Rated R for language15 year old troublemaker John Lennon (a terrific Aaron Johnson) lives with his aunt and uncle when one of his friends finds out where John's estranged mother lives. Turns out it was just around the corner. They strike up a relationship that challenges the one with his aunt. Meanwhile, Lennon discovers Elvis Presley and starts a rock 'n' roll band. He meets someone named Paul McCartney and they bond over music and lost mothers . . .
The great thing about Nowhere Boy is that it focuses on the mother-son-aunt relationships and the music is just the backdrop. Suppressed emotion and secrets slowly bubble to the surface ultimately leading to deep bonding. Kristen Scott Thomas brilliantly plays the bitchy aunt, whose love for John is shown with her eyes and the occasional nice gesture. Her use of "tough love" is finally understood by John toward the end. Anne-Marie Duff plays Julia, John's free-spirited mother, whose flirtatious manner draws him in, but ultimately makes him uncomfortable.The movie opens well with a smart homage to A Hard Day's Night and director Sam Taylor-Wood's engaging visual style shows plenty without getting too flashy. I particularly enjoyed the sun going behind a tree during a late scene. The costumes and sets transport the viewer back to the 1950s easily. And the music, while not everyone's cup-of-tea, is used exceptionally well. My favorite musical moment was the use of "Maggie Mae", which would later show up on the Let It Be album.
But, the movie isn't really about the music - it would have been just as riveting if the guy didn't become famous. The best scene in Ray didn't feature Jamie Foxx's mimicry - it was little Ray Charles at his childhood home discovering his sense of hearing. Likewise, by focusing on the family matters - a love triangle of sorts - Nowhere Boy works much better than your average biopic. B+
Do you have to be a huge Beatles fan to enjoy this (I am not)? Your review suggests that is not a requirement.
ReplyDeleteThere isn't one Beatles song in it. "Maggie Mae" was just a cover song. The word "Beatles" isn't even mentioned in the film, and it's wisely side-stepped in a late scene. There are a few 50s songs and Lennon's solo song "Mother" plays at the closing.
ReplyDeleteI hated "Across the Universe" and that had a ton of Beatles songs in it.
You'll probably like Lennon's tortured soul. You might dislike Paul's goodness (though the actor playing Paul was the kid in Love Actually). I liked this one much more than I expected.