If the Academy wants to correct its long, John Cusack-less history, then they really should nominate him for his performance as Brian Wilson in Love & Mercy. All three leads in Bill Pohlads film put in spectacular turns (with Paul Dano playing the Pet-Sounds era Wilson as opposed to Cusacks depressed 80s incarnation, and Elizabeth Banks playing his wife, Melinda Ledbetter), but Cusack is the absolute standout. Tasked with the more difficult side of the Wilson persona, the actor doesnt get to have as much fun with the role as Dano does, and theres no real chance for him to show the genius behind the sadness (Dano gets some great scenes in the studio as we see the inimitable Pet Sounds come to be). Instead, Cusack delivers a touching, melancholy, ultimately hopeful performance, his sorrowful, dark eyes the key. Long underrated as a serious actor, this is far and away the best hes ever been, and while an Oscar nomination seems unlikely, its more than warranted.
