Nowhere Boy (2009)

A chronicle of John Lennon's first years, focused mainly in his adolescence and his relationship with his stern aunt Mimi, who raised him, and his absentee mother Julia, who re-entered his life at a crucial moment in his young life.

Director:

Sam Taylor-Johnson

Writer:

Matt Greenhalgh (screenplay)

Stars:

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, David Threlfall

Nominated for 4 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 5 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Aaron Taylor-Johnson	...	John (as Aaron Johnson)
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Mimi
David Threlfall	...	Uncle George
Josh Bolt	...	Pete Shotton
Ophelia Lovibond	...	Marie
Kerrie Hayes	...	Marie's Friend
Angela Walsh	...	Schoolmistress
Paul Ritter	...	Popjoy
Richard Syms	...	Reverend
Anne-Marie Duff	...	Julia
James Johnson	...	Stan
Alex Ambrose	...	Young John
Angelica Jopling	...	Julia - Aged 8
Abby Greenhalgh	...	Jackie (aged 6)
David Morrissey	...	Bobby

Storyline

The story of John Lennon's childhood and teenage years from 1944 to 1960, his relationship with his aunt Mimi and his mother Julia -the two dominant women in the first part of his life-, his first meeting with Paul McCartney and George Harrison, their friendship, their love for music and the birth of The Beatles.

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Plot Keywords:

adolescence | childhood | the beatles | love | 1960s | 

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Taglines:

The Extraordinary Untold Story Of John Lennon.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and a scene of sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [fr]

Country:

UK Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 2009 (UK)

Also Known As:

Mi nombre es John Lennon

Filming Locations:

Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$52,749 (USA) (8 October 2010)

Gross:

$1,445,366 (USA) (3 December 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ecosse Films, Film4, UK Film Council

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In this film David Threlfall plays Anne-Marie Duff's brother-in-law. In the series Shameless he played her father.

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Goofs

The cigarettes smoked seem rather 'king sized' for the era, when Players and Woodbine were prevalent.

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Quotes

John: There's just no point hating someone you love.

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Connections

References A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

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Soundtracks

"Mother"
Performed by John Lennon

User Reviews

John Lennon as a young poetic rebel

I guess this would be considered an "a moment-in-the-life-of-biopic" as it focuses on only a couple of years of pre-Beatles John Lennon's life in Liverpool, England (and not his entire life). It is an interesting story and one I did not know. It asks and answers the question: Where did Lennon get his start and love for music?

The film's subject matter -- the early life of John Lennon -- made Nowhere Boy an interesting story and sell for me; and since the acting in the movie happened to be stellar -- it was a bonus. Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass) does a decent job as the 15-year-old Lennon and proves to be one to watch as he's going to have a long career although the real acting "glory" of the film belongs to the two lead females who are left to battle it out as Lennon's motherly figure(s). Kristin Scott Thomas (Four Weddings and a Funeral, The English Patient) plays his aunt who has raised John from early infant-hood as her sister was considered to be an unlikely parent/guardian. In the film, John stumbles upon his birth mother out of curiosity and becomes intrigued with her demeanor. Actress Anne-Marie Duff (Notes on a Scandal, The Last Station) is rather revelatory here (BOTH her and Scott Thomas deservingly earned 2010 BAFTA nominations for these very roles).

The story is sentimental and tragic and it is tied together quite nicely by the three lead players who all play off of each other very well and convincingly (Duff is flighty, Scott Thomas is concerned and Johnson is a free soul). The young Lennon becomes a mixture of the two women (a poetic rebel) and their influences are highly evident in the film and his later music.

Any Beatles fan should check this one out. It isn't full of Hey Jude's and Elinor Rigby's but this is Pre-Beatles (we do meet a young Paul) so we get a taste of the kid before he become our "Nowhere Boy".