Year: 2019
Director: Danny Boyle
I have just returned from seeing this in the cinema and was surprised to see that there hasn’t, to my knowledge, been an Afterword review of it. I haven’t reviewed a film on the site before so I thought I’d have a crack with this one. And why not? (Geddit??!!)
The film pivots on the startlingly original premise that an event happens that messes with time! I know! The consequences of this are, inevitably, explored. The film’s hero – one Jack Malik – is a struggling songwriter who is about to (forgive the pun) jack it all in – when his bike crashes into a bus. At the same time, the world has an unexplained power cut for 12 seconds. We know this because we see the world’s best known landmarks plunge into darkness – because it’s nighttime everywhere, right? When he wakes up, he rather quickly begins to realise that no one is quoting or referring to The Beatles like everyone does absolutely all the time. What the…? Moving quickly along, it turns out The Beatles never existed and no one apart from him has heard their songs. Even the band Oasis do not appear on an Internet search. More on this later.
Ed Sheeran looms very large in the story having heard these songs and spots that these are pretty special. One senses a BAFTA award for best supporting actor will not be jostling for shelf space amongst Ed’s Grammys any time soon. You could even say his acting was so wooden that all creosote tins within 100 miles of him twitched with anticipation, thinking that their time has come.
Anyway, back to Oasis. Jack first attracts the interest of his girlfriend 20 years earlier at school, performing Wonderwall. This performance is shown a couple of times in the film as a flashback. My question is, dear reader, how come Wonderwall remains a song remembered by all in this non-Beatle universe, when we had established that Oasis had been expunged? Such is the laziness of writer Richard Curtis, I’m afraid, who has form here.
In summary it’s OK but purists and non-purists may be irked.
Might appeal to people who enjoyed:
Anything involving Emma Freud.
dai says
Wonderwall was remembered at that time (as were The Beatles) because it was before the incident when everyone forgot about them.
Think it might be good if you remove a spoiler from your review even though you were vague about it.
I really dislike Curtis and his usual stuff was here, unlikely romance, quirky friends, over sentimentality and a sugary ending. There were a few laughs and I thought the leads were fine as were his parents. Boyle on autopilot.
dai says
I forgot stupid best mate too. See also Rhys Ifans in Notting Hill.
Black Celebration says
I honestly think it’s vague enough not to be a spoiler – but I have asked for the passage to be removed.
Vulpes Vulpes says
Makes a change to have a utopian* drama instead of yet another dystopian dull-fest.
*Oasis-free
deramdaze says
Curtis … hmm.
Sounds like it might appeal to those who went to the Queen and Elton John films.
I’ll save my money for “Marianne and Leonard.”
I can only recall two essential Beatle-related non-docs.
(1) That’ll Be The Day, and (2) The Hours and Times (about Lennon’s trip to Spain with Brian Epstein in 63).
duco01 says
“Backbeat”, possibly? (with Ian Hart reprising his turn as John Lennon)
Paul Wad says
Worrabout Birth of the Beatles, with Nick Cotton as George Harrison? It’s a bit rubbish really, but I loved it as a kid and watched it loads of times.
Moose the Mooche says
Nigel Havers as George Martin …. huzzah!
dai says
Yeah, but this isn’t really a film about The Beatles.
Moose the Mooche says
In a very real sense, isn’t every film about the Beatles?
Mike_H says
When watched by an AW-er, certainly.
If it’s crap it’s because the Beatles were crap.
If it’s great it’s because the Beatles were great.
Arthur Cowslip says
Backbeat, Nowhere Boy.
Moose the Mooche says
“It’s all dick!”
Tony Japanese says
Mrs Japanese and I watched it on Sunday, and we both thought it was a 6/10, 3 Star film.
The lead, (Himesh Patel) is likeable. His first manger/best-friend/love-interest (Lily James) is one dimensional and the will they/won’t they storyline is never believable. One of his friends looked like a young Steve McManaman. That scene towards the end is mawkish at best, though the make-up team deserve a lot of credit.
I enjoyed the film for what is was, a light-hearted look at a world without The Beatles, Oasis and much more. It’s ridiculous of course, our main man gives no hint of being a fan of The Beatles in the early part of the film yet he manages to remember (eventually) both the lyrics and the music to many of their hits. As the audience, we can only imagine if this world is also one without the likes of ‘Live and Let Die’, ‘Mind Games’, ‘My Sweet Lord’ and erm.. Thomas the Tank Engine too.
Perhaps he remembered the words and music to songs like ‘Run For Your Life’ but considered it innapropriate to sing, though he (and the audience) didn’t mind singing about a girl who was ‘just seventeen’.
Tiggerlion says
Sounds like a lot of fun.
Hamlet says
Cheers for the review – good stuff.
This is the sort of film that, in theory, I don’t want to see, but I just know I’ll end up going to see it.
chiz says
This is the thing with Curtis. I don’t want to see it, I don’t want to enjoy it. I will see it, I will enjoy it.
Vulpes Vulpes says
I’ve learned to treat that part of myself that doesn’t want to enjoy Richard Curtis films with the contempt it deserves. That part of me wasn’t speaking to me for ages. Then I went to see some painful arthouse nonsense at the Watershed and it wouldn’t stop whispering at me to appreciate the irony, the aesthetic, the beautifully judged performance and exquisite dialogue to which I was being subjected. I managed to stay to the end, went home and watched Rambo on Amazon. That part of me isn’t speaking to me again.
Harold Holt says
Which begs the question, which part of you hangs out round here?
Vulpes Vulpes says
No it doesn’t.
Diddley Farquar says
Well now there we were in Athens yesterday, which was the last day of our Greek holiday, when all our troubles seemed so far away, watching this very film. Why on earth would you do that on your holiday I hear you ask? Maybe attackdog would like to pass judgement at this point. Well, we wanted to go to an open air cinema which they famously have there and this was on at the Cine Paris. It’s a great experience and I would recommend going if you visit the city. You can drink booze and there are little tables here and there to park your glass and nibbles on. Some parakeets flew over at one point. There were many beautiful greek women. You have a view of the Acropolis. One feels well disposed to a film before it even has begun. The whole thing was undemanding and slight. A lot of talent used on a mere trifle. Boyle makes the most of his ability to drive a movie along with his strkingly visual style. The greeks in the audience (there were also non-greek tourists there of course, but a lot of greeks) seemed to get all the jokes and references. They gave it a warm reception. Ultimately there’s enough feel good factor plus visual pizazz to make it worth seeing, just about, though it helps if you see it at an open air cinema on a hot evening in Athens. Probaly too late now though.
Martin Hairnet says
Ironically, the plot sounds like the kind of thing Magic Alex might have conjured from his ‘laboratory.’
Moose the Mooche says
Or Nicholas Lyndhurst vehicle Goodnight Sweetheart.
In any case, a world where almost nobody has heard of the Beatles has already arrived. It’s called Planet Civilian.
Vulpes Vulpes says
We should nuke it from orbit.
Martin Hairnet says
Nobody told me there’d be days like these.
The Good Doctor says
Apparently there was a French graphic novel 8 years ago about someone who gets transported back in time to 1960 and becomes a huge star performing the HJHs hits before they do. It was called ‘Yesterday’.
https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/06/yesterday-graphic-novel-released-online-for-free.html
The Good Doctor says
They paid 40 percent of the budget for the rights to use the Beatles songs apparently = equates to a cool 10 million. Explains why whenever there is incidental Beatles footage in a cheap documentary it’s usually B&W newsreel of them arriving at an airport backed by a cover version or some rinky-dink library music labelled ‘Merseybeat’,
Black Celebration says
Also may explain why The Boat that Rocked! – set entirely in the late 1960s – features no Beatles songs at all.
Tony Japanese says
If you were to buy/listen to any 60s compilation you’d be led to thinking The Beatles didn’t exist.
deramdaze says
The Boat that Rocked … yikes. My God, that was bad.
A significant amount of the budget for Withnail and I apparently went on the two Hendrix songs. To great effect, especially in the journey to the cottage.
Ironically the one Beatles song – While My Guitar Gently Weeps – cost nowt because George was Executive Producer!
Black Celebration says
In that film a young lady is tricked into being shagged by someone who isn’t the person she thought she was sleeping with! Hilarious!
Moose the Mooche says
Don’t be daft, they didn’t have rape in the 60s! Or racism! Everything was better!
chiz says
There’s a comedy attempted rape in Withnail & I too.
deramdaze says
I’m with Moose (what’s the last 3 years been about if it isn’t founded on racism?) and chiz (yes, there is) on this one.
I haven’t got a Scooby what film you were watching BC!
I thought the dire 1980s was your patch?
Moose the Mooche says
Withnail was made in 1986. Bruce directed it while sporting a mullet, mirrored shades and a brown leather jacket rolled up to the elbows. Thankfully Withnail and Marwood had a decent costume department to keep them on the straight and narrow. Better a pair of plastic bags than Nike Airs with velcro fastenings.
deramdaze says
(Nods appreciatively) – I know exactly what you’re saying.
(Furrows brow, not having a clue what Moose is saying) – I’m off to the local on the harbour.
Moose the Mooche says
Don’t mind me, I’m just riffing like crazy before ripping shit up good style. Think of me as Jeff Beck in Blow-Up.
hubert rawlinson says
Moose have you been at the Camberwell Carrot?
Moose the Mooche says
ramaramahariramaramaramahariramaramaramahariramaramaramaharirama
*spins Lighthouse Family drinks globe*
Black Celebration says
In the Boat that Rocked! Nick Frost’s character helps out a desperate young virgin chap by saying that, under the cover of darkness, he can slip into bed next to the lady he’s with and have a pop. Because it’s the middle of the night and dark – she’ll never know!
dai says
Kind of a relay scenario IIRC
Martin S says
Saw it last night on a family outing which set me back £150 when you factor in the aftershow curry. (Good old Dad)
I knind of enjoyed the film but I suprised myself about how uncomfortable it made me feel about the wider issue of stealing music. I didn’t see that coming as non of the pre publicity from Danny Boyle in the hundred interviews he gave seemed to refer to this.
dai says
150 quid? Blimey!
DougieJ says
Only saw it a couple of days ago. There was much to enjoy and I thought the two leads were great. ‘Ok but could have been much better’ was the feeling I was left with.
Black Celebration says
The Jack Malik character looks like Russell Brand. When I say things like this my wife usually strongly disagrees – but she agreed and said she thought that too.
DougieJ says
he does indeed
NigelT says
My daughter and her boyfriend took us to see it tonight and we all thought it was a fun Saturday night film. I can’t help thinking there are some missed opportunites – e.g. when the meeting takes place, wouldn’t you ask about certain people or events? And it didn’t really try to ‘explain’ anything, but hey ho. I think people have been a little unfair on Ed Sheeran – he plays himself really well I thought (!?) and sends himself up, which is to his credit. There were some nice cameos too. Anyway, a solid 6/10 from us and I’d watch it again in a year or so.
Jaygee says
Finally saw it on Netflix last night.
Given the lazy script and oddly flat acting more
a case of “Mehsterday” than Yesterday for me I’m afraid.
Moose the Mooche says
Bwahahahaha!
‘They are seeking $5m in compensation on behalf of all affected viewers.’
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-60092299
Sewer Robot says
I may have mentioned this before, but on the Pretty Much It YouTube channel, they made Anthony Fantano (The Needle Drop) sit through Yesterday with them. Together they came up with the idea that it would have been a better movie if two people in the whole world had remembered The Beatles’ songs and it was a race between them to get all the good stuff out first. This would mean they’d both run out of new material really quickly and have to turn to their own stuff with a predictably calamitous drop off in quality. They posited that such alterno-universe strip mining shenanigans might explain Chance The Rapper’s The Big Day.
For the purposes of this site, perhaps a better example might be the complete works of The Stone Roses 1987-1990 vs Their complete works 1991-the present..
Moose the Mooche says
The past was yours, unless I can get there first.