Nowhere Boy

Movie: Nowhere Boy

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

Genre: biography

I saw it on: October 17, 2010

Synopsis: When he is very young, John Lennon (Aaron Johnson) mother, Julia (Anne-Marie Duff) left him to be raised by his aunt Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas).  The movie has a few flashbacks, but deals mostly with John in his late teen years.  He looks up his mother after about ten years and starts hanging out with her – to the horror of his aunt.  The movie also tracks his musical beginnings as he tries to form a band.

My two cents: First thing – I took an almost immediate dislike to the teen-age Lennon.  He was a bit of a thug and a definite trouble-maker.  I understand that he had some difficulties growing up in is aunt and uncles home – but I still found him to be really annoying.  That said, I found this movie to be fascinating.  All of this movie occurs before the Beatles was formed – although we do meet a 14 or 15-year old Paul McCartney.

From an acting stand-point, I thought that Kristin Scott Thomas was a standout.  She is the perfect actress to play the uptight, stiff-upper lip British snob.  I loved seeing her let her character eventually show some human emotions by the end of the film.

If you are a big Beatles fan – or are just curious about how John Lennon was before he was a Beatle – you will probably enjoy this movie.  But – don’t see it expecting to hear any Beatles music, because there is none in the movie.