Yesterday (2019)

[Frayed Knot]

So you probably already know the plot of this one via trailers and ads.

Through a brief (and never explained) 12 second planet-wide glitch, Beatle music and indeed the history of the Beatles has been erased from human memory. The memory/existence of a few other things is

gone too, a few of them kind of funny. But our film's hero, Jack, a marginal and somewhat awkward English singer/songwriter, is seemingly alone in that he does remember their music and so is in a unique

position to claim those songs as his own. Or at least he would be if he could only remember all the lyrics seeing as how all those albums are now missing from his record collection and a Google search turns

up only crawly insects. The truth is too unbelievable for him to tell anyone and that includes his childhood friend/manager Ellie played by the terminably cute Lily James (BABY DRIVER) which is a shame since

Jack's monopoly on the Beatle catalog is matched only by his cluelessness to Ellie's crush on him.



So hi-jinx ensues with more than a few bumps along the road. Ed Sheeran stretches out his acting chops to play Ed Sheeran, the guy who helps discover Jack only to quickly feel himself being surpassed by

him. Former SNL'er Kate McKinnon is a stereotype of a soulless music industry exec who of course wants to wring all the coin out of Jack that she can while she can.



Essentially it's a reasonably funny Rom-Com. There's a scene towards the end which you'll either find totally charming or a bridge too far depending on your POV.

And, y'know, it has Beatle music, as well as an unexpected cameo by CitiField!

Edited July 7, 2019 by Guest

[bmfc1]

I didn't love it and I expected to... but I didn't hate it. I didn't like the way the story played out and the scene that is referenced above took me out of the movie. It's impossible to dislike because of the music. I wish that there was a way for Lily James to have sung lead just once.

[Frayed Knot]

Sounds like I liked it a bit more than you.

I kind of liked the way the story played out for the most part, including the parts with the two characters who showed up halfway through and I was OK with the scene in

question towards the end. Not saying it's a great movie by any means. It's typical rom-com sappy in parts and the Sheeran & McKinnon parts are a bit broadly drawn.

But mostly well done all around.







An article in the NY Times about a week ago gave the story of what the producers had to go through in order to secure rights to the music. In this case, is not just the

bling you have to cough up but you need enough known names attached to it, like a director of Danny Boyle's status for instance, to where the holders of Beatle rights

-- one group for John/Paul songs and a different one for George's -- deem your project sufficiently worthy of their blessing rather than risk tarnishing the band's image.

They're trying to avoid another Sgt Pepper fiasco iow.

[Edgy MD]

I liked it. I wish they closed the circle and returned him to his own world, and maybe to his own music.



But I couldn't help the joy of hearing the songs like they were new, with new arrangements — sometimes stripped down as demos, sometimes turned into full assault punk. His "Help!" is authentic because like John (or Kurt Cobain, for that matter), he was having a breakdown in plain sight of the world, and they just wanted more.



The funny thing is how John-poor the film was. The music is about 70% Paul, 15% George, and 15% John. They also stick largely to the big singles, when I could have used a "Dear Prudence" or a "Within Without You." I got the idea that they had more trouble securing John's songs, but that can't be right, as the songs all remain Lennon-McCartney compositions, controlled by the same publisher.



But hey, even the title song was surprisingly fresh. My wife thought she utterly hated that song, and I've always been, like, "No, Baby, it's just been so overexposed you can't hear it anymore."



And she turned to me this time and said, "You're right, it is pretty good."



Apart from that, please forgive any prejudice I may have against latter-day pop music, but Ed Sheeran is ... not really an asset to the film. McKinnon was typically terrific, though, and I totally surrendered to the void when we got to that secret scene.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I thought it was alright.



I liked the concept a lot, liked the lead actors, really really enjoyed the music. I thought watching it with Lunchpail was great for him.



But disagreed on the terrificness of McKinnon, and really most of the side characters (his parents etc) who were too sitcommy and over the top and made the lead character look stupid and just naive.

[Fman99]

I had friends who enjoyed it. I'd never watch it because the premise is just too stupid for me to buy into.

[Vic Sage]

I was surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. I loved McKinnon.



My son said the whole premise rested on the "questionable" presumption that those were transcendently great songs, rather than simply products of their time and place. I tried to smack him with my cane, but he avoided the blow.

[Edgy MD]

So, where's your son sleeping, now?

[cal sharpie]

It was okay. Hated the John is alive scene and the stadium reveal. Also hated the album cover bit. Also agree the music was too Paul- heavy. Other than that I liked the actors and the music sounded great.