There have been tons of biopics made about various stars and musicians. Some are popular but bring nothing to the table. But then there are others that not only offer a new perspective on the subject at hand but have the ability to inspire viewers to dig deeper into the person they’ve just watched a film about. Such is the case with NOWHERE BOY, a biopic about the young John Lennon.
Rather than focus the entire film on the beginnings of the Beatles, it instead takes Lennon as its subject and brings them in later. Aaron Johnson stars as Lennon, living with his Uncle George (David Threlfall) and Aunt Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas). When his uncle suddenly passes away, he sees a woman at the cemetery watching from a distance. Its only later that he discovers this woman is his mother Julia (Anne-Marie Duff).
In trouble at school and feeling he is suffering under the strict upbringing offered him by Mimi, John sets out to find his mother. A friend discovers where she is living and much to John’s surprise it’s within walking distance.
Arriving at her doorstep, he reunites with his mother and they become friends. But that’s the thing; they seem more like friends than mother/son. Julia is a free spirit, a woman who loves rock n’ roll music and wants to have fun, much like the adolescent John. And as their friendship grows it takes on an almost oedipal tone.
John continues to have school problems and eventually decides he wants to form a band. Recruiting various friends he forms a skiffle band that plays at local events. Then one of these friends brings along someone he knows, a fellow by the name of Paul McCartney and, as they say, history is made.
The rivalry between these two starts the moment that they meet. Paul is skilled at playing the guitar while John is merely using banjo chords his mother taught him to play. Paul, though younger, becomes a mentor musically to John. And while their rivalry is apparent, so is their growing affection for one another.
Through the story John remains conflicted by the adults in his life. Where one has raised him as her own she keeps a tight hold on him. The other offers him a frivolous life of fun but little responsibility. And as these two women, both who adore the young boy, face off with one another neither quite knows the affect that it has on him. But one day the words pour out of him in his music.
The best part of this movie is not the soundtrack though it is well done. The best part of the movie is actually discovering the tip of the ice berg that was John Lennon. In finding out the things that made him who he was, we are offered a glimpse behind the scenes at why he was the way he was, what inspired him, how he achieved fame and fortune. Most will remember the celebrity that was John Lennon, few knew the man. This film gives us a glimpse and perhaps will inspire those who watch to find out more about him.
Aaron Johnson does an amazing job as Lennon, never dumbing down his portrayal by trying to sound and look exactly like him, instead portraying the youngster filled with troubles instead. He performs the role as an actor portraying a character rather than as an actor mimicking a personality and the performance does well because of that.
Kristin Scott Thomas and Marie-Anne Duff both turn in interesting performances as well. They form the yin and yang that made up the man that became John Lennon; the much reserved and proper Brit and the fun loving free spirit that brought out more artistically. Each conveys their roles well but it’s the underlying emotions that they display with little more than a nod or subtle form of body language that makes their characters seem more real.
I wasn’t sure if I’d like this movie. Having lived through the later Beatles years (SGT. PEPPER was the first actual album I ever purchased) I knew the bits and pieces that made up the band. Lennon always came off as sort of a know it all, a cocky individual who always thought he was above everyone else. This movie made me rethink that opinion and want to seek out more information about him. My guess is that others will as well.
Yes the story of the Beatles is covered here and may inspire you to learn more about that too. But the fact is Lennon is front and center here. The film draws you in and never bores. What more could one want from a biopic?
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