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Title: Yesterday (2019)
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Yesterday director Danny Boyle, screenwriter Richard Curtis, and stars Lily James and Himesh Patel reveal their TV and movie obsessions. And yes, a classic Beatles movie is on the list.
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Himesh Patel | ... | Jack Malik | |
| Lily James | ... | Ellie Appleton | |
| Sophia Di Martino | ... | Carol | |
| Ellise Chappell | ... | Lucy | |
| Meera Syal | ... | Sheila Malik | |
| Harry Michell | ... | Nick | |
| Vincent Franklin | ... | Brian | |
| Joel Fry | ... | Rocky | |
| Michael Kiwanuka | ... | Michael Kiwanuka | |
 |
Karma Sood | ... | Young Jack |
|
|
Gus Brown | ... | Marcus The Dentist |
| Sanjeev Bhaskar | ... | Jed Malik | |
| Karl Theobald | ... | Terry | |
| Alexander Arnold | ... | Gavin | |
| Dominic Coleman | ... | Ipswich TV Host | |
In Lowestoft UK, Jack Malik is a frustrated musician whose musical career is going nowhere despite the faith that his friend/manager Ellie Appleton has in him. However, on the night Jack decides to give up, the whole world is momentarily hit with a massive blackout during which Jack is hit by a bus. Upon regaining consciousness, Jack learns to his astonishment that he is apparently now the only one who knows the music of the Beatles. Realizing this improbable opportunity, Jack begins playing the music of the greatest of the rock bands, claiming it as his own. It pays off quickly and Jack becomes a worldwide musical sensation. However, Jack finds himself drifting away from Ellie, only realizing his love for her when she has become intimidated by his success, which depends on a blatant plagiarization that no one could find out. Now, Jack must make a fundamental moral decision about his music to satisfy his conscience as he decides what he truly needs. Written by Kenneth Chisholm
After being subjected to a number of films documenting the lives of musicians - most notably "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Rocketman" and "Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story" - it is truly a pleasure to be presented with a film that sheds light on the work and life of an artist while not adhering to the strict (though desirable) biographical approach. That is exactly what makes the piece so marvellous; I came out of the cinema with a greater appreciation of The Beatles, and their music, through a fictional story that did not feature the four men we are familiar with at all. Quite often the film achieved my admiration for the band without me consciously noticing.
On another level, the film made a satire of the modern music industry. It revealed how the apparent "solo" artists are far from their titles; with huge teams of people pushing them in a preferred, and more commercial, creative direction, taking the musicians' creative power. This was done in a humorous light (as most themes are presented in the film). The romantic aspect of the film is evident from the beginning and is a dominant aspect of the story, possibly shifting the focus of the piece a little too much. However, it still helps provides a satisfying ending.
The film pays a great amount of respect in a fresh way while cleverly interweaving other conflicts.