Nowhere Boy (2009)

Director:

Sam Taylor-Johnson

Writer:

Matt Greenhalgh (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

25 December 2009 (Ireland)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Tagline:

The Extraordinary Untold Story Of John Lennon.

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Adolescence | Childhood | The Beatles | Love | 1960s

Awards:

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

Cast

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
Richard Tate	...	Teacher
Chris Coghill	...	Cunard Yank (as Christopher Coghill)
Ben Smith	...	Boy with Knife
Andrew Buchan	...	Fishwick
Baillie Walsh	...	Postman
Simon Lowe	...	Guitar Shop Guy
Frazer Bird	...	Len
James Jack Bentham	...	Rod
Jack McElhone	...	Eric
Daniel Ross	...	Nigel
Sam Wilmott	...	Colin Hanton
John Collins	...	Ivan
Thomas Brodie-Sangster	...	Paul (as Thomas Brodie Sangster)
Sam Bell	...	George
Colin Tierney	...	Alf
Nigel Travis	...	Cavern Bouncer
Lizzie Hopley	...	Café Waitress
Dan Armour	...	Percy Phillips
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Riccardo Bacigalupo	...	Teen at Fair (uncredited)
Neil Broome	...	Golfer (uncredited)
Les Loveday	...	Teddy in Gang (uncredited)
Sarah Molkenthin	...	Teen (uncredited)
Abbie Murison	...	Diane (uncredited)
John Patten	...	Bouncer (uncredited)
Adele Heather Taylor	...	Party guest (uncredited)

Directed by
Sam Taylor-Johnson		(as Sam Taylor-Wood)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Julia Baird		memoir (uncredited)
Matt Greenhalgh		screenplay

Produced by
Robert Bernstein	....	producer
Matt Delargy	....	co-producer
Jon Diamond	....	executive producer
Tim Haslam	....	executive producer
Kevin Loader	....	producer
Jaynie Miller	....	associate producer: Bus Stop Films
Christopher Moll	....	executive producer
Douglas Rae	....	producer
Paul Ritchie	....	co-producer
Tessa Ross	....	executive producer
James Saynor	....	co-producer
Rhodri Thomas	....	co-executive producer
Bob Weinstein	....	co-executive producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	co-executive producer
Mark Woolley	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Alison Goldfrapp		(as Alison Goldfrap)
Will Gregory

Cinematography by
Seamus McGarvey		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Lisa Gunning

Casting by
Nina Gold

Production Design by
Alice Normington

Art Direction by
Charmian Adams

Set Decoration by
Barbara Herman-Skelding		(as Barb Herman-Skelding)

Costume Design by
Julian Day

Makeup Department
Heather Manson	....	makeup trainee
Paul Mooney	....	hair stylist
Lesley Smith	....	hair stylist
Lesley Smith	....	makeup artist
Jeremy Woodhead	....	hair designer
Jeremy Woodhead	....	makeup designer
Paul Boyce	....	crowd makeup artist (uncredited)
Sidony Etherton	....	daily makeup trainee (uncredited)

Production Management
Lisa Jordan	....	senior post-production producer: LipSync Post
Marc Price	....	unit manager
Louise Seymour	....	post-production supervisor
Mark Walledge	....	unit manager
Jennifer Wynne	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Hopkins	....	second assistant director
Bryn Lawrence	....	second assistant director: crowd
Alex Oakley	....	first assistant director (as Alexander Oakley)
Laura Windebank	....	third assistant director
Chris Cavanagh	....	additional crowd assistant director (uncredited)
Erin Lander	....	crowd third assistant director: dailies (uncredited)
Terry McShane	....	crowd third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Paul Ball	....	painter (as Paul Bale)
Tim Blake	....	graphic designer
Tim Blake	....	stand-by art director
Chris Brough	....	carpenter
Rob Brown	....	construction manager
Jenni Canwell	....	art department trainee
James Collins	....	assistant art director
Lisa Collins	....	standby painter
Cavin Dempsey	....	carpenter
Kimberley Fahey	....	production buyer (as Kim Fahey)
Mark Geeson	....	dressing props
David Haynes	....	supervising painter (as Dave Haynes)
John Haynes	....	painter
Tom Higgins	....	standby carpenter
Gavin Hosler	....	carpenter
Josh Jones	....	standby carpenter
Richard Magennis	....	stand-by props
Steve Marquiss	....	painter
Garry Marriott	....	construction medic (as Gary Marriott)
Jonny Meakin	....	storyboard artist
Colin Mutch	....	property master
Tony O'Hara	....	construction manager
Eddie O'Neil	....	stagehand
Dominic Pike	....	construction manager
Mark Reynolds	....	dressing props
Neil Robertson	....	stagehand
Mary Pat Sheahan	....	standby painter (as Mary-Pat Sheahan)
Peter Taylor	....	carpenter
Anna Thomas	....	art department assistant
Leigh Thurbon	....	construction supervisor
Bradley Torbett	....	chargehand standby props
Louis Turner	....	set dresser
Stuart Watson	....	construction manager
Chris White	....	carpenter
Philip Clark	....	picture researcher (uncredited)
Andrew Laybats	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Stephen McGregor	....	carpenter (uncredited)
George Morris	....	prop vehicles (uncredited)
Fabrice Spelta	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Phillip Barrett	....	foley mixer: Universal Sound (as Phill Barrett)
Simon Bysshe	....	boom operator
Simon Chase	....	supervising sound editor
Paul Cotterell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Hanks	....	foley artist: Universal Sound
James Harrison	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
James Harrison	....	sound effects editor
Eddy Joseph	....	sound consultant: Soundelux
Dash Mason-Malik	....	sound trainee: FT2
John Midgley	....	sound mixer
Kevin Penney	....	foley editor: Soundelux
Ben Tat	....	assistant sound re-recording mixer: LipSync Post
George Trevis	....	sound maintenance
Martin Trevis	....	sound mixer
Simon Trundle	....	foley mixer: Universal Sound
Ian Waggott	....	foley artist: Universal Sound
Richard Fordham	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Martin Seeley	....	playback operator (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Chris Bentley	....	digital lab operator: LipSync Post
Alberto Buron	....	digital lab operator: LipSync Post
Luke Butler	....	digital compositor: LipSync Post
Stefan Drury	....	head of visual effects: LipSync Post
Laura Dubsky	....	digital compositor: LipSync Post
Matt Foster	....	digital compositor: LipSync Post
Yanni Goudetsidis	....	systems engineer: LipSync Post
Stephanie C. Kelly	....	digital compositor: LipSync Post (as Stephanie Kelly)
Philippe Ludivig	....	digital compositor: LipSync Post
John O'Lone	....	digital compositor: LipSync Post
Angela Stanley	....	visual effects supervisor: LipSync Post (as Angela Rose)
Jon Stanley	....	senior systems engineer: LipSync Post
Daniel Tomlinson	....	senior digital lab operator: LipSync Post
Samantha Tracey	....	visual effects producer: LipSync Post
Rick White	....	technical support: LipSync Post
Blake Winder	....	digital compositor: LipSync Post

Stunts
Andy Bennett	....	stunt coordinator
Rob Cooper	....	stunt performer
Adam Kirley	....	stunt performer
Belinda McGinley	....	stunt performer
David Reed	....	stunt rigger
Gordon Seed	....	stunt performer
Rob Cooper	....	stunt double: Aaron Johnson (uncredited)
Dave Judge	....	stunt rigger (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Graham Baker	....	h.o.d. rigger
Peter Batten	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Pete Batten)
Harry Bowers	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Barny Crocker	....	clapper loader: "b" camera
Liam Daniel	....	still photographer
Carlos De Carvalho	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Chris Dodds	....	clapper loader: "b" camera
William Federick Milman	....	camera trainee: FT2 (as William Millman)
William Federick Milman	....	camera trainee: Ft2 (as William Millman)
Kate Filby	....	clapper loader: "b" camera (as Katherine Filby)
Peter Harris	....	electrician
Chris Hayden	....	camera trainee: "a" camera
Rawdon Hayne	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Jon Hurley	....	clapper loader: "b" camera
Gary Hutchings	....	key grip
Dylan Jones	....	video assist operator
Alison Lai	....	clapper loader: "b" camera
Dash Lilley	....	video assist operator
Adrian Mackay	....	electrician
Iain Mackay	....	clapper loader: "b" camera
David Mackie	....	clapper loader
David Maund	....	key grip (as Dave Maund)
Mark Milsome	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Simon Muir	....	grip trainee
Jennie Paddon	....	focus puller
Terence Roberts	....	electrician
Peter Robertson	....	camera operator
Peter Robertson	....	steadicam operator
Paul Sharp	....	best boy
Olly Tellett	....	focus puller: "b" camera (as Olly Tellet)
Axel Ulrich	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Adam Walker	....	electrician
Lee Walters	....	gaffer
Dan West	....	camera trainee: FT2 (as Daniel West)
Laurence Wright	....	camera trainee: "b" camera
Marc Woodcock	....	lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Vanessa Baker	....	adr voice casting
Kharmel Cochrane	....	casting assistant
Robert Sterne	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Adesanya	....	wardrobe trainee: UK Film Council
Shahida Day	....	assistant costume designer (as Shaida Day)
Jenny Jarvis	....	costume daily
Jane Marcantonio	....	wardrobe supervisor
Anna Reynolds	....	wardrobe trainee
Laura Smith	....	stand-by wardrobe

Editorial Department
Simon J. Brooks	....	editing trainee: FT2 (as Simon Brooks)
Billy A. Campbell	....	additional first assistant editor (as Billy Campbell)
James Clarke	....	digital intermediate supervisor
Eve Doherty	....	editing trainee: FT2
Stuart Fyvie	....	digital intermediate colorist
Scott Goulding	....	digital intermediate assistant colorist
Stephen Haren	....	first assistant editor (as Steve Haren)
Mark Keady	....	assistant editor
Rachael Watmough	....	dailies coordinator (uncredited)

Music Department
Sam Bell	....	musician: vocals & guitar
Peter Clarke	....	music editor
Sean Collins	....	assistant engineer
Andrea Contino	....	assistant engineer
Andrew Dudman	....	score recording engineer (as Andy Dudman)
Will Fry	....	musician: washboard
John Gosling	....	composer: additional incidental music
John Gosling	....	musical director
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Stephen Hood	....	musician: guitar
Mathew Lane	....	music/audio restoration
Ben Lee	....	composer: additional incidental music
Catherine Marks	....	assistant engineer
Patrick Murdoch	....	musician: guitar & banjo
Ian Neil	....	music supervisor
Ben Parker	....	composer: additional incidental music
Ben Parker	....	music arranger: vocal and instrumental
Ben Parker	....	music producer
Ben Parker	....	music tutor: vocal and instrunental
Ben Parker	....	musician: guitar, banjo & vocals
Emre Ramazanoglu	....	composer: additional incidental music
Emre Ramazanoglu	....	music producer
Emre Ramazanoglu	....	musician: drums
Emre Ramazanoglu	....	recording producer
Simon Rogers	....	musician: guitar
Jimmy Sims	....	musician: tea chest, bass & guitar
Sam Swallow	....	musician: piano & vocals
Aaron Taylor-Johnson	....	musician: vocals & guitar (as Aaron Johnson)
Nat Woodcock	....	musician: piano
John Barrett	....	assistant score mixing engineer (uncredited)
John Barrett	....	assistant scoring engineer (uncredited)
Andrew Dudman	....	score mixing engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Alan Bristow	....	unit driver
Symon Butcher	....	unit driver
Dave Carter	....	driver: facilities
Terry Collins	....	unit driver: David Morrissey
Steve Cooke	....	unit driver: Kristin Scott Thomas
Jimmy Coutts	....	driver: facilities
Devis Damonte	....	runner driver
Dave Fisher	....	driver: facilities
Martin Foard	....	driver: facilities (as Martyn Foard)
Tathyana Genova	....	driver: facilities (as Tatyana Genova)
David Grose	....	unit driver
Alex Jeffrey	....	runner driver
Brian Kelly	....	unit driver
James Ott	....	driver: facilities
Ben Quirk	....	runner driver
Peter Soteriou	....	unit driver
Joss Spry	....	runner driver

Other crew
Carolyn Allen	....	tutor
Aaron Anderson	....	creative coordinator: UK Film Council
Oana Anghel	....	title designer: LipSync Post (as Oana Eisel)
Jamie Atkins	....	assistant chef
Nick Atkinson	....	creative coordinator: UK Film Council
Kate Bailey	....	assistant chef
Matthew Baker	....	representative: HanWay Films
Natalie Bass	....	legal services: Lee and Thompson, Northwest Vision and Media
Kevin Bell	....	film office: Liverpool, Northwest Vision and Media
Mona Benjamin	....	production coordinator
Helen Bingham	....	accounts assistant
Elizabeth Brizzell	....	accounts assistant
Dexter Bryant	....	floor runner
Daniel Budd	....	assistant production accountant (as Dan Budd)
Katherine Butler	....	head of development: Film4
Sally Caplan	....	head of premiere fund: UK Film Council
Rosalie Carew	....	script researcher
Karen Carr	....	tutor
Jon Carter	....	unit medic
Les Child	....	choreographer
Ross Clarke	....	epk: director
Tonia Cohen	....	negative checks and script: Capello Media Solutions
William Conacher	....	dialogue coach
Tara B. Cook	....	head of film: Northwest Vision and Media (as Tara Cook)
Sara Curran	....	production legal services
Maxine Davis	....	accountant: post-production
Christian De-vos	....	head of security
Peter Dickinson	....	title designer: LipSync Post
Harry Dixon	....	head of business affairs: Film4
Amanda Dudley	....	floor runner
Jeanine East	....	financial controller: Ecosse Films
Gareth Edwards	....	floor runner
Will Evans	....	head of business affairs: UK Film Council
Sarah Fahy	....	insurance broker: Totally Entertainment
Sophie Falkner	....	office manager: Ecosse Films
Elton Farla	....	unit medic
Anna Green-Armytage	....	assistant: Robert Bernstein and Douglas Rae
Julia Hall	....	title designer: LipSync Post
Peter Hampden	....	representative: Lip Sync Productions
Vince Holden	....	head of production finance: UK Film Council
Andrew Holt	....	location scout
Andy Holt	....	location manager
Steve Jarvis	....	assistant chef
Tracey Josephs	....	head of production: Film4
Sarah Kenyon	....	floor runner
Sheerin Khosrowshahi-Miandoab	....	production trainee: FT2
David King-Taylor	....	health and safety officer (as David King Taylor)
Clyde Lane	....	chef
John Lane	....	assistant chef
Tracey Larcombe	....	epk: producer
Susanna Lenton	....	script supervisor
Cathy Lorimer	....	floor runner
Jonathan Lynch-Staunton	....	representative: HanWay Films
Richard Mansell	....	representative: HanWay Films
Charles McDonald	....	unit publicist
Josey McNamara	....	floor runner
John Miles	....	production accountant
Fiona Morham	....	head of production: UK Film Council
Sofia Neves	....	representative: HanWay Films
Dave Nicholas	....	unit medic
Clive Noakes	....	laboratory contact
Erika Zeckser Owen	....	script supervisor trainee: FT2
Terry Paskins	....	assistant chef
Kerry Patten	....	production assistant
Zelda Perkins	....	assistant: Sam Taylor-Wood
Michelle Pianca	....	assistant location manager
David Quli	....	legal advisor: Aver Media, Wiggin
Richard Rogan	....	production trainee: FT2
Lynn Saunders	....	film office: Liverpool, Northwest Vision and Media
Thorsten Schumacher	....	representative: HanWay Films
Anne Shanley	....	health and safety officer
Ben Spicer	....	assistant: Sam Taylor-Wood
Jan Spielhoff	....	representative: HanWay Films
Emma Stanyer	....	head of legal: Ecosse Films
Nicola Stean	....	assistant development producer: Ecosse Films
Kelly Taylor-Dias	....	assistant production coordinator
Evertyman Theatre Liverpool	....	adr voices: teenage crowd
Derek Townshend	....	insurance broker: Totally Entertainment
Howard Watkins	....	title designer: LipSync Post
Chris Webb	....	location manager
Jason Wheeler	....	location manager
Lisa Williams	....	assistant: Kevin Loader
Charles Wilson	....	plant hire
Thomas Woods	....	assistant location manager (as Tom Woods)
Helen Varty	....	assistant: Tessa Ross (uncredited)
Anna Wilton	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Anthony Minghella	....	dedicatee
Yoko Ono	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Ecosse Films
• Film4
• UK Film Council
• Aver Media
• North West Vision

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2010) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2010) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2010) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Icon Film Distribution (2010) (UK) (theatrical)
• Mars Distribution (2010) (France) (theatrical)
• Senator Filmverleih (2010) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Weinstein Company, The (2010) (USA) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Alta Films (2011) (Spain) (all media)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2010) (Switzerland) (all media)
• CatchPlay (2010) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2010) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Imagem Filmes (2010) (Brazil) (all media)
• Nordisk Film Theatrical Distribution (2010) (Finland) (all media)
• Odeon (2010) (Greece) (all media)
• Senator Home Entertainment (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Weinstein Company, The (2009) (Argentina) (all media)

Special Effects

• Lip Sync Post (visual effects) (as LipSync Post)
• Visual Effects Company, The (motion control)

Other Companies

• Premier PR  publicity
• 1st Position Vehicles  action vehicles
• Abbey Road Studios  music recording facility
• Airstar Lighting Balloons  lighting balloons (as Airstar)
• Alex Rouse Wigmakers  wig supplies (as Alex Rouse Wigs)
• Angels the Costumiers  costume supplies
• Arion Facilities  telecine dailies
• Assault and Battery  music recording facility
• Audiolink Radio Communications  production mobiles and data cards & walkie talkies
• Baptty & Co.  armourer
• Bickers Action Enterprises  action vehicles (as Bickers Action)
• Big City Reservations  accommodation
• Big Portion Location Catering  catering: crowd
• Capello Media Solutions  nehative checks and script
• Carlo Manzi Rentals  costume supplies (as Carlo Manzi)
• Casting Collective  extras casting
• Cosprops  costume supplies
• Direct Film  facilities
• EuroKids & Adults International Casting and Model Agency  extras casting
• Film Finances  bond company
• Fujifilm  motion picture film supplier
• HireWorks  Avid equipment rental
• J & J International Catering  catering (as J & J Interational)
• Kodak  motion picture film supplier
• Lee and Thompson Solicitors  legal services: Northwest Vision and Media (as Lee and Thompson)
• Lip Sync Post  digital intermediate (as LipSync Post)
• Lip Sync Post  post-production facilities (as LipSync Post)
• Lip Sync Post  sound mixing (as LipSync Post)
• Lip Sync Post  titles (as LipSync Post)
• MK Travel  minibuses
• Makin Movies  location facilities and supplies
• Midnight Digital  Dailies
• Movie Lot, The  security
• Movie Makers  facilities
• Movie Tone Frocks  costume supplies
• Panalux  lighting equipment
• Panavision Grips  grip equipment
• Panavision UK  camera equipment (as Panavision)
• Red Chutney  catering: crowd
• Sargent Disc  accounting services
• Shipleys  auditors
• Sony Music Entertainment  soundtrack
• Soundelux  sound editorial
• Spotless Locations  location facilities and supplies
• TCE Danwood  photocopiers
• Tele-Cater  catering: crowd
• Totally Entertainment  insurance broker
• Universal Sound  foley recording facility
• West Trend Apartments  accommodation
• Wiggin  legal advisor: Aver Media

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and a scene of sexuality

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

UK | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45958) | Ireland:15A | UK:15 | New Zealand:M | Finland:K-11 | Netherlands:9 | Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | Japan:R15+ | Malaysia:18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | South Korea:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Sweden:7 | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK

Company:

Ecosse Films

Trivia:

This movie's (limited) theatrical release date in the United States was October 9, 2010, what would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When John wakes up at the waterfront, a modern car ferry is visible in the background.

Quotes:

John:Why couldn't God make me Elvis?
Julia:'Cause he was saving you for John Lennon!

Movie Connections:

References Pink Floyd The Wall (1982)

Soundtrack:

Shake, Rattle and Roll

Unsentimental but still artful biopic of the early Lennon

Sam Taylor-Wood's story of the adolescent John Lennon is an entertaining and occasionally touching film. I enjoyed it for the story of a young lad belligerently (and often fearfully) confronting the inevitable revelation of his past and constructing some sort of future. Taylor-Wood has consciously avoided any direct reference to the man that we all knew John Lennon would become, although there are implicit signposts placed in the visual narrative. Instead, his part in creating The Beatles assumed, the director concentrates on the (far from) simple facts of his coming of age, acquaintance with music and with real panache, the social climate in which this all came about.

The central narrative concerns the ying and yang relationships that John has with his aunt Mimi and rediscovered mother Julia. It is hard to imagine how these three parts would be better played than by you're-not- fooling-anyone-ice-queen Kristin Scott-Thomas and the effervescent life- force of Anne Marie Duff (respsectively). There's some fine screen acting going on here. Yet the tortured break with a prosaic, echt- English aunt and the intense, Oedipal love for a irresistible mother would be nothing without the right John - and where Aaron Johnson's been, I've no idea. His great ability is to trip off endless social anachronisms, turns of phrase that would seem un-PC, ill-advised or simply too cheeky today with a body language to suggest that he has no idea of the ramifications or combativeness of such an attitude. This is what makes the rock-n-roll, about to burst from the back of the screen (like the Third Reich in Haneke's White Ribbon) so palpable, so believable.

A good film, told, briskly and with rich nuance. 7/10