Yesterday (2019)

[Harpo]

 

[Narkalui]

If Richard Curtis wrote it, I want naught to do with it

 

[Dave]

Who is Richard Curtis?

(j/k BTW watch trailer first)

 

[Narkalui]

Yeah, I watched the trailer. If it gets good reviews I might watch it when it's on Netflix. We shall see

 

[svalbard]

That actually looks like a bit of fun.

 

[REBerg]

A Beatles fantasy. How can it not be a big hit?

 

[Dave]

I will certainly see this. I've seen the trailer at the cinema twice now and my only concern is that they've shown all the best jokes in the trailer already. If I'm completely wrong and there are more, then this must be one of the funniest films ever made.

The Ed Sheeran part is still funny after seeing it three times.

 

[BAYLOR]

It looks interesting.

 

[Dave]

I saw this today. As I suspected a majority of the best jokes are already spoilered but there are more, and quite a good joke comes near to the end (especially for the budding writers amongst you, but I'd have to spoilt the whole plot including the joke to tell you more.)

So, it is your typical Richard Curtis Rom-Com, which I gather some people don't particularly like if @Narkalui is not alone.

If Richard Curtis wrote it, I want naught to do with it

However, it is also Danny Boyle directing, so how can it fail? The visual feel is very Danny Boyle.

I'm not sure I would class it as "this year's feel good film," which is what I've heard it described, as it does have some quite deep themes - it is an alternative reality story, obviously - so just like La, La, Land it considers what life would be like if different paths had been taken, and it attempts to clumsily point out, that a family and being loved, are more important than fame and fortune. Or, maybe it is only me who keeps seeing these deep themes? Everyone else just thinks it is a popcorn flix.

Quite a few people have enjoyed the film as a whole, but found the romantic parts sickly sweet and poorly written. To me, it is no better or worse that Notting Hill or Love Actually, but as I said already, those aren't to everyone's taste.

The Beatles are not the only band that no longer exists in this world, and there are quite a number of other random things missing. These are mostly used as jokes, but this theme has not been well thought out, and many people have been pointing out online, the sheer implausibility of the story, and why X other things could not exist if Y didn't either.

I think the basic plot is already spoilered by the trailers, but if not, look away for the next paragraph:

Spoiler: mild spoilers

So, he is a struggling musician who has practically given up, when he suddenly finds that the Beatles songs are unknown and he can pass them off as his own. Stardom, fame and riches await him, but he can't help feeling a fraud. Surprisingly, to me, Nick Malik isn't the only person who is aware of the changes to the world either. And those two people help him to find and meet someone who changes his direction.

Spoiler: Bigger spoiler

That person is John Lennon, still alive at 78, making a living drawing pictures without fame, but having had a full life.

Ed Sheeran has quite a large part in the film. it is set in Suffolk, local to Sheeran, and he takes Nick on tour as his support band. I can see why they needed such a large star in the film. There would be no other way to be able to film such large audiences.

I'd certainly recommend it.