You need to bear in mind here that my favourite genre of movie is romcom. I love Richard Curtis and Danny Boyle plus anything to do with time travel or alternative realities. You all know I Love The Beatles so obviously this film is right up my street. I wont dwell on the basic story, I think we all know it's a Love Story with a twist. Jack Malik doesn't realise that his manager and childhood friend Ellie is in love with him despite the fact that she manages his unsuccessful musical career with great enthusiasm. A strange worldwide power outage happens simultaneously with a bike accident in which Jack is hit by a bus then when he comes to, gradually realises he's the only person in the world who remembers The Beatles. He begins to play their songs to friends, family, then in pubs. He appears on the local radio station in Lowestoft where he performed In My life. It just so happens that Ed Sheeran is listening, calls him up and asks him to be the support act for his next tour. It's all very far-fetched but really enjoyable. He achieves worldwide fame but is haunted by the fact that he didn't write the songs himself and when he is outed by two mysterious people, one from Liverpool and one from Russia he is almost relieved. It turns out they're Beatles fans too, and like him still remember them and are delighted that he's keeping their music alive. They give him a piece of paper and he sets off on a journey to a secluded seaside home, knocks on the door and comes face to face with 78 year old John Lennon played by Robert Carlyle. This moment in the film is really bittersweet. Little twists of fate in this new universe means John Lennon became a sailor and not a musician. He travels the world , has a happy life and still alive and content in 2018. Alternative John's words of wisdom give Jack a new outlook on life and eventually he comes clean about the music tells Ellie he loves her and like any good Richard Curtis film The all live happily ever after. It wasn't particularly the story I wanted to write about but the little hints throughout. For non Beatles fans it's an enjoyable comedy. Casual Beatle fans will enjoy the music but for Beatle nerds such as many of the people I know you'll enjoy spotting little references and this is my take on some of them. After seeing the movie three times my main observation is that Jack channels Paul McCartney. The name Jack is a derivative of both John and James (Paul's first name) Jack's accident is very similar to one Paul had when he came off his moped and broke his front tooth. After Jack is released from hospital and meets his friends on the beach, in the background is a poster welcoming Jack back from the dead maybe a play on the whole Paul is dead thing. We also work out that he is 27 years old. 28IF Jack's is actually a teacher as Paul's mother wanted him to be Very far-fetched but the in very opening scene set on a beach a man dressed as a squirrel runs by. Die hard McCartney fans will know his children's book Wirral the squirrel. Ellie's surname is APPLEton His best friend who becomes a Hopeless Road manager is called Rocky (as in Racoon) In one of the pub scenes a poster advertises "George Smith" Ed Sheeran's tour map highlights Hamburg Love interest is Ellie, as in Eleanor, as in Rigby, her best friend is Lucy as in the Sky The American manager is named Deborah HAMMER as in Maxwells Silver Not really a Beatles reference but the dentist is Mike from The Young Ones...don't think his name is mentioned but I bet its Dr Robert When Jack stares at his reflection in the window it is in half silhouette like With The Beatles album Jack writes all his songs in his attic bedroom just like Paul did at the Ashers home Jack wears at least 3 outfits identical to Paul's Jack's poster/album cover with camera is the same as Paul's selfie John's boat is named "Imagin" Kids play on a Helter Skelter Jack and Ellie get married at St Peters Church Woolton where John met Paul, and Kip, the real life vicar is filmed writing a sermon and darning his socks there. more to be added...and please comment to add your own will also do a blog with Liverpool film locations
11 Comments
Mike Mangan
10/7/2019 12:30:18 am
Jack sings lyrics to “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” like Dylan heard them. “I get high, I get high.”
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Barb Carrick
10/7/2019 03:15:25 am
Great observations!! I have to go see it again!! Thanks Jackie!! I did tear up at the end when Jack goes to see a John. Very moving. ❤️
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Mike Holt
10/7/2019 07:24:42 am
Brilliant observations Jackie. Missed a few of them in our 2 visits. Time for another one lol! One I loved was when the camera pans back to John's house at the end of the sitting on the boat bit, there's a wooden number 9 on the right hand mantelpiece. ✌❤.
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Don Dworkin
10/7/2019 05:35:32 pm
I think the fact that John is a fisherman (I think) relates to his Rolling Stone 1970 interview where he famously said: “ If I could be a fuckin' fisherman, I would, you know. If I had the capabilities of being something other than I am, I would. It's no fun being
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Irene Polanka
11/7/2019 07:24:51 pm
Film opened in Vienna today and I was probably one of the first in the theatre. I love romantic films and Beatles to top it off. I would've loved more songs but it is not a musical or concert. I just can't get enough of the Beatles. On the scene with John I burst into tears. Wonderful. I recognized a few locations in Liverpool and was homesick. The lady from Liverpool reminded me alot of Frieda. Could that be? All in all a lovely film (and not one "F" word... hurray). I'm going to see it again in German with my hubby. Then I'll be able to concentrate more on all of Jackie's observations. Thank you Jackie. Great as always.
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Nancy Thompson
11/7/2019 10:10:18 pm
Jackie, I am so excited to get to meet you in Liverpool with Mike Phelp's and Jim Fraser's group of Beatlemaniacs from FL! Your observations are amazing and now I need to go see Yesterday again and watch for the subtleties more closely. While I haven't met you, I do believe I have seen you - with a Beatles tour group outside the Philharmonic when Paul was there with James Corbin. Michael Phelps was trying to tell me your insights into the movie at dinner, but people were within earshot who hadn't seen the movie yet, so he told me to go to your FB page and read what you wrote! Reading your insights was the perfect end to a wonderful Beatles tour day in London! Thank you, and see you this weekend with the other Beatlemaniacs group members!
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Clare Stephenson
17/7/2019 11:01:46 pm
I absolutely loved the film. I need to see it again to check out all of you observations. I did see the the Imagine in the boat, the Hamburg on the tour map. That wool vest vest he wears in a few scenes is so “Paul”
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Alli Devine
19/7/2019 03:27:43 pm
Finally managed to get to see it today. Have come home and read your observations. Loved the nod to JK Rowling in there she has never made a secret of how much The Beatles inspired her. I always read the whole of the credits at the end of a film and in this instance the video assistant for additional photography is called George Harrison.
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Peter Xuereb
27/7/2019 09:47:14 am
Great review Jackie. I watched it today. I think I missed a few of those references. You have an eagle eye.. 😊
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15/1/2020 01:28:58 pm
https://www.facebook.com/beatlesbrianepstein/photos/a.810648532290806/2794053177283655/?type=3&theater Hi, I am Ozie Fernz, I am a Gig Musician...I can perform ie guitar/bluesHarp/vocals for sundry Beatles songs. Currently living in Bangalorem, but originally from Gia - India. But mostly kindly suggest to me how i can be a part of the Beatles experience. Thankyou. Ozie Ferz fb/twitter
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