David Leaf directed this thoroughly entertaining documentary as presented by Showtime, a chronicle of Beach Boys musician Brian Wilson's career and his valiant attempt to resurrect the shelved project "Smile", which was to follow the Beach Boys' artistic breakthrough "Pet Sounds" from 1966. Reassembling the orchestral parts and harmonies, reconstructing the lyrics with help from his songwriting partner Van Dyke Parks, Brian Wilson returns to his artistic preeminence before our eyes. The painstaking work involved is absorbing to watch and often fascinating to behold, and the live concert which concludes the film is marvelously satisfying. Wilson himself is a tough nut to crack; a moody and mercurial genius, he becomes so nervous just before the show that he almost cancels out on the whole thing--which mirrors the fate of "Smile" in 1967! A remarkable musical journey, filled with talented names from the past who are more than happy to savor and share in Wilson's triumph.
