‘We’ll never have another Brian Wilson ever again…’
The only living musician who could possibly be argued to be on the level of Brian Wilson is Paul McCartney (who incidentally briefly pops up towards the end of this film). When those two go, we will never see their like again. Every time I hear Wilson’s transcendental work with The Beach Boys it seems more and more preposterous that I saw him perform live in my home city of Doncaster. Truly astonishing. Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road is an exploration of the life of a genius, with Wilson himself acting as an informal narrator…
Writer-director Brent Wilson (no relation) is a close personal friend of Brian Wilson, and as the latter gets nervous about formal interviews, instead they drive around California visiting sites of interest from Wilson’s long and storied life and listening to old records.
The legend of Brian Wilson has been documented so much already, it’s difficult to know what Long Promised Road could add to the myth. The key to its success is the involvement of Wilson himself. Seeing his emotions bubble to the surface when discussing his dearly departed brothers is truly emotional, and the decision to focus on the music rather than the insidious intervention of disgraced psychologist Eugene Landy is undoubtedly the right call.
Intercutting extensive and emotional interviews with Wilson plus glorious archive footage, this excellent documentary is only made richer by contributions from such luminaries as Bruce Springsteen, Elton John and erm… Nick Jonas. The fact that the recently departed Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins speaks so passionately and eloquently only adds to the pathos of the piece.
Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road is a truly affecting and emotionally engaging documentary. Essential viewing for any serious music fans out there.