Yesterday - Review
Director: Danny Boyle
Cast: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran, Kate McKinnon
A union of two of British cinema's most distinct and beloved voices (Boyle and Curtis) partnered with a wholly unique and high-concept fantasy romance appears to be the perfect antidote to a summer movie season packed with tent-pole pictures and live-action reimaginings. Does the attractive package deliver on its promise to satisfy cinema goers craving originality?
After years of gigging and failing to make any progress, Jack (Patel) decides to give up his dream of becoming a musician and return to teaching. However, after a worldwide power cut, Jack discovers that he is the only person in the world who has any memory of The Beatles and tentatively seizes the opportunity to claim their music as his own. Jack quickly becomes the world's most successful recording artists and must wrestle with his heavy conscious and a complicated will-they/won't-they romance with his best friend Ellie (James).
The concept of The Beatles abruptly ceasing to exist and the whole world, bar on person, forgetting them and their music makes for an amusing and promising logline. In reality, Yesterday transpires to have unexplainable inconsistencies in its plot that can't live up to its elevator pitch. A power cut eradicating The Beatles' entire discography is just about passable, but erasing them from the memory of virtually every person on the planet is downright confounding. Curtis presents a wildly erratic notion and makes no attempt to elaborate on it, hoping that his thus far victorious formula of sharp comedy and idealistic romances will compensate for the underdeveloped fantasy aspect.
Graduating from soap star to bonafide leading man, Himesh Patel (of Eastenders fame) is charming and endearing but his one-note character gives the actor little to work with. Jack recycles the same state of emotions throughout the course of the film; exasperation, confusion and panic, but Patel channels his all into the role. Meanwhile Lily James, winsome as ever, serves the story as Jack's best friend/manager/wannabe girlfriend Ellie. She is Jack's most ardent supporter, driving him around their seaside town and is often the sole supporter at his poorly attended gigs. Ellie soothes his bruised ego, all the while longingly loving him and waiting for the feeling to be reciprocated. It's a relationship that you root for, strengthened by the chemistry between the film's leads.
Patel's and James' winning presence provide the heart of Yesterday when the shaky plot demonstrates a lack of intellect, but the classic tunes from the rock band that have inspired the flick also distract us from the undercooked premise. From the instantly recognisable bar of 'Let it Be' to the hypnotically beautiful title track 'Yesterday' (all impeccably performed by Patel), all of the songs featured in the musical sequences occasionally allow us to forgive the film's so-so efforts and middling quality.
Despite the acting talent and film-making heavyweights on display, their highly anticipated collaboration cannot mask the premise's poor execution and ultimate disappointment.
EB
Cast: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran, Kate McKinnon
A union of two of British cinema's most distinct and beloved voices (Boyle and Curtis) partnered with a wholly unique and high-concept fantasy romance appears to be the perfect antidote to a summer movie season packed with tent-pole pictures and live-action reimaginings. Does the attractive package deliver on its promise to satisfy cinema goers craving originality?
After years of gigging and failing to make any progress, Jack (Patel) decides to give up his dream of becoming a musician and return to teaching. However, after a worldwide power cut, Jack discovers that he is the only person in the world who has any memory of The Beatles and tentatively seizes the opportunity to claim their music as his own. Jack quickly becomes the world's most successful recording artists and must wrestle with his heavy conscious and a complicated will-they/won't-they romance with his best friend Ellie (James).
The concept of The Beatles abruptly ceasing to exist and the whole world, bar on person, forgetting them and their music makes for an amusing and promising logline. In reality, Yesterday transpires to have unexplainable inconsistencies in its plot that can't live up to its elevator pitch. A power cut eradicating The Beatles' entire discography is just about passable, but erasing them from the memory of virtually every person on the planet is downright confounding. Curtis presents a wildly erratic notion and makes no attempt to elaborate on it, hoping that his thus far victorious formula of sharp comedy and idealistic romances will compensate for the underdeveloped fantasy aspect.
Graduating from soap star to bonafide leading man, Himesh Patel (of Eastenders fame) is charming and endearing but his one-note character gives the actor little to work with. Jack recycles the same state of emotions throughout the course of the film; exasperation, confusion and panic, but Patel channels his all into the role. Meanwhile Lily James, winsome as ever, serves the story as Jack's best friend/manager/wannabe girlfriend Ellie. She is Jack's most ardent supporter, driving him around their seaside town and is often the sole supporter at his poorly attended gigs. Ellie soothes his bruised ego, all the while longingly loving him and waiting for the feeling to be reciprocated. It's a relationship that you root for, strengthened by the chemistry between the film's leads.
Patel's and James' winning presence provide the heart of Yesterday when the shaky plot demonstrates a lack of intellect, but the classic tunes from the rock band that have inspired the flick also distract us from the undercooked premise. From the instantly recognisable bar of 'Let it Be' to the hypnotically beautiful title track 'Yesterday' (all impeccably performed by Patel), all of the songs featured in the musical sequences occasionally allow us to forgive the film's so-so efforts and middling quality.
Despite the acting talent and film-making heavyweights on display, their highly anticipated collaboration cannot mask the premise's poor execution and ultimate disappointment.
EB
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