Love & Mercy is one of the most convincing depictions of the creative process and the effects of mental illness I've seen in a long time.

It is (among its many virtues) wonderfully not boilerplate.

That so much of it rings true is a credit to the film-makers; that Wilson lived some (if not all) of it is a reminder of his matchless alchemical magic.

Both those unfamiliar with Wilson and his most devout fans will find much to praise in this unconventional piece of artistic biography as it works as both a film and a lovingly issued dedication.