Director: Sam Taylor-Wood
Screenplay: Matt Greenhalgh, based on the book Imagine This: Growing Up with My Brother John Lennon by Julia Baird
Starring: Aaron Johnson, Anne-Marie Duff, Kristen Scott Thomas, David Threlfall, Thomas Sangster, David Morrissey
Running Time: 97 minutes
Genre: Biography, drama
Liverpool, the late 1950s: Rebellious, charismatic teenager John Lennon (Johnson) lives with his strict aunt Mimi (Thomas), who has raised him since the age of five. At the funeral of his beloved Uncle George (Threlfall), John gets back in contact with his mother, Julia (Duff). Around the same time, John becomes obsessed with rock 'n' roll music, and decides to start a band with some of his friends from school, including Paul McCartney (Sangster) and George Harrison (Sam Bell). As John becomes increasingly preoccupied with music, his behaviour worsens and a bitter conflict brews between himself, Julia and Mimi.
This isn't a film about the Beatles, although Paul McCartney and George Harrison do feature, the focus is entirely on Lennon and it ends just as the newly formed Beatles are about to set off for Hamburg. Also, although Lennon's love of music plays a huge part in the film, it's not really about the music or about Lennon as a musician. It's an entertaining and intriguing 1950s family drama, anchored by some great performances from Aaron Johnson, Anne-Marie Duff and Kristen Scott Thomas. This was the feature debut from fine art photographer Sam Taylor-Wood and she does a good job. If you are expecting a comprehensive biopic of John Lennon or a film about the Beatles and their music, than you might be disappointed, but if you are looking for an affecting drama, then this is well worth checking out.
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