MovieChat Forums > Love & Mercy (2015) Discussion > John Cusack looks NOTHING like Brian Wil...

John Cusack looks NOTHING like Brian Wilson.

posted 9 years ago by prolia705
35 replies | jump to latest

I haven't seen the movie yet but the lack of resemblance to such an iconic figure is such a head scratcher.

Thoughts???

[–] powermandan 9 years ago

THere's some resemblance in the late 80s and early 90s.

[–] kenny-164 9 years ago

The funny thing about this kind of thread is that Brian Wilson himself said the experience of watching the film was very convincing.

THere are plenty of times an actor is cast to portray a person who actually existed. And who look less than the same. So what?

A more interesting point concerns the cinematic element within this film itself of the difference between Dano's appearance and Cusack's. That is a different kind of criticism. But... while there is no real similarity between them, here it actually worked. It was partly the time difference, but more so the way the stress and wear of the time literally altered Wilson's appearance. Seeing the fat Dano and then the edgy distracted but thinner Cusack, supposedly near twenty years later, actually worked here.

So, no, the question by the OP is not persuasive. Just more IMDb nit-picking.

[–] Cocktailsfor2 9 years ago

Gotta love it - "I haven't seen the movie"

...'but it's really important for me to come on here and give you my opinion, because you need to know what I think about it! Even though I haven't seen it.'

______________________________________
"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Captain_film 9 years ago

I thought the same thing too but his performance won me over.

[–] beat 9 years ago

thank god they didn't care about what he looks like, because it doesn't matter.

that said, john cusack should really stopy dyeing his hair, it looks so awful and cheap, almost nicolas cage-like.

[–] banders46 9 years ago

It didn't bother me at all, and, as others have noted, the casting works in conveying the fractured nature of Wilson's life and the split between his different existences. I don't put that much value in physical resemblance in these types of biopics anyway, as long as the actor reasonably suggests the celebrity's essence. You wouldn't want Brian Wilson played by, you know, an elderly black woman or something. Cusack does such a great job acting in this film that I actually found the resemblance (beyond physical) to be uncanny.

[–] cryconscry 9 years ago

Yes, my lady and I said as much after seeing the film, but it didn't matter much. We thought about who else they could have cast and could only come up with a middle-aged Beau Bridges. Anyone more realistic come to mind?

[–] zsutton42 9 years ago

That's not true. When the credits were rolling and they showed Brian Wilson performing the song Love and Mercy, I realized that he looks like a much older John Cusack.

[–] inkwarp 9 years ago

i have to agree with most commentors, it really did not matter about cusack not looking similar, it was so well made and so well acted that looks were not an issue. i thought the whole film was wonderful. the soundtrack in particular was fantastic.

[–] Robbmonster 9 years ago

Given a choice between an actor who LOOKS the part, but can't act or capture the spirit, vs an actor who looks nothing like the subject, but CAN act and embody the character, I know which I'd prefer.

Never defend crap with 'It's just a movie'
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[–] harley-cross 9 years ago

Watching the latest Brian Wilson interviews, I thought Jeff Bridges would have been a better fit, but I understand scheduling conflicts and directorial discretion. However, John was just weird.