Nowhere Boy - 2009

Sam Taylor-Wood's directorial debut, Nowhere Boy, is a slight, curious piece of filmmaking. Telling the story of a pre-Beatles John Lennon and the bizarre relationship he had with his aunt and mother, the film is a fine example of some excellent acting, and also, for fans of John Lennon an interesting exploration of how he got into music, and how The Beatles formed. Where the film fails is in leaving a wider thematic resonance. The film never once attempts to explain how the women of his life influenced his musical career, or the subjects he explored through them. It positions Lennon as a troubled youth, trying to come to terms with his dysfunctional family set up, and the tragedy which befell him at such a young age. Of course, you could argue Taylor-Wood and screenwriter Matt Greenhalgh might have purposefully opted to avoid that, instead purely depicting the life of Lennon before The Beatles and not hint at the impact of influence his formative years had on his later music, but in doing so the film, despite being enjoyable, feels to light and lack importance.

That's not to say the film isn't a success. It is both enjoyable, funny and deeply moving. Aaron Johnson is very good as John Lennon, but the film is stolen, in equal measure by Kristen Scott Thomas as the repressed old fashioned aunt Mimi and Anne-Marie Duff as Lennon's bohemian, carefree mother Julia. Also of note, is Thomas Sangster as Paul McCartney, the grounded equal of Lennon, and some of the films finest scenes portray the beginning of what would become one of the strongest and most prolific working friendships in music, but also hints at the gulf in difference which would inevitably lead to The Beatles split.

So, another music biopic which is intriguing, offers some insight, but lacks to relevance and weight you would expect from the life of someone as talented and influential to popular music. What really stood out was why this story was about John Lennon, as it could have been about anybody. As it is, this marks out Sam Taylor-Wood as a potential new voice in British cinema, but perhaps more so, marks the arrival of Aaron Johnson who never looks to be struggling under the weight of playing Lennon.