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IMDbPro

Nowhere Boy

  • 20092009
  • RR
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
37K
YOUR RATING
Kristin Scott Thomas and Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Nowhere Boy (2009)
A chronicle of the early life of John Lennon (Johnson) in 1950s Liverpool, from his relationship with his aunt Mimi (Scott Thomas) and estranged mother (Duff), to the foundation of The Quarrymen.
Play trailer2:31
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • Music
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 l... Read allA 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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
37K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Sam Taylor-Johnson
  • Writers
    • Julia Baird(memoir)
    • Matt Greenhalgh(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Aaron Taylor-Johnson
    • Kristin Scott Thomas
    • Anne-Marie Duff
Top credits
  • Director
    • Sam Taylor-Johnson
  • Writers
    • Julia Baird(memoir)
    • Matt Greenhalgh(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Aaron Taylor-Johnson
    • Kristin Scott Thomas
    • Anne-Marie Duff
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 93User reviews
    • 163Critic reviews
    • 67Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 BAFTA Awards
      • 6 wins & 21 nominations total

    Videos3

    Nowhere Boy: Trailer #2
    Trailer 2:31
    Nowhere Boy: Trailer #2
    Nowhere Boy
    Trailer 2:15
    Nowhere Boy
    “In Spite of All the Danger”
    Clip 3:27
    “In Spite of All the Danger”

    Photos114

    Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Nowhere Boy (2009)
    Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Nowhere Boy (2009)
    Anne-Marie Duff and Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Nowhere Boy (2009)
    Kristin Scott Thomas and Anne-Marie Duff in Nowhere Boy (2009)
    Anne-Marie Duff and Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Nowhere Boy (2009)
    Kristin Scott Thomas and Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Nowhere Boy (2009)
    Kristin Scott Thomas and Anne-Marie Duff in Nowhere Boy (2009)
    Kristin Scott Thomas, Anne-Marie Duff, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Nowhere Boy (2009)
    Kristin Scott Thomas in Nowhere Boy (2009)
    Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Nowhere Boy (2009)
    Lucy Cohu and Kerry Fox at an event for Nowhere Boy (2009)
    Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Nowhere Boy (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Aaron Taylor-Johnson
    Aaron Taylor-Johnson
    • Johnas John
    • (as Aaron Johnson)
    Kristin Scott Thomas
    Kristin Scott Thomas
    • Mimias Mimi
    Anne-Marie Duff
    Anne-Marie Duff
    • Juliaas Julia
    David Threlfall
    David Threlfall
    • Uncle Georgeas Uncle George
    Josh Bolt
    Josh Bolt
    • Peteas Pete
    Ophelia Lovibond
    Ophelia Lovibond
    • Marieas Marie
    Kerrie Hayes
    Kerrie Hayes
    • Marie's Friendas Marie's Friend
    Angela Walsh
    • Schoolmistressas Schoolmistress
    Paul Ritter
    Paul Ritter
    • Popjoyas Popjoy
    Richard Syms
    Richard Syms
    • Reverendas Reverend
    James Johnson
    • Stanas Stan
    Alex Ambrose
    • Young Johnas Young John
    Angelica Jopling
    Angelica Jopling
    • Julia - aged 8as Julia - aged 8
    Abby Greenhalgh
    • Jackie - aged 6as Jackie - aged 6
    David Morrissey
    David Morrissey
    • Bobbyas Bobby
    Richard Tate
    • Teacheras Teacher
    Chris Coghill
    Chris Coghill
    • Cunard Yankas Cunard Yank
    • (as Christopher Coghill)
    Ben Smith
    Ben Smith
    • Boy with Knifeas Boy with Knife
    • Director
      • Sam Taylor-Johnson
    • Writers
      • Julia Baird(memoir) (uncredited)
      • Matt Greenhalgh(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Sam Taylor-Johnson consulted her friend Sir Paul McCartney about the script. McCartney said 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 movie rather than documentary, so Taylor-Johnson made inferences that weren't always there.
    • Goofs
      When Paul first saw John, John was singing "Come and go with me" not "Maggie Mae"
    • Quotes

      John: Why couldn't God make me Elvis?

      Julia: 'Cause he was saving you for John Lennon!

    • Connections
      Featured in Breakfast: Episode dated 30 November 2009 (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Wild One
      Written by Johnny Greenan (as John Greenan), Johnny O'Keefe, Dave Owen

      Published by (c) 1958 MPL Communications Inc.

      Melody Lane Publications, Inc.

      Performed by Jerry Lee Lewis

      Licensed from Licencemusic.com ApS

      Courtesy of Sun Entertainment Corporation

    User reviews93

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    There Is Nowhere Else You Should Be On Boxing Day
    Visual artist Sam Taylor Wood has crafted the most entertaining and thought provoking piece of Lennon mythology to date in her debut feature film Nowhere Boy.

    The movie chronicles the adolescent years of John Lennon. Having been brought up by his Aunt Mimi, John's world is turned upside when his free spirited mother Julia re-enters his life, ripping him open and pulling out his artistry as well as pain, anger and frustration.

    A number of films and documentaries have tried and failed to make a definitive statement about John Lennon the human being. The reason why Nowhere Boy is so successful is because we are presented with a complex and multi faceted young man, who was a number of things to a number of people and impossible to pigeonhole.

    Based on the novel by John's sister Julia Baird with the script penned by Matt Greenhalgh, Nowhere Boy possesses an enormously strong emotional undercurrent that is missing from many films of the biopic genre. The Lennon legend has risen to almost unparalleled mythical heights within our culture and Greenhalgh does a superb job at humanising the story, so much that you forget that you are watching a film about a legend in the making, but rather the story of a young boy caught between the women he loves.

    The women in question are John's Aunt Mimi played by the ever brilliant Kristen Scott Thomas and his mother Julia, brought to life in a star making turn by Anne-Marie Duff. Though much of the acclaim seems to be percolating around Duff's performance, Scott Thomas deserves to be equally praised for making the incredibly complex character of Mimi relatable and sympathetic. In the wrong hands Aunt Mimi could have come across as highly unlikeable considering she can often appear distant and cold, but Scott Thomas juxtaposes these instances with such an understated kindness and warmth that we as the audience realise that Mimi is a very caring person who has the misfortune of finding it almost impossible to express sentimental feelings. On the other end of the spectrum Julia appears to be everything Mimi isn't- a free spirit who flouts convention and lives for a good time. Julia is a flirt. She flirts with life, men and even her own son. There is a rather incestuous undercurrent to her and John's relationship such as when she lays on top of him, lost in ecstasy to the tune "I Put A Spell On You". The scene is uncomfortable, as is many aspects of their relationship. In many ways she seems more like a girlfriend to John and as the movie progresses we begin to understand more and more Mimi's misgivings. In many ways Julia has never really grown up and only knows how to engage with men in this seductive manner.

    John Lennon is played by relative unknown Aaron Johnson, mainly associated with his role in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging. Johnson breaks free from the shackles of his teen pin-up persona and delivers a mature and layered performance worthy of accolades. Johnson fully embodies Lennon's complexities; he is both good and bad, insecure and arrogant, sensitive and brutal, caring and careless. From Lennon's wit to his magnetism, pain, anger and sarcasm, Johnson gets it all. Considering Lennon is one of the most imitated celebrities of our time Johnson does well to avoid caricature, creating a version of Lennon at his most human. Johnson's vocal abilities also sound eerily reminiscent of a young Lennon, making him an excellent choice in more ways than one.

    Taylor Wood is definitely a talent to watch as she not only elicits fine performances from her cast but also manages to capture the essence of post war Liverpool in a vivid and imaginative way. Gone are the bleak greys, squalid mean streets and endless rows of two up two down houses that usually characterises the depictions of the area. Instead we are presented with a much more colorful and vibrant depiction of Liverpool, a City just beginning to discover the charms of rock and roll. The excitement in the air is palpable.

    One of the greatest attributes of Nowhere Boy is the soundtrack, crammed with classics from Elvis Presley, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Eddie Cochran. Coupled with these original rock songs are covers sung by Aaron Johnson and Thomas Sangstar as their respective characters.

    Nowhere Boy is an absolute gem of a film that will hopefully find the audience it deserves. You'll laugh, cry and kick yourself for not learning guitar in your youth. Possibly the most touching film of the year, there is nowhere else you should be on Boxing Day. FOR MORE REVIEWS FEEL FREE TO VISIT http://rantsreviews4filmnuts.blogspot.com/
    helpful•78
    22
    • phantom_fan89
    • Dec 21, 2009

    FAQ3

    • Is "Nowhere Boy" based on a book?
    • Did John Lennon ever meet the other members of his family?
    • What is the last song during the end credits?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 25, 2009 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Canada
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (France)
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Стати Джоном Ленноном
    • Filming locations
      • Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Ecosse Films
      • Film4
      • UK Film Council
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,457,248
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $52,749
      • Oct 10, 2010
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,577,779
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

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