Review: Nowhere Boy

Not too long ago, I heard someone remark that John Lennon, one of the driving forces behind the Beatles and one of the most famous and acclaimed musicians of all time, is starting to become more of a legend than a mere man. Thinking about it, I found they might just be right.

Lennon, who would've turned 70 just a few weeks ago, was murdered by a crazed fan 30 years ago. Despite the tragedy, Lennon's legacy has only grown, as a songwriter, a musician, and an activist. He's undoubtedly one of the biggest icons to ever exist in pop culture.

So isn't it about time someone made a John Lennon biopic? We've had some in the past decade for some other music icons such as Ray Charles and Johnny Cash, two pioneers in their respective genres. So why not John Lennon? Well, just in time...enter "Nowhere Boy"

 

"Nowhere Boy" is a British film that has finally opened in the US after opening in the UK last year, followed by a tour on the festival circuit. The film tells the story of Lennon (played by "Kickass" star Aaron Johnson) when he was a teenager living in Liverpool. Lennon lives with his aunt Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas), who has taken care of him since he was young, after his mother (Anne-Marie Duff) gave him up. The film begins with the death of Lennon's uncle George, a great blow to him as his uncle was the only really father figure in his life. At the funeral, he happens to see his mother for the first time in 12 years, and decides to reconnect with her without telling Mimi, who believes that she'll hurt him.

And so one day he sneaks away with a friend to visit his mother, who is enthralled to see him again and takes him to Blackpool for a day on the pier. From there, they begin to spend more time together, eventually discussing rock n' roll and music in general. She decides to teach Lennon how to play string instruments, starting with the banjo. The music becomes an escape for Lennon, and he becomes fascinated with rock n roll  after seeing girls go wild over footage of Elvis in a movie theater.

John sports his "Buddy Holly look"

 When he returns to school, he recruits his friends to play in his band. "We don't know how to play..." one remarks. "You don't have to know," he replies "What's important is that I've chosen you!" And from there "The Quarrymen" are formed, playing local gigs all over town. Eventually, his music grabs the attention of 15-year-old Paul McCartney and George Harrison, who begin making music with Lennon.

But here's the catch-the formation of the Beatles as we know them is never really addressed in Nowhere Boy-and that's one of the areas where it excels. Rather than focus on the start of quite possibly the biggest Rock n Roll group of all time, the film let's us get to know Lennon, and witness his rocky years as a teenager. He finally gets to know his mother, though he has to keep it a secret from his aunt. He struggles at school, getting into trouble and even suspended.  His sense of self is stretched between his long-lost mother and her overbearing sister, who largely discourages his musical career in favor of a more traditional education.

"Nowhere Boy", then, is all John Lennon and no Beatles. It makes Lennon a little more human, and that's not surprising, as it was co-written by Julia Baird, Lennon's half sister who was there to see him re-connect with his mother and begin his musical career. In my mind, this sets the film apart from most biopics-others in the same genre worship their subject like a demi-God (which is certainly how some people view Lennon), yet "Nowhere Boy" puts us on the same level as it's subject.

Bottom Line: "Nowhere Boy" succeeds with the help of a beautiful cinematography, genuine emotion, and an Oscar-worthy performance by Aaron Johnson as Lennon. It's one of the year's best films.

Grade: A-