Hey everyone. I know that you remember me saying that I wouldn't watch any more movies on Apple TV due to the ridiculous download time and the high price. ($4.99) I made an exception tonight because I really wanted to see a movie about John Lennon's teenage years. The name, as you might expect from our title, is Nowhere Boy. I gather that the title comes from what his principal told him, which was that John was going nowhere in life. John replied, "If that's where the talented people go, that's where I should be." I don't know if this confrontation led to the writing of the song Nowhere Man or not.
It seems that John was a troubled youth of fifteen or so, being raised by his Aunt Mimi, a good person who was wrapped a bit tight. He wanted to know what happened to his Mother and Father. John is a very troubled guy and has a lot of rebellion and hostility. As I remember the rocker's brooding expression and hard eyes, I feel that I understand him a bit better now. A family life like what he endured as a little kid tends to breed insecurity with many associated problems. Sort of a gift that goes on giving, until death do you part, sometimes.
The main thrust of the movie is two-fold. First, John finds his real mother. Secondly he starts forming a band. Neither event is without issues.
Aaron Johnson plays John Lennon and Kristen Scott Thomas is outstanding as his Aunt Mimi. Ann Marie Duff plays John's Mom. The acting is really good and the script is well written, though a bit sad. The writer would probably tell us, "Sorry about that, but life happens sometimes."
Back to the plot. Aunt Mimi gave John exactly what he needed all the years he was growing up. Stability, family, etc. It was perfect timing for him to find his Mom because she was musical and taught him to play banjo and a bit of guitar. He immediately started a band called the Quarrymen. A stripling named Paul McCartney wandered into one of their gigs and the rest is history. Thomas Brodie Sangster does a good job as Paul, by the way.
I give this movie a 4 stars out of 4. I think you'll enjoy it, especially so if you are a Baby Boomer. It's a fascinating look into the background of this interesting man. How important is environment, luck, fate, people? A 'chance meeting' often changes a life forever. John moaned to his new-found Mom, after seeing Elvis perform on a newsreel at the theater, "Why couldn't God allow me to have been Elvis Presley?" His Mom replied, "Because God wanted you to be John Lennon."
From the author's green retreat, I'm CE Wills.
It seems that John was a troubled youth of fifteen or so, being raised by his Aunt Mimi, a good person who was wrapped a bit tight. He wanted to know what happened to his Mother and Father. John is a very troubled guy and has a lot of rebellion and hostility. As I remember the rocker's brooding expression and hard eyes, I feel that I understand him a bit better now. A family life like what he endured as a little kid tends to breed insecurity with many associated problems. Sort of a gift that goes on giving, until death do you part, sometimes.
The main thrust of the movie is two-fold. First, John finds his real mother. Secondly he starts forming a band. Neither event is without issues.
Aaron Johnson plays John Lennon and Kristen Scott Thomas is outstanding as his Aunt Mimi. Ann Marie Duff plays John's Mom. The acting is really good and the script is well written, though a bit sad. The writer would probably tell us, "Sorry about that, but life happens sometimes."
Back to the plot. Aunt Mimi gave John exactly what he needed all the years he was growing up. Stability, family, etc. It was perfect timing for him to find his Mom because she was musical and taught him to play banjo and a bit of guitar. He immediately started a band called the Quarrymen. A stripling named Paul McCartney wandered into one of their gigs and the rest is history. Thomas Brodie Sangster does a good job as Paul, by the way.
I give this movie a 4 stars out of 4. I think you'll enjoy it, especially so if you are a Baby Boomer. It's a fascinating look into the background of this interesting man. How important is environment, luck, fate, people? A 'chance meeting' often changes a life forever. John moaned to his new-found Mom, after seeing Elvis perform on a newsreel at the theater, "Why couldn't God allow me to have been Elvis Presley?" His Mom replied, "Because God wanted you to be John Lennon."
From the author's green retreat, I'm CE Wills.
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