Film: Nowhere Boy
Starring: Aaron Johnson (Kick Ass) and Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient and Gosford Park)
U.S. Release: 2010 (rated R)
Director: Sam Taylor-Wood
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 98 minutes
A great movie is a great movie, no matter if it's filmed in the U.K. or the United States. So the fact that Nowhere Boy sat around for a year after its 2009 European release, absolutely baffles me. Actually, it must have baffled The Weinstein Company even more. They worked hard over the past 12 months to put the story of John Lennon's youth on screens all across America. Well The Weinstein Company succeeded, and because they took that chance, they'll reap the benefits.
Nowhere Boy is set in 1950s England, and a youthful John Lennon (played by Johnson) is a bit of a troublemaker. While being raised by his aunt and uncle for over a decade, the mystery behind his mother's abandonment really begins to take a toll on a young Lennon. Soon after the loss of his uncle, John and his aunt Mimi (played by Thomas) really start to clash, thus prompting Lennon to seek out his biological mother, Julia. She introduces John to the world of Rock and Roll, and inevitably changes the course of history. Despite their obvious connection, John still has difficulty accepting the fact that Julia walked out on him many years ago. Nowhere Boy details the struggles Lennon faced balancing the two most important women in his life, his mother and his aunt Mimi.
As a big fan of Rock and Roll, and more specifically, The Beatles, I was very intrigued by Nowhere Boy's theatrical trailer. John Lennon will forever be linked to the origins of Rock and Roll, but the film isn't about his music career. Nowhere Boy is about a troubled teenager who's seen the darker side of life. What makes it such a wonderful film is its ability to demonstrate the common belief that any truly amazing artist has to be somewhat insane. And believe me, John Lennon was far from "normal". Aaron Johnson is phenomenal in the lead role. He does a fantastic job portraying the emotional roller coaster that was Lennon's youth. Furthermore, Johnson brilliantly illustrates how the young artist balanced such emotions with the contemporary art form that was Rock and Roll. Lennon's character and the movie's plot begin to develop side by side. As an audience, you see them both evolve simultaneously, and the result is one of 2010's best films.
You don't have to be a huge Beatles fan to get something out of this movie. Nowhere Boy is a coming of age tale about the harsh realities of life. It just so happened that Lennon used music in order to cope with his struggles. It's hard growing up no matter who you are, but how you make it work, now that defines you. As Nowhere Boy shows us, it certainly defined the life of John Lennon. I strongly suggest making an effort to see this movie. There's a charismatic aura to Lennon that Johnson demonstrates to perfection. You don't want to miss one of 2010's best performances, and moreover, one of its best films.
Watch Nowhere Boy if you enjoyed: Almost Famous. They aren't spitting images of one another, but both revolve around Rock and Roll and a teenager who's figuring life out.
Stars: 3 stars out of 4.
Starring: Aaron Johnson (Kick Ass) and Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient and Gosford Park)
U.S. Release: 2010 (rated R)
Director: Sam Taylor-Wood
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 98 minutes
A great movie is a great movie, no matter if it's filmed in the U.K. or the United States. So the fact that Nowhere Boy sat around for a year after its 2009 European release, absolutely baffles me. Actually, it must have baffled The Weinstein Company even more. They worked hard over the past 12 months to put the story of John Lennon's youth on screens all across America. Well The Weinstein Company succeeded, and because they took that chance, they'll reap the benefits.
Nowhere Boy is set in 1950s England, and a youthful John Lennon (played by Johnson) is a bit of a troublemaker. While being raised by his aunt and uncle for over a decade, the mystery behind his mother's abandonment really begins to take a toll on a young Lennon. Soon after the loss of his uncle, John and his aunt Mimi (played by Thomas) really start to clash, thus prompting Lennon to seek out his biological mother, Julia. She introduces John to the world of Rock and Roll, and inevitably changes the course of history. Despite their obvious connection, John still has difficulty accepting the fact that Julia walked out on him many years ago. Nowhere Boy details the struggles Lennon faced balancing the two most important women in his life, his mother and his aunt Mimi.
As a big fan of Rock and Roll, and more specifically, The Beatles, I was very intrigued by Nowhere Boy's theatrical trailer. John Lennon will forever be linked to the origins of Rock and Roll, but the film isn't about his music career. Nowhere Boy is about a troubled teenager who's seen the darker side of life. What makes it such a wonderful film is its ability to demonstrate the common belief that any truly amazing artist has to be somewhat insane. And believe me, John Lennon was far from "normal". Aaron Johnson is phenomenal in the lead role. He does a fantastic job portraying the emotional roller coaster that was Lennon's youth. Furthermore, Johnson brilliantly illustrates how the young artist balanced such emotions with the contemporary art form that was Rock and Roll. Lennon's character and the movie's plot begin to develop side by side. As an audience, you see them both evolve simultaneously, and the result is one of 2010's best films.
You don't have to be a huge Beatles fan to get something out of this movie. Nowhere Boy is a coming of age tale about the harsh realities of life. It just so happened that Lennon used music in order to cope with his struggles. It's hard growing up no matter who you are, but how you make it work, now that defines you. As Nowhere Boy shows us, it certainly defined the life of John Lennon. I strongly suggest making an effort to see this movie. There's a charismatic aura to Lennon that Johnson demonstrates to perfection. You don't want to miss one of 2010's best performances, and moreover, one of its best films.
Watch Nowhere Boy if you enjoyed: Almost Famous. They aren't spitting images of one another, but both revolve around Rock and Roll and a teenager who's figuring life out.
Stars: 3 stars out of 4.
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