What does it take to become a musical legend? “Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road” guides viewers through the decades-long career of this pop icon. For the musician, ‘Road’ offers a chance to set the record straight on misconceptions while also taking control of a narrative obscured by years of rumors. Director Brent Wilson — along with co-writers Jason Fine and Kevin Klauber — give Wilson room to explore difficult elements of his life. The results are a candid and forthright introspection of Wilson’s creative pursuits as well as his humanity.
Archival footage weaves the stories together and shows Wilson’s journey through early performances to success outside of The Beach Boys. The project not only relies on Wilson himself — opting for appearances by those who’ve come to know him over the years. ‘Road’ features interviews with Al Jardine, Don Was, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Nick Jonas, Jim James, Jakob Dylan, Gustavo Dudamel, Linda Perry, and Taylor Hawkins. The figures, prominent for their own artistic contributions, show how much the musician has contributed to the medium.
‘Road’ doesn’t shy away from the music which made Wilson famous. In a testament to his still strong creative prowess, the singer-songwriter teams up with Jim James to record the original song “Right Where I Belong.” It also acts as an extension of Wilson’s current work — also detailed in the documentary.
Here’s the documentary’s official synopsis:
“Join The Beach Boy’s Brian Wilson on an intimate journey through his legendary career as he reminisces with Rolling Stone editor and longtime friend, Jason Fine. Featuring a new song written and performed by Wilson and interviews with Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Nick Jonas, Linda Perry, Jim James, Gustavo Dudamel and Al Jardine.”
Brian Wilson, Melinda Wilson, and Jason Fine are executive producers on “Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road.” The 2021 Tribeca Film Festival selection premieres on November 19 in theaters and on-demand. Watch the documentary’s trailer below.