Product Details

• Actors: Brian Wilson, Daniel Harrison, Audree Wilson, Carl Wilson, Carnie Wilson
• Directors: Don Was
• Producers: Don Was, Anne-Marie Mackay, David Passick, Jonathon Ker, Ken Kushnick
• Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Geneon [Pioneer]
• DVD Release Date: August 31, 1999
• Run Time: 70 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00000JLV7
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,787 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Brian Wilson - I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

From The New Yorker

Don Was's black-and-white documentary is a fascinating portrait of the pop-music wizard Brian Wilson, the prime mover of the Beach Boys. A reclusive and dauntingly odd figure even in the group's sixties heyday, Wilson has acquired, in the years since, the reputation of a brilliant mind gone gaga-a casualty of drugs, depression, and its own unendurable complexity. The fifty-two-year-old man we see here still looks a little shaky, but he's holding himself together well enough to make some terriffic music; in the movie's terms, that's all that matters. A recording session in which Wilson belts out glorious new versions of a few of his best songs gives the picture its satisfying shape. He plays them with unaccountable fervor: he seems to be opening his heart. The cast of talking-heads commentators includes Wilson's mother, his daughters (Wendy and Carnie, of Wilson Phillips), his brother (and fellow Beach Boy) Carl, and an eclectic bunch of admiring musicians. -Terrence Rafferty
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Weird, arty appreciation, September 26, 2002

By 

kennedy19 "kennedy19" (wakefield, ma USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brian Wilson - I Just Wasn't Made for These Times [VHS] (VHS Tape)

What is this video? It is part first-person documentary, and part appreciation, made in the mid-90s when Wilson finally seemed to be finding the peace of mind that stays with him today. (His obviously devoted new wife stays beside him for much of the footage. Dr. Landy, who basically saved Brian's life according to Brian's 1991 autobiography, is now out of the picture and is never mentioned by name.) The entire thing is filmed in very arty, hard-lit black-and-white. There is no narration except for that of the inteviewees, and not much archival footage of the Beach Boys. What we get instead is Brian himself giving us brief, converstional summaries of periods of his life and songwriting inspiration, supplemented by comments from his mother, his ex-wife Marilyn, and his brother Carl (who died a few years after this film was made in the mid-nineties.) There are also some enlightening musical analysis from someone (I'm not sure who he is), and appreciative comments from fellow musicians ranging from Wilson collaborators Tony Asher and Van Dyke Parks, to David Crosby, John Cale, Tom Petty, and Linda Ronstadt. Wilson's daughters also comment briefly on their relationship with their Dad, and sing with him at the end. Throughout the film, certain excellent old songs of Brian are briefly discussed and then we get good footage of Brian performing the songs with a new studio band in Hollywood. (The performances, produced by Don Was, are very good, and fans might want to consider buying the soundtrack CD of this film. Fans expecting to hear the original Beach Boy recordings will not find them here.) Parts of the film feel like surreal arthouse filmmaking - silent closeups of Audree Wilson's face behind sunglasses as she gropes for words, odd footage of Brian and his mother and brother singing "In my Room" at the piano, Linda Ronstadt in a spotlight dressed in a puffy costume for some unknown theatrical show... Overall this is not a definitive documentary of Wilson's life or work by any means, but it does give you a good idea of why this odd man is so beloved and why his work is so important.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply outstanding, January 17, 2001

By 

Jeff Weddle (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Brian Wilson - I Just Wasn't Made for These Times (DVD)

This documentary captures Brian Wilson as he is today -- mature, brilliant, still disturbed but clearly holding it together and still making music. Brian comes across as human and vulnerable, a modest man who quite literally changed the world. The unabashadly glowing tributes afforded him by such rock luminaries as David Crosby, Graham Nash, Tom Petty, Linda Rondstadt and others demonstrate the high regard Brian is held in by people who understand rock and roll music and its impact on our culture. These folks know the score and they're here to tell you that Brian Wilson is the man.

Any Brian Wilson or Beach Boys fan should enjoy this wonderful film. More to the point, anybody who thinks Brian Wilson or The Beach Boys are lightweight or irrelevant should invest a couple of hours watching this film. It is simply outstanding.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An utterly heartbreaking bittersweet portrait of a genius, April 10, 1999

By 

Robert M. Burlingam Jr. (Villas, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Brian Wilson - I Just Wasn't Made for These Times [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Brian Wilson-The Heart and Soul of one of the greatest american rock bands of all time, the Beach Boys. Though the Beach Boys stand among rock's elite enshrined forever within the Rock N' Roll of Fame, It was Brian WIlson's genius, his vision and his dictatorial quest of perfection thats what gotten them there.

Brain Wilson, an ubused child, grew up in the hedonistic environment of sunny California, were the 50's and early sixties placed california not only as a state-but as a state of mind. In time, Brian Wilson obtained the knack of songwriting and in return gave us timeless music; "surfer Girl", "I Get around", "California Girls", "Good Vibrations" and the monumental songcycle Pet Sounds-just to name a few. What he got in return was dissension, pain and mental illness. Though he has made a somewhat recovery from his illness, he still suffers today. Though still spirited and active, it is painfully obvious that his best days and work are clearly behind him. He has made brief well-produced efforts: his first self titled solo album (1989) and the recent Imagination (1998). This Video also has an improptu performance of wilson and Van Dyke Parks with "Orange Crate Art" from the 1995 album of the same name. Don Was captured wilson as a tired, but enlightened old warhorse, his looks and voice now more mellow, more tattered than the adrenilene-drenched 21 year old whose pristine voice, four-part harmony, and inventive bass patterns propelled him and his band to legendary status.

The video recounts the Beach Boys heyday, culminating with the 1966 Melody Maker poll of the band being the "number one world's best band" over the Beatles. Equally touching is the participation of his daughters Carnie and Wendy (of Wilson-Phillips) on the 1968 hit "Do it Again", were Wilson still has the chops and has fun showing them off. Other performances-such as "Caroline No" and "Til I Die" recount Wilsons Highs and lows without any nuance of nostalgia.

The video was primarily intended to educate fans and inquirers of who Brian Wilson was and what contributions he's made to rock and pop. Often written-off as a burnt-out, crazy sixties drug addict, the film gives a new dimension (one without Beach Boy limitations)to the man and the artist. This film, originally presented on cable's Disney Channel, serves as a document-a sort of snapshot-to how Brian Wilson emerged from mental illness and craziness to a model of self-respect and self-dignity that everyone can appreciate.