Movie Review: Nowhere Boy (Early Review, Out 10/8/10)

NOWHERE BOY

Directed by Sam Taylor-Wood

Starring: Aaron Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Anne-Marie Duff

EARLY REVIEW - U.S. RELEASE OCTOBER 8th, 2010

By Hunter Christian

4 BAFTA nominations (British Oscars). Heavy Sundance talk. Possible Oscar buzz. What is the cause of all this? Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the silver screen Mr. John Lennon. 

There have been many biopics over the past few years, many famous public figures recreated; several musical artists, including Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Ray Charles, etc. Yet never has there been a biopic made about The Beatles, arguably the most popular and widely successful band of all time. I don't blame Hollywood; not only would the fantastic four be almost impossible to simulate, I couldn't even imagine the shitstorm that would hit the filmmakers if they messed up.

But finally, here comes a "biopic" of John Lennon, arguably the most famous member of the group. Why do I have "biopic" in quotes? Because to call this movie a biopic, as the producers are marketing it, would just be completely and utterly wrong. This is not a biopic. They say it spans Lennon's "childhood", but the movie is almost entirely Lennon at age 15 and happens to end when he's 19. If you're looking for a true story of Lennon's life, an in-depth look at his psyche, or a story about The Beatles, as I was, you will be completely disappointed, as I was. This movie about John Lennon stinks.

HOWEVER...there happens to be a movie here that is actually fantastic. So I'm going to talk about that one, because the one I mentioned above doesn't exist. Aaron Johnson, almost unrecognizable in this after recently starring as the teenage wannabe-superhero Kick-Ass, brilliantly plays a teenage boy named John. John is a conflicted kid; his sarcasm and likable arrogance doesn't help him in school, and his uncle passes away, leaving him in the care of the stoical Aunt Mimi. Suddenly, John discovers that his mother lives just down the road, and things start to turn around for him. His recklessness doesn't go away, but he becomes happier forming a relationship with his mother, the strange and flirtatious but intriguing character played by Anne-Marie Duff. John's relationship with his mother is borderline incestual, as his mother is fanatically affectionate. This, and a small backstory about Lennon's father, help explore some of the darkness of his childhood, and is the most fascinating part of the film.

And of course, he discovers rock and roll. Encouraged by his mother, he forms a band with some friends from school - including a little guy named Paul McCartney. The boys are The Quarrymen, and they immediately rock the stage with energy.

Johnson, while bearing almost no physical resemblance to Lennon, is a knockout as his character, an emotionally confused teen. Duff and Thomas are excellent as well as Lennon's mother and wife, respectively. Taylor-Wood's periodic direction shines, and this is only her sophomore effort as a director. This movie has everything going for it. So what happens to make this movie so...little? It ends. Lennon, a music superstar, an intriguing poet, has a "biopic" type movie finally made about him and...it's 93 minutes long. When it ends, you leave with the feeling of, "That was good, but...that's it?"

Now, as I said before, there is definitely greatness here. Everything about the film is done well; the screenplay is conventional but emotionally taught, the direction and feel perfectly grasp the time period, and the music reflects the mood and tone well. There's just something missing here. For such a fascinating character, the film is remarkably unremarkable. "Nowhere Boy" is en excellent first half of the movie that should have been made.

B