The self-proclaimed \’bully of rock \’n\’ roll\’, John Lennon, came from a dysfunctional family that helped him start the greatest rock \’ n\’ roll band of all time, The Beatles.

Nowhere Boy is a biopic that details the roots of Lennon\’s introduction to rock \’n\’ roll.  Lennon (Aaron Johnson) is raised by  his aunt Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas) and uncle George (David Threlfall). With the sudden passing of his uncle George, Lennon sees his estranged mother Julia (Anne-Marie Duff) at the funeral and reconnects with her.

Lennon yearns for a \’normal\’ family life in the 1950\’s setting and visits his mother as much as possible, despite his aunt Mimi\’s advice. Lennon has a brash attitude, to hide  his insecurities because of his unorthodox upbringing. He demonstrates the  typical characteristics of  a rebellious adolescent; drinking, smoking, flirting with girls, skipping school, jumping on top of a moving bus and so on.

Julia introduces Lennon to rock \’n\’ roll and he immediately idolizes Elvis and the lifestyle. Lennon\’s education continues to suffer and that causes problem with his strict aunt. Regardless of his aunt, Lennon continues to follow his passion and meets up with Paul McCartney (Thomas Brodie Sangster) and George Harrison (Sam Bell).

If you are expecting a lot of Beatles songs and Beatles moments, you will be sadly disappointed. While you do get their first encounters and their learning how to play together, the film is mainly the battle Lennon has loving his mom and disobeying his aunt.

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McCartney best describes Lennon in the film as \’a dick\’. Lennon is crude, whiny and two-faced with the way he treats his loved ones. Due to being older than the other Beatles, Lennon treats them as beneath him and is extremely jealous when any of them show his mom some form of attention due to his Freudian complex.

Highly recommended for any Beatles fan. You will definitely be interested in this movie, but be forewarned though, it is jam-packed with emotional scenes that will leave you teary eye in the end.

Review co-written with Johnny North

Nowhere Boy

PG-13

Directed by Sam-Taylor Wood

Written by Matt Greenhalgh

Distributed by Maple Leaf Pictures

In theatres now