Nowhere Boy (2009)

Nowhere Boy: Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. With Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, David Threlfall, Josh Bolt. A chronicle of John Lennon’s first years, focused mainly in his adolescence and his relationship with his stern aunt Mimi, who raised him, and his absentee mother Julia, who re-entered his life at a crucial moment in his young life.

“I guess this would be considered an u0026quot;a moment-in-the-life-of-biopicu0026quot; as it focuses on only a couple of years of pre-Beatles John Lennonu0026#39;s life in Liverpool, England (and not his entire life). It is an interesting story and one I did not know. It asks and answers the question: Where did Lennon get his start and love for music? u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe filmu0026#39;s subject matter — the early life of John Lennon — made Nowhere Boy an interesting story and sell for me; and since the acting in the movie happened to be stellar — it was a bonus. Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass) does a decent job as the 15-year-old Lennon and proves to be one to watch as heu0026#39;s going to have a long career although the real acting u0026quot;gloryu0026quot; of the film belongs to the two lead females who are left to battle it out as Lennonu0026#39;s motherly figure(s). Kristin Scott Thomas (Four Weddings and a Funeral, The English Patient) plays his aunt who has raised John from early infant-hood as her sister was considered to be an unlikely parent/guardian. In the film, John stumbles upon his birth mother out of curiosity and becomes intrigued with her demeanor. Actress Anne-Marie Duff (Notes on a Scandal, The Last Station) is rather revelatory here (BOTH her and Scott Thomas deservingly earned 2010 BAFTA nominations for these very roles).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe story is sentimental and tragic and it is tied together quite nicely by the three lead players who all play off of each other very well and convincingly (Duff is flighty, Scott Thomas is concerned and Johnson is a free soul). The young Lennon becomes a mixture of the two women (a poetic rebel) and their influences are highly evident in the film and his later music.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAny Beatles fan should check this one out. It isnu0026#39;t full of Hey Judeu0026#39;s and Elinor Rigbyu0026#39;s but this is Pre-Beatles (we do meet a young Paul) so we get a taste of the kid before he become our u0026quot;Nowhere Boyu0026quot;.”