| Nowhere Boy | |
 Millions of Beatles fans out there think they know their favourite band, or even favourite Beatle, but artist Sam Taylor-Wood’s directorial debut about the early life of one John Lennon is something fresh, new and exciting. Written by Matt Greenhalgh, fresh from his BAFTA win for the screenplay for Control, it tells the story of Lennon through his tumultuous teenage years in Liverpool and of the two strong women who shaped his personality and life forever and helped put him on the road to success. The story opens in 1950’s Liverpool with a young Lennon living with his Auntie Mimi (Kristin Scott-Thomas) and his Uncle George (David Threfall) who listens to music with him and encourages him to learn the harmonica. Lennon is happy until while larking around his uncle dies of a heart attack and this leaves him alone with Mimi. They soldier on until Lennon learns that his real mother Julia only lives a mile away from him and he decides one day to set off and get to know her. Through her he is introduced to Rock n’Roll music and taught how to play the banjo and later the guitar which leads him to start a band. But all the while though he is torn between his love for Mimi and his new love for his biological mother and plays them often off against each other causing rows and arguments and a growing resentment towards school and authority that fuels his rebel streak leading to him starting a band and his first step on the way to fame and fortune. The film from astounding photographer Taylor-Wood is amazing to look at, and it’s obvious that she has worked extremely closely with cinematographer Seamus McGarvey in creating the look and authentic feel to the film. It manages to capture the changing mood of the late sixties beautifully and at times feels like you are simply looking in on young Lennon’s life. But what is most likely to be discussed most is Johnson’s brilliant portrayal of Lennon, in which he succeeds not only sounding just like him but managing to channel and almost bottle the essence of him which is borderline spooky at times. He is great at showing the fun but often arrogance of the young man who was not the peaceful well rounded individual that he would become, but a confused teenager full of pent up emotions and destructive outbursts that hurt those around him (and himself on occasion). Both female supporting roles deserve genuine praise as Scott-Thomas proves yet again to be one of Britain’s finest actresses as his straight as a die Auntie Mimi and Duff shows us that she is the best of a new younger breed of instinctive actresses that make Julia human and believable in her performance. Even Thomas Brodie Sangster as the young Paul McCartney shines through despite only featuring at the end of the tale while the older men’s roles of Uncle George is filled well by David Threfall and David Morrissey as Bobby Julia’s husband again shows even in a small role he can be memorable.  The film is not all doom and gloom though and is filled with stand out moments like Lennon hearing rock n’roll for the first time, learning guitar with McCartney and the Quarrymen’s first gig which are all handled so well its hard to think that this is Taylor-Wood’s first feature film. The soundtrack is as you would expect full of excellent tunes and ripping rock n’roll with not a Beatles tune in sight (thank God!) and deserves a listen on its own. It’s a fascinating and unbelievably untold film story that is highly amusing to see and learn how much of an arrogant little prick Lennon once was with the only real let down being the abrupt ending that feels a slight cheat as you are left wanting more from the story and its cast. But this is a minor quibble and this film is sure to feature in the BAFTA line up if there is any justice in the world. So get off your turkey-stuffed butts and go for a boogie! Rating: **** Starring: Aaron Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, David Threfall & Anne-Marie Duff Directed by: Sam Taylor-Wood Running time: 97 Mins Cert: 12 Released: 26th December Review by Mark Cappuccio If you liked this then check out the review of Nine or Taking Woodstock. |
