Review by Spencer Gordon
Photo provided by Nowhere Boy
Nowhere Boy
Directed by Sam Taylor-Wood
Starring Aaron Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Anne-Marie Duff
Rated R for language and a scene of sexuality
Everyone needs to keep an eye on Aaron Johnson’s career. Already he’s proven he can don an American accent and be my favorite superhero as the lead in Kick-Ass. Now in Nowhere Boy, he flat out transforms into John Lennon. Johnson, who was eighteen at the time this movie was filmed, puts Nowhere Boy on his back so effortlessly by encompassing Lennon’s accent and mannerisms perfectly. Other solid performances by Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient, Gosford Park) and Anne-Marie Duff (Is Anybody There) as John’s aunt and mother, as well as first time director Sam Taylor-Wood working from her heart create a film that John Lennon himself would have enjoyed.
Nowhere Boy tracks John from his days in high school before he wanted to be a musician, to his first recorded song with some buddies named Paul and George. It is quite surprising to find out what things influenced John as a kid to become a musician as well as an artist. If there are any Beatles fans reading this review that don’t know the story of John’s life then this film is definitely a must see.
Now to be honest, the best part of the film were the scenes with the Quarrymen, either them performing or going through typical indie rocky problems. The first time Lennon meets Paul as well as George will give anyone goose bumps as you can’t help but think of the future these three teenagers are about to embark on.
The major problem I have with the film is the brilliant scenes between John, Paul, and George took a backseat to the story of John trying to decide whether his guardian should be his mom or aunt. The film fell victim to the predictable storyline of whether John should choose between the fun mom he just reconnected with, or the strict woman who loved and raised him. Catch Me If You Can followed the same sort of plot diagram as Nowhere Boy, but do you really remember those scenes with Leonardo DiCaprio’s parents, or do you remember scenes like him conning his way to be a doctor? Catch Me director Steven Spielberg understood audiences would respond to the cons and games with Tom Hanks much more than to Leo’s guardian dilemma. Nowhere Boy has a first-time director at the helm, and I’m not sure whether it was ignorance or just the story she wanted to tell, but I don’t understand why the focus is on who raised a great musician opposed to the actual musician himself.
Despite this, the scenes with the trio are worthwhile as is witnessing John find his musical soul, so go see Nowhere Boy and try not to smile as he walks by Penny Lane and a strawberry field.
Grade: B for the strong acting performances and watching the Quarrymen slowly morph into the band of the century. Too bad they kept checking with Mom before doing anything.
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