NOWHERE BOY
****
Director: Sam Taylor-Wood
Screenwriter: Matt Greenhalgh
Principal cast:
Aaron Johnson
Kristin Scott Thomas
Anne-Marie Duff
Thomas Sangster
Country: UK
Classification: M
Runtime: 97mins.
Australian release date: 26 December 2009
The most interesting observation about this portrait of Lennon as a young man is the fact that there is no mention of The Beatles. This is life before the fab four and it is a poignant story of a rebellious teenager who was jumping out of his creative skin in the drab, post-war city of Liverpool, in the North of England. In Sam Taylor-Wood's Nowhere Boy, drabness is kept at a distance in this depiction of a faded, but beautifully encapsulated period piece.
Aaron Johnson’s interpretation of Lennon is pretty accurate if we believe in all the stuff we’ve read about him. He revelled in gallows humour, he had a dark side that would probably be diagnosed as some form of depression if he was still alive today and, above all, he had a natural gift that he gave to the world and, to this day, it still resonates. Johnson is uncannily like Lennon in his mannerisms which adds to the authenticity of his portrayal.
Women were undoubtedly a significant part of Lennon’s life which continued through to his relationship with Yoko Ono. First off the block was the formidable Aunt Mimi, played perfectly by Kristin Scott Thomas, who raised him from the age of five and gave him his middle class aspirations. Then there was his spirited, but repressed mother, Julia, played by Anne-Marie Duff, who, judging by the wonderful scenes in the film, encouraged him to develop his artistic side and in doing so, he set himself free. This relationship is immortalized in the lyrics of ‘Woman’ where Lennon wails, ‘Woman I know you understand…the little child inside this man.’ The relationship came to a crushing finale when Julia was run over by a drunk, off-duty policeman.
However, a little-known fact which was beautifully explored during the early scenes of Nowhere Boy was the close relationship Lennon had with his uncle George (David Threlfall). Taylor-Wood’s film depicts this very gentle, loving relationship and sets the mood for the on-going tragedies that befell those close to Lennon. It also helps the audience understand where the anger and frustration, which seemed to envelop Lennon’s character, came from.
Paul McCartney, played as a young, likeable dandy by Thomas Sangster, is the most confronting person Lennon faces. They bond through their music and you get the impression that it was McCartney who really managed to harness Lennon’s talent. They had a love-hate relationship which generated some of the best lyrics ever written. That may be a matter of opinion, but Wood manages to show their kindred spirit in a mannered, positive way.
Lennon fans will sit back and immerse themselves in this yarn. And, it’s not a bad one. There may be some disappointment for those who were expecting a bit more of the Lennon we knew who rocked the establishment. However, we do get to see how his character evolved and as the story heads towards Hamburg, without actually getting there… the rest is history.
Screenwriter: Matt Greenhalgh
Principal cast:
Aaron Johnson
Kristin Scott Thomas
Anne-Marie Duff
Thomas Sangster
Country: UK
Classification: M
Runtime: 97mins.
Australian release date: 26 December 2009
The most interesting observation about this portrait of Lennon as a young man is the fact that there is no mention of The Beatles. This is life before the fab four and it is a poignant story of a rebellious teenager who was jumping out of his creative skin in the drab, post-war city of Liverpool, in the North of England. In Sam Taylor-Wood's Nowhere Boy, drabness is kept at a distance in this depiction of a faded, but beautifully encapsulated period piece.
Aaron Johnson’s interpretation of Lennon is pretty accurate if we believe in all the stuff we’ve read about him. He revelled in gallows humour, he had a dark side that would probably be diagnosed as some form of depression if he was still alive today and, above all, he had a natural gift that he gave to the world and, to this day, it still resonates. Johnson is uncannily like Lennon in his mannerisms which adds to the authenticity of his portrayal.
Women were undoubtedly a significant part of Lennon’s life which continued through to his relationship with Yoko Ono. First off the block was the formidable Aunt Mimi, played perfectly by Kristin Scott Thomas, who raised him from the age of five and gave him his middle class aspirations. Then there was his spirited, but repressed mother, Julia, played by Anne-Marie Duff, who, judging by the wonderful scenes in the film, encouraged him to develop his artistic side and in doing so, he set himself free. This relationship is immortalized in the lyrics of ‘Woman’ where Lennon wails, ‘Woman I know you understand…the little child inside this man.’ The relationship came to a crushing finale when Julia was run over by a drunk, off-duty policeman.
However, a little-known fact which was beautifully explored during the early scenes of Nowhere Boy was the close relationship Lennon had with his uncle George (David Threlfall). Taylor-Wood’s film depicts this very gentle, loving relationship and sets the mood for the on-going tragedies that befell those close to Lennon. It also helps the audience understand where the anger and frustration, which seemed to envelop Lennon’s character, came from.
Paul McCartney, played as a young, likeable dandy by Thomas Sangster, is the most confronting person Lennon faces. They bond through their music and you get the impression that it was McCartney who really managed to harness Lennon’s talent. They had a love-hate relationship which generated some of the best lyrics ever written. That may be a matter of opinion, but Wood manages to show their kindred spirit in a mannered, positive way.
Lennon fans will sit back and immerse themselves in this yarn. And, it’s not a bad one. There may be some disappointment for those who were expecting a bit more of the Lennon we knew who rocked the establishment. However, we do get to see how his character evolved and as the story heads towards Hamburg, without actually getting there… the rest is history.