MOVIE REVIEW : ‘Brian Wilson’: Portrait of a Beach Boy Re-Released

Brian Wilson’s life has been “In My Room,” not “Fun Fun Fun”--a well-chronicled, uneasy struggle to keep his head above the surf, metaphorically speaking. “Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times,” an affectionate film portrait of the Beach Boy at middle age, brings to the screen the subtle shadings of a figure who for the past 35 years has been lauded and laughed at in equal measure.

Shot in rich black and white by first-time director Don Was, a Grammy-winning musician and producer, the film mixes Wilson’s own anecdotes with those of his family, colleagues and such star acolytes as Tom Petty, Linda Ronstadt, David Crosby and Graham Nash, to look into the shadows of this musical savant. Capping it off is footage of new recording sessions featuring Wilson reinterpreting some of his classic songs.

The moment that symbolically ties it all together: Wilson, his mother Audrey and Beach Boy brother Carl at a piano, harmonizing for the first time since Eisenhower was in the White House. It’s an unguarded scene that marks this bittersweet film.

* Unrated. Times guidelines: Too dark for younger children.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

‘Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times’

A Palomar Pictures production, released by Northern Arts Entertainment. Director Don Was. Producers Was, Larry Shapiro, David Passick, Ken Kushnick. Cinematographer Wyatt Troll. Editor Helen Lowe. Art director Justin Bailey. Running time: 1 hour, 9 minutes.

* Exclusively at Monica 4-Plex, 1332 2nd St., Santa Monica, (310) 394-9741.

( Note: A longer version of this review was published Aug. 26 in The Times. )