YESTERDAY
UK, 2017, 116 minutes, Colour.
Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran, Meera Syal, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Joel Fry.
Directed by Danny Boyle.
A pleasant what-if… fantasy. Or, perhaps, a wonderful impossible dream about fame and fortune. But, with a moral: what if Jack gains the whole Beatles’ repertoire and suffers the loss of himself.
Yesterday has strong credentials. Writer Richard Curtis brought us Blackadder and Mr Bean as well as films like Love, Actually. And Danny Boyle won his Oscar for directing Slumdog Millionaire. They make a combination who knows how to entertain an audience.
We are introduced to Jack, stocking shelves in a supermarket, something of a dreamer, irritating the manager and likely to be fired – except that he relates very well to the customers. Just as well since he is a local singer and is managed by his girlfriend, Ellie, (though seemingly oblivious of her love for him). He is played by Hemish Patel, making a breakthrough on the big screen but having a record number of appearances on the British television series, Eastenders. And Ellie, his manager, his played by the ever-vivacious Lily James. (And, for those who appreciate British television, his parents are played by Meera Syal and Sanjeev Bhaskar who featured as The Kumars at Number 42.)
The what if… occurs in one of those life-changing car crash accidents, Jack losing his front teeth and waking up in a world which has no recognition of the Beatles Yesterday, no knowledge or memories of the Beatles themselves.
Singer Ed Sheeran is also in the cast as himself, someone who recognises Jack’s abilities, invites him to play in support of one of his performances. Success overnight, moving towards fame, including a literal move to Los Angeles and the approach of one of those dragon-agents, Kate MacKinnon? relying on his strong-armed, textile, who tries to take control of his life and career.
As Jack sings more of the Beatles songs, tries to recollect the lyrics, audiences are delighted by hearing the Beatles songs. Should Jack confess? The Americans want him to collect his songs for an album, amazed at his ability to write songs that quickly and by himself – and, he and his friend Rocky (Joel Fry), a slacker who now acts as his manager, go back to who visit Strawberry Fields and Abbey Road to the puzzlement of the Americans. And, there is some tension in the background with Ellie seeming to give up on her love for Jack and his recognising it.
John Lennon fans will enjoy imagining him in old age.
And so, Jack’s moral dilemma, whether to let the world know or not. What would we do!
Obviously, Yesterday is not going to have an unhappy ending so, we are able to sit through Jack’s ups and downs, be entertained, and like the elderly couple who go to see Jack, who do remember and are delighted that he is keeping alive the Beatles music, Beatles fans will relish this story – a tribute to the Beatles which, one hopes, will attract a younger generation and certainly keep their music alive.
1. The title? Memories of the song? The significance of the Beatles? The tone for the story?
2. The film as a tribute to the Beatles, the skills of John Lennon and Paul Mc Cartney, melodies and lyrics?
3. The audience enjoying the incorporation of so many of the Beatles songs?
4. A comic fantasy, John, the experience of the crash, hospital, losing his front teeth in the comic look, discovering the world in which there was no knowledge of the Beatles, cigarettes or Coca Cola!
5. John, as the centre of the film, sympathetic, his age, teaching, the job is in the supermarket, his relating to customers? His singing, Ellie as his manager, the clubs? The bond with her, but not seeing her with love? The friends, the group? The fans, his performances?
6. His family, the Indian background, living in the suburbs, the bonds? The mother supporting him? The father and his bum his matter, not really listening to his son, the visitor and the phone calls and interruption, preoccupation with food – and later the tuna sandwiches or for himself? John and is trying to sing let it be?
7. The competition, the small audience, the big successful groups, meeting Rocky, his idiosyncratic character, his being fired, Jack taking him on as manager? Ellie resigning?
8. The group, Jack singing Yesterday, there are maize reaction? Not knowing the Beatles? His Google search, finding John Paul II!
9. His being affirmed, meeting and Sheeran, and Sheeran is a character, his own career, the bond with Jack, introducing his performance, going to Los Angeles? Rocky going as well?
10. The American agent, her heart personality, hearing him, interested in money, getting into LA, the interviews, the plans? Rocky as part of the entourage?
11. The range of songs, the Beatles memories, is trying to remember the lyrics, playing the melodies, the plan for the double album, there’s members of the agencies, rehearsals, performance, recording?
12. Jack’s decision not to tell the truth about the Beatles songs? Going to England, visiting Strawberry fields, Abbey Road? The old couple having seen him perform, watching, getting together to listen to him, they’re remembering the Beatles songs, glad that he was bringing them to life? The contrast with the Americans, and even and Sheeran approving A cab dude?
13. The discovery of John Lennon, going to visit him, John Lennon and nearly 80, having a quiet life – and making the audience through credit his untimely death once again?
14. The preparation for the performance, the crowds, Rocky going to the wrong door! Jack and his fears, the recording, Ellie and her friendship with Gavin, Jack upset, courting people out of the recording room, temperament?
15. Ellie, the continued support, love?
16. The crowds loving Jack, responding to him, to the Beatles songs? Ed, his concert, Jack interrupting, singing?
17. Jack telling the truth, the response of the audience? The agent and her walking out in disgust?
18. And, of course, a very happy ending? And handing on the music to the children?
