Usually, when a star-studded biopic about someone who is still alive and (fairly) well has its world premiere at a fancy festival like TIFF, it’s pretty much a given that the subject of said film will make an appearance on the red carpet. But musical legend Brian Wilson has never been known to do the predictable or the expected.
As of last week, PR reps for the firm couldn’t confirm whether or not the semi-reclusive musician would be attending the world premiere of Love and Mercy, the new film that explores Wilson’s life from his time in The Beach Boys to his later life struggles with mental health issues and an abusive guardian to meeting his wife, Melinda Ledbetter. Officially, the reps said they had no plans to do anything TIFF-related with the genius behind beloved albums like Pet Sounds and songs like “Good Vibrations.”
But Wilson clearly had a change of heart at some point, because he and his wife were both in town last night to celebrate the happy occasion. First, they made an appearance at the Soho House pre-party where they mingled with both of his onscreen counterparts, Paul Dano (who plays the younger Brian), John Cusack (who plays the current day Wilson) and Elizabeth Banks, who portrays Ledbetter in the film.
Then the Wilsons were off to the Visa Screening Room, where they walked the red carpet with the film's stars and where Wilson left one Toronto Life reporter completely starstruck.
Wilson and Ledbetter also struck around to watch "Love and Mercy" which, once all of the drugs, madness, abuse and Mike Love-meddling has cleared, ends up being a pretty sweet story about their love for each other. The film –- and Brian in particular –- received a standing ovation as the credits rolled.
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