Brian Wilson: A Beach Boy's Tale

For a time in the '60s, the Beach Boys challenged the popularity of the Beatles. The sunny, smooth harmonic blending of their voices came to symbolize the fun of surfing, fast cars, and the freedom of the new California youth culture. Songwriter Brian Wilson was the hit-making creative force, father Murray (nursing his own musical ambitions) was manager, and the rest of the group consisted of brothers Dennis and Carl, plus cousin Mike Love. Sadly, life was no day at the beach for Brian. He hated surfing, preferred studio work to touring, and felt constrained by the group's bland image and his father's tightfisted control. As the '60s progressed, Brian fell into a rapid downward spiral of drugs, food binges, paranoia and depression. Narrated by Beau Bridges, this is a perceptive, lacerating look at how the good vibrations of the Beach Boys deteriorated into discord, envy, and lawsuits. The documentary features home movies, Beach Boy standards, and interviews with Wilson, his long suffering family, friends, and collaborators, who describe the group's strange journey. (At one point, Brian went to bed for almost three years, and animosity in the group became so thick the performers entered the stage from separate sides so they wouldn't have to talk to each other.) Ironically, both Carl and Dennis are dead; Brian survives as a calm but diminished spirit. A valuable, insightful look at an important chapter in rock history. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (S. Rees)