Yesterday
Starring: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran, and Kate McKinnon
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Rated: PG-13
Yesterday, all of Jack’s dreams seemed so far away. He was playing original music to crowds that didn’t seem to care and chasing down a dream that seemed impossible. Suddenly after a worldwide blackout and collision with a bus, he wakes to find no one has ever heard of the Beatles or any of their music. Today, he may just have the perfect chance to make his musical dreams come true.
Directed by Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Steve Jobs) and written by Richard Curtis (About Time, Love Actually), Yesterday is a feel-good tale of love, fame, and The Beatles. A world without The Beatles seems too bizarre even to fathom when you consider the impact the Fab Four has had on pop culture. Yesterday explores this unique concept in quite an intriguing way. If no one has heard of the Beatles, is it okay for Jack to record their music? Can he take credit? What are the full lyrics to Eleanor Rigby? These questions linger throughout the film as the burden of fame and notoriety weigh heavy on Jack’s shoulders.
Himesh Patel is very engaging as Jack Malik, the aspiring musician. He impressively does all of his own singing in the film. Jack seems to stumble into a parallel world after his accident, where The Beatles disappear. This offers him the opportunity to record some of the greatest music of all time, catapulting him to superstardom. Yet, the price of fame could be too heavy if he loses the person he loves the most. The film shows some impressive sequences showcasing how art can often be stripped from the artist due to the corporate side of fame. As Jack attempts to use some of The Beatles' iconic artwork, it’s quickly written off as odd or not right for the project. It’s an interesting dynamic that makes you think about the business side of the industry.
Lily James has become queen of summer movies. She’s having quite a run lately. 2017: Baby Driver. 2018: Mama Mia: Here We Go Again. 2019: Yesterday. I’ve said it before and I’ve said it again...never seen a bad Lily James movie. She’s picking the right roles! In Yesterday, she plays Ellie, a schoolteacher who manages Jack’s music career on the side. She is constantly supportive of his dreams, even when he feels like it is impossible to think that success could come his way. The two have great chemistry and the film builds their relationship dynamic to keep the will-they or won’t-they tension going.
Kate McKinnon is a scene stealer throughout the film as Jack’s manager, Deborah. She offers a stark contrast to the rest of the characters as an intense, over-the-top manager. Her crazy facial expressions and energy bring humor to several scenes.
Although the majority of the cast works perfectly together, Ed Sheeran is a pivotal character who doesn’t click with everyone else. It’s clear he isn’t an actor as he seems very stiff and awkward in his scenes. If you’re like me and you aren’t an Ed Sheeran fan, get ready because you will be subjected to his music a few times. This is a Beatles movie! I didn’t sign up to listen to an Ed Sheeran concert!
It’s also notable that the overall incident that leads to the world forgetting the Beatles could be explained a little bit better. It happens and then specific things in the world just don’t exist anymore. Yet, we never really find out why. Granted, it makes for a very interesting concept, but I would have liked to find out what caused this particular event.
Despite a few minor gripes, Yesterday is a wonderfully charming film. Beatles fans will love the tribute to the Fab Four and those unfamiliar with their music will enjoy the unique storyline. At its core, this is a heartwarming love story that will leave you with a song in your heart. After all, all you need is love.
My Rating: 8/10