Nowhere Boy
The youth of John Lennon is brought to the screen in “Nowhere Boy”, a film a bit too anecdotal unevenly mixing drama and comedy that is ultimately saved by the performance of the actors. To learn more about the man and not the artist or music icon.
That’s life tumultuous John Lennon (played successively by Alex Ambrose and then in adolescence by Aaron Johnson) in the Liverpool of the 1950s. Better than average student, a follower of mischief and loving challenge the authority of her aunt (Kristin Scott Thomas), he decided to move closer to her biological mother (Anne-Marie Duff) while learning the rudiments of music, creating soon some groups, including the Beatles who go down to posterity as the best training in the history of popular music.
Summarize a life or career full of musical training is far from clear. For Todd Haynes and his brilliant “I’m Not There”, there is Luc Dionne and sad “child prodigy”. Desiring not to fail his first feature film, director Sam Taylor-Wood has decided to linger in the early years of the famous guitarist. Wise idea that would have been much more satisfying … if it was by John Lennon. In tackling this legend, the filmmaker must constantly embrace the past, recreating events and actions, including his influences (Elvis Presley, James Dean), his first meeting with Paul McCartney, etc.. The brand quickly became anecdotal, as this treadmill is happening slowly but surely to their destination. The trip has received a great staging lively, lovely pageant and happy sound choices that do not avoid the cliches, there is nothing very surprising in the end.
The interest lies rather in the more sober moments, more intimate dramas. The main character is someone who is confused and upset when exploring his soul that the book is worth a look. His identity crisis is first and foremost family, with two women in his life that revolve around him, despite disrupting their goodwill. Imperial desire, Kristin Scott Thomas is one of his best roles for a long time developing a rich palette of emotions. Anne-Marie Duff is never overshadowed, however, remain fair despite some excesses. At the center of the board is positioned Aaron Johsnon who is not only good looks but also the talent that goes with it.
Often superficial in its approach to capture the mood of the times and meet the requirements of a public that has moved to inquire about the birth of the Beatles, “Nowhere Boy” becomes relevant when the doors close and the discussions “between adults” can be held. Too bad there are not more, because at the moment, production aspires to nothing more than mere entertainment, intelligent but somewhat incomplete.
