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.
The Emersons are a theatrical family, of sorts - one son Samuel,17, is a street performer who recites Shakespeare while his brother Beckett, 19, picks pockets in the crowd. Their father ... See full summary »
Director:
Antonia Bogdanovich
Stars:
Erich Wildpret,
Kevin Bigley,
Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Over two "typical" days in the life of The Beatles, the boys struggle to keep themselves and Sir Paul McCartney's mischievous grandfather in check while preparing for a live television performance.
Director:
Richard Lester
Stars:
John Lennon,
Paul McCartney,
George Harrison
Based on the issue of domestic violence, a young couple goes out one night with their friends. While another woman is contacting the man (played by Thomas Sangster) his girlfriend has trust... See full summary »
Director:
Oliver Kember
Stars:
Thomas Brodie-Sangster,
Stephanie de Whalley
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.Written by
CynthiaPowell
Director Sam Taylor-Johnson consulted her friend Sir Paul McCartney about the script. McCartney told that John Lennon didn't really ride on the top of the double-decker bus like he does in the script. He also revealed that the character of Lennon's aunt, Mimi Smith, wasn't as mean and vitriolic like she was written in the script. Furthermore, the song "In Spite of All the Danger" wasn't written as an ode to Lennon's mother as the script suggests. In the end they agreed that it's a film rather than documentary so Taylor-Johnson made inferences that weren't always there. See more »
Goofs
The soundtrack erroneously credits three songs to Sam Bell, who played George. In the movie, "Hello Little Girl" was performed by Aaron Johnson (John); while "Twenty Flight Rock" and "Love Me Tender" were performed by Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Paul). Two other songs performed by John, and a duet by John & Paul, are correctly credited to Johnson & Sangster; while George is only seen singing together with Paul & John in the final track performed by the Nowhere Boys. See more »
Quotes
John:
Is nowhere full of geniuses, sir? Because then I do probably belong there.
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Shake Rattle & Roll
Written by Charles F. Calhoun (as Charles Calhoun)
Published by UniChappell Music Inc. (BMI) and Mijac Music (BMI)
All rights administered by UnicHappell Music Inc.
Sub-Published by Campbell Connelly & Co Ltd
In the territory of British Commonwealth Eire & South Africa Excluding Australasia, Canada
Performed by Elvis Presley
(p) 1956 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Licensed courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited See more »
I knew very little about Lennon – a Beatle, shot dead at age 40, all round musical god to millions – before seeing Nowhere Boy. I know more about him now, but not as much as I'd hope. Matt Greenleigh's screenplay, based on Julia Baird's (Lennon's sister) memoirs, covers only a small period of the rocker's life, more specifically between the ages of 16 and 20. These were the years when Lennon met his real mother and learnt the truth about how he ended up living with his Aunt Mimi. Oh, and he also met Paul McCartney and George Harrison. However the film strongly focuses on his familial issues and leaves the formation of his band as a sidenote, which is a real shame because as an ignorant fan it would have been great to learn more about the Lennon / McCartney dynamic and how The Quarrymen-cum-Beatles grabbed the world's attention.
In her sophomore effort as director, Sam Taylor Wood brings a nice artistic edge to the proceedings although her picture isn't always as compelling as it should be. There are a handful of powerful scenes that'll get the heart pumping though; a tense, all-cards-on-the-table discussion between Lennon, Julia and Mimi is Nowhere Boy at its best. With the assistance of DP Seamus McGarvey, she manages to capture the mood and gloom of 50's London extremely well, the chilly weather a perfect excuse for kids everywhere to dress like Elvis.
Perhaps most importantly, Wood has extracted a fine performance from the 19 year old Johnson; his brash, confused Lennon is never less than convincing. Always reliable, and almost stealing the show, is Kristin Scott Thomas as the stern but devoted Aunt Mimi. She gives Mimi so much depth and unsaid emotion, it is tour de force to witness. Not quite as engaging is Thomas Sangster as McCartney and Anne-Marie Duff as Lennon's completely bizarre mother Julia.
A small, but interesting insight into the musical genius that was John Winston Lennon.
3.5 out of 5 (1 - Rubbish, 2 - Ordinary, 3 - Good, 4 - Excellent, 5 - Classic)
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I knew very little about Lennon – a Beatle, shot dead at age 40, all round musical god to millions – before seeing Nowhere Boy. I know more about him now, but not as much as I'd hope. Matt Greenleigh's screenplay, based on Julia Baird's (Lennon's sister) memoirs, covers only a small period of the rocker's life, more specifically between the ages of 16 and 20. These were the years when Lennon met his real mother and learnt the truth about how he ended up living with his Aunt Mimi. Oh, and he also met Paul McCartney and George Harrison. However the film strongly focuses on his familial issues and leaves the formation of his band as a sidenote, which is a real shame because as an ignorant fan it would have been great to learn more about the Lennon / McCartney dynamic and how The Quarrymen-cum-Beatles grabbed the world's attention.
In her sophomore effort as director, Sam Taylor Wood brings a nice artistic edge to the proceedings although her picture isn't always as compelling as it should be. There are a handful of powerful scenes that'll get the heart pumping though; a tense, all-cards-on-the-table discussion between Lennon, Julia and Mimi is Nowhere Boy at its best. With the assistance of DP Seamus McGarvey, she manages to capture the mood and gloom of 50's London extremely well, the chilly weather a perfect excuse for kids everywhere to dress like Elvis.
Perhaps most importantly, Wood has extracted a fine performance from the 19 year old Johnson; his brash, confused Lennon is never less than convincing. Always reliable, and almost stealing the show, is Kristin Scott Thomas as the stern but devoted Aunt Mimi. She gives Mimi so much depth and unsaid emotion, it is tour de force to witness. Not quite as engaging is Thomas Sangster as McCartney and Anne-Marie Duff as Lennon's completely bizarre mother Julia.
A small, but interesting insight into the musical genius that was John Winston Lennon.
3.5 out of 5 (1 - Rubbish, 2 - Ordinary, 3 - Good, 4 - Excellent, 5 - Classic)