from Elton John (a personal favorite of mine) to Bruce Springsteen.
But you cannot get far into a rock-doc without talking about the music. The archival footage of The Beach Boys is chosen wisely with energetic and powerful renditions of their classic hits. But not just performance… you see BEHIND the music. Hearing engineers and other artists break down the complexities and transcendent elements of Wilson music is incredible. Eye (and ear) opening perspectives add layers of appreciation to these iconic sounds. The Beach Boys are easy to write off as just some fun music, but Wilson added complexity and layers that are hard to comprehend and easy to overlook. But the most moving moment in the film is Wilson performing his decades long journey to release and perform his album Smile after years of abuse and mental illness. The genuine joy and love on his face as he performs is poignant and moving.
Is this documentary worth your time? Absolutely. Not often do we get a chance to crawl inside the head of a genius while also feeling a deeply resonant connection to their struggles and triumphs. As far as rock-docs go, this is a transcendent one that adds personal layers that many can only attempt to do. Spending time with Wilson and Wilson is moving and authentic. This is a special film that can be appreciated right now virtually or on physical media (including the Blu-ray experience that I got to have on my second viewing).
Grade: A-
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