Love & Mercy presents an unconventional portrait of Brian Wilson, the mercurial singer and songwriter. Set against the era-defining catalogue of The Beach Boys’ music, the film intimately examines the personal voyage and ultimate salvation of the icon whose success came at an extraordinary personal cost. Paul Dano (War and Peace) and John Cusack convincingly portray the younger and older Brian Wilson.
Cert 12A – USA 2014
Director: Bill Pohlad – Running time: 121 minutes – Language: English
Cast: John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks
Brooklyn tells the moving story of Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), a young Irish immigrant navigating her way through 1950s Brooklyn. The novelty of her new life and love is soon disrupted by events at home and Eilis must choose between two countries and the lives and men that exist within both. Sensitively adapted by Nick Hornby from Colm Toibin’s bestselling novel, Brooklyn exudes a magnificence using sumptuous cinematography that at once feels both old and new.
Michael Stone is a depressed customer service guru who struggles to connect with others, until one day he meets a stranger – an extraordinary stranger called Lisa – who could be the cure for his negative outlook on life. Anomalisa is a thought-provoking and tender animation about the often crushing dilemmas and challenges brought by midlife crisis in the modern world. The most human film of the year and it doesn’t star a single human.