There have been a lot of films made about John Lennon at various stages of his life. IMDb.com counts 42, but I wheedle that number down to 15 where he was a fictional character or a minor visitor to the story. And there are more films on the way. We don't get tired of investigating the lives of extraordinary people, those who have contributed in a meaningful way to our culture and our own personal histories. Because Lennon and McCartney's music so influenced their time, and that of many of us (still alive), our earnest curiosity into the man remains undiminished. On his 70th birthday, we review and enlarge upon his childhood and teen years. We all know that John (Aaron Johnson) was raised by his Aunt Mimi, his mother having abandoned him when he was 5. In 'Nowhere Boy,' we find out more about those years and his relationship with the two most influential women in his life -- till Yoko Ono. Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas) was the stern, even stoic, conservative who preferred John stay in school and get a reliable job. But she was the one who bought John his first guitar. Julia, his mother (Ann-Marie Duff) was passionate, musical, fun loving and flighty, yet the guilt of having given up her son always darkened her outwardly playful demeanor. Though outwardly these two women are so opposite in character, we see their very complex and deeper emotions.
We also start to understand Lennon's psychology -- how he was effected by his abandonment, his upbringing by his stern aunt, the reunion with his mother and their renewed relationship. All this is going on as he reaches manhood and strives to set out on a career in music. These were particularly difficult times for Lennon. On the one hands, he wants answers, apologies and amends. On the other, there are no satisfactory explanations for abandonment and only more pain could come with full disclosure.
Lennon's biting wit, sarcasm and underlying anger become more understandable, his need to express himself and find catharsis, his drive to form a band and be successful. That is, if we are to believe the subtle interplay of characters. Unfortunately, John can no longer tell us how accurate this interpretation of the bare facts are in this film. Fortunately, Julia Baird, John Lennon's half sister, wrote a memoir upon which the screenplay was based. Much of the film's contents was witnesses by young Julia at her mother's home, which adds to the veracity of the film.
All the actors were very talented, but it's an extra bonus when actors look like the characters they play. Aaron Johnson seems to have really gotten into Lennon's skin, making up with character what he might not have in physiognomy. It was very interesting watching John's relationship with Paul McCartney start and grow, but I just wish Thomas Sangster looked less like an adolescent Leonardo DiCaprio and more like Paul. Kristin Scott Thomas and Ann-Marie Duff share enough of a resemblance to each other to convince the audience of their sisterhood, if not to the characters they portray. It was a very satisfying and elucidating glimpse into Lennon's intriguing past -- compassionate and sometimes ugly , joyous and heartbreaking, like real life is.
Nowhere Boy
Director: Sam Taylor-Wood
Writer: Matt Greenhalgh from the memoir by Julia Baird
Cast: Aaron Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ann-Marie Duff, David Threlfall, Josh Bott, Ophelia Lovibond, David Morrisey , Thomas Sangster
Time: 97 min
Opening October 15
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