Jack Malik is a struggling singer-songwriter
in an English seaside town whose dreams of fame are rapidly fading, despite the
fierce devotion and support of his childhood best friend, Ellie. After a freak
bus accident during a mysterious global blackout, Jack wakes up to discover
that The Beatles have never existed. Performing songs by the greatest band in
history to a world that has never heard them, Jack becomes on overnight
sensation with a little help from his agent. Director: Danny Boyle Cast: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran,
Kate McKinnon Release Date: June 28, 2019 Biography, Comedy, Fantasy, Music Rated PG-13 for suggestive content and
language Runtime: 1 h 56 min Review: Yesterday is an uplifting musical fantasy
grafted onto a romantic comedy. Danny
Boyle’s film is energetically directed resulting in a film with a strong pulse
beating throughout. Himesh Patel is
pitch perfect in the central role, carrying the film with impressive ease. He’s likable throughout the entirety of the
film but is greatly helped by being paired with Lily James. The film works best when they are on screen
together because of the strength of their onscreen chemistry. James hasn’t ever really left much of an
impression beforehand but here she’s just perfect playing the part of a
lovelorn love interest. Patel has an
impressive singing voice which makes his renditions of a bevy of Beatles
classics infinitely more toe tappingly good.
If there are a few drawbacks it’s the story itself outside of the
initial premise is a fairly straight forward romantic comedy, thankfully the
two leads make you invest emotionally into their story arches. Kate McKinnon, who I usually enjoy, is just
terribly miscast and just sticks out in all the wrong ways. Also, there is a late act reveal that’s sure
to be divisive amongst fans. It’s a strong
impactful moment that’s probably one of the bolder decisions in an otherwise
safe film. Even with a few drawbacks
Yesterday is one those rare films that will have you leaving the theater with a
smile on your face.
Last night I was fortunate to catch an an early screening of Danny Boyle's Yesterday.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
During a freakish worldwide blackout, a young musician is hit by a bus and wakes to find no one else remembers the Beatles.
Dear Reader(s), a disclaimer: Yesterday is not a science fiction film. It does not get into the hows and whys of the blackout or the items subsequently missing from memory. The story simply moves forward on the premise that it happened, and it expects viewers to do the same.
Yesterday presents an interesting quandary: What if you were the only person who remembered something as previously well-known and well-loved as the music of the Beatles? What if you could return to the world a wonderful thing it was suddenly missing? What if you stood to gain from doing so? These questions weigh heavily on Jack Malik, portrayed with humble charm by Himesh Patel, and his struggle gives anchor to what otherwise might seem a flighty premise. Lily James is endearing as Jack's stalwart manager/number-one fan, and Ed Sheeran is terrific playing Ed Sheeran With a Bigger Ego. Ed gets full marks for being a good sport here, and as a fan I am excited that what I expected to be a cameo is actually a significant role, complete with a new song! Kate McKinnon is a little too much (as she often is) as the brash Big Deal Music Manager, but she's a small misstep in what's otherwise a pretty perfect movie.
Yesterday tells its unique tale in flawless fashion, with nary an instant where your attention might stray. The Beatles' music is as magical as ever, and Patel sings their songs as if he were born for it. The film's humor is self-deprecating and well placed, offering laugh-out-loud moments as well as sympathetic chuckles. If you are a Beatles fan, there's a gut-punch in the final act that hurts like hell, but, objectively speaking, it adds yet another layer to an already well-crafted story and the movie is better for it.
Yesterday clocks in at 116 minutes and is rated PG13 for "suggestive content and language."
Yesterday takes a horrifying idea--a world without the Beatles--and turns it into an uplifting story about the power of music, truth, and love.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Yesterday gets nine. Fangirl points: I mean, Ed, obviously.
Also great to see Sanjeev Bhaskar and Sarah Lancashire!
Until next time, as Sir Ringo would say, "Peace and love!"
Dearest Blog: If ever a person were worth a 90-minute drive on a Monday night, it'd be Ed Sheeran. Thus I found myself in Morgantown last night for Ed's concert movie Jumpers for Goalposts.
Spoiler level here will be...um...I dunno, really?
I wrote down the set list. Is that a spoiler?
Read on at your own risk then, I guess.
Jumpers for Goalposts kicks off with a full 45 minutes of "#edcarpet" coverage from the movie's London premiere, including a segment that features Sheeran responding to fans' Twitter questions and performing acoustic versions of Tenerife Sea, Bloodstream, and Thinking Out Loud.
The alternate versions of his hits are enjoyable, but it's otherwise an awkward exercise. Sheeran is visibly uncomfortable with the Q&A--as are many performers when they're in the public eye but not performing--and I'm thinking maybe suit-and-tie premiere attire wouldn't be his first choice.
The cute, good-natured presenter also does a bit too much buttering up, so it begins to feel fake despite the fact Sheeran *is* widely regarded as one of the nicest guys in the business. Overall, this opening act is far too drawn out; 20 minutes of it would have been more than enough.
Once the film finally gets to the Wembley residency, there are pieces from all three nights cut with behind-the-scenes footage, which may look familiar to US fans who will have seen much of it in the NBC special that aired over the summer. Sir Elton John makes a surprise appearance, joining Sheeran for a performance of his old hit Don't Go Breakin' My Heart (Ed in the Kiki Dee role!) and a bit of Afire Love.
John serves as a sort-of mentor to Sheeran, and amusingly names Ed the heir to a pop-music crown that hasn't been his to hand down for many, many years. John is not alone in his gushing praise, both of Sheeran's talent and of his kindness and loyalty. It's a recurring theme that, again, is so often raised that it starts to sound somewhat put-on. Not debating for a minute that Ed Sheeran is one hell of a nice guy, just that...well...eventually maybe they'd do better to just shut up and play another song.
As with the times I've seen Sheeran in concert, I was lucky to count my two favorites (Bloodstream and I See Fire) among the songs that made the movie's set list. The special guest was enthusiastically received, but, since the Elton John songs I like don't seem to be the Elton John songs everyone else likes, I was a bit ambivalent. Guess there's noplace for a would-be Kiki Dee in Madman Across the Water...go figure. Much camera time is devoted to crowd shots: singing and dancing fans, weeping teenagers, and two (2) marriage proposals that I counted. Having sold more than ten million units of his latest record, it's clear Sheeran's music speaks to a generation. Of course, some will always roll their eyes at any artist who moves that much product, but Sheeran is a solid singer/songwriter, and there's a fire in his live performance that doesn't begin to translate to his studio recordings. This film gives something of a feel for it--particularly an aggressive rendition of You Need Me (I Don't Need You)--but I enthusiastically encourage everyone to get out and see Ed Sheeran live for the full experience. I promise you will be impressed.
Jumpers for Goalposts full set list: I'm a Mess, Lego House, Photograph, Bloodstream, I See Fire, Don't Go Breakin' My Heart, Afire Love (partial), Thinking Out Loud, The A-Team, You Need Me (I Don't Need You), Sing.
Jumpers for Goalposts runs 150 minutes (including premiere coverage) and is unrated.
Dubious content is limited to references to drugs/drinking and a few f-bombs (some are censored; some made it into the finished product).
Jumpers for Goalposts will be released on DVD/Blu-Ray November 13th, and is now available for pre-order at edsheeran.com or your favorite online retailer.
While it's not quite on par with an actual live performance, Jumpers for Goalposts boasts some great tunes while providing an entertaining look at one of the world's biggest and most talented pop stars.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Jumpers for Goalposts gets seven.
