Yesterday was one of the summer films that our guys were looking forward to the most. Brand new movies with unique ideas can be a rarity in Hollywood these days. So when one pops up, your guys at The COARD make sure not to miss it. The question is.... Did it disappoint?
Roy: *Breathes deep. Takes another drink of his iced tea. One more breath. Here we go.*
I'm going to try and be cool about this... No I'm not. That was amazing. Simply amazing. I'm going to be transparent here. I'm a bit of a musician, add to that the fact that I'm a music nerd. I discovered The Beatles in my early 20s and fell in love with them hard and fast. What can you say about The Beatles that hasn't already been said? They are arguably the greatest band to ever exist. These four gentlemen wrote music that will live on forever. If there is one thing this movie does, is make you realize just what they accomplished. As a massive Beatles fan, I found myself struck dumb as I walked out of the theater with my wife. I didn't know what to say. I was overwhelmed at the catalog of music these men have given us. Yes. I am aware that I've written a paragraph on The Beatles and not Yesterday. But that's the thing. You can't separate one from the other. Because the whole point of the movie is, "What if The Beatles never existed?" Danny Boyle tackles that question and gives us an excellent movie along with it. Cody, you need to cut me off or I'm just going to keep on going...
Cody: Well if you expect me to bring any rain to this parade, you're sorely mistaken. This was just an absolute joy ride of a movie. I can't remember the last time I smiled so much. Yesterday definitely features strong comedic element, including Ed Sheeran's solid supporting role. It's more than just the humor, though. This movie just makes you feel good. You're probably on the right track, Roy, that no small part of that good feeling is coming from The Beatles. The acting surrounding the two leads, Himesh Patel and Lily James, deserves a lot of credit, as does the directing of Danny Boyle. It genuinely feels like the world is experiencing The Beatles music for the first time, and the childlike giddiness is completely infectious. Ultimately, though, this is a romantic comedy centered around Patel and James. Patel shows strong emotional range in his debut, while James continues to be completely charming in everything she does. So while this movie lives split between the fantasy world of its premise and the more traditional rom-com elements, both sides are good enough to keep you smiling.
Roy: I'm glad you brought up Sheeran. His role in this film is pivotal while showing off his ridiculous talent as well. Forgive me if I'm heading into spoiler territory here but I have to say something. There was a scene where Ed challenged Jack (Patel) to a friendly song writing contest, it was one of my favorites in the whole film. Sheeran writes a beautiful little song and we are punched in the face with his talent. Cut to Jack who pretends he wrote The Long and Winding Road in 10 minutes and Sheeran plays the scene perfectly. A star, fully aware of his talent and used to the fact that he resides on top of the mountain, gets destroyed in front of our eyes. He does an excellent job at playing a character who is both happy and sad that he discovered Jack. Sheeran discovered gold, a priceless gem, but because of that his light has been dimmed. It was a powerful moment which highlighted Jack's main struggle. The world needs this music. But he's wildly uncomfortable taking the credit when all he is doing is singing other people's music. The art is on display, but he changed the authorship. Would it be right to deprive the world of this beauty? It definitely is not okay to do what he is doing, however. It was an issue I wrestled with the entire film.
Cody: If there is one theme for the entire movie, it's "the world needs this music." Probably the greatest accomplishment here is that they took a subject on which a billion words has been written, The Beatles, and came up with a way to make it feel fresh and unique. You could argue that the premise should have been explored with a little more depth, but that doesn't feel like the point of the movie. This is a romantic comedy serving as a Beatles appreciation film. And if there's one thing you'll feel after leaving this, it's an appreciation for The Beatles. There are so many fun little moments along the way, though.
Cody: The big surprise plot addition that worked every single time it was brought up is that it isn't only The Beatles that disappeared from existence. The initial shocked anguish from Patel as he learns that Oasis is gone as well slowly turns to something like resigned bemusement as he learns more and more things have disappeared, right up until the very end of the movie when a Harry Potter reference goes right through Lily James with zero recognition. Yesterday does such a stellar job involving the audience at every turn with the music we've talked so much about, but also the moments where Patel is so alone in his frustration with the other characters' lack of understanding. When he is interrupted a dozen different ways while trying to unleash Let it Be into the world for the first time, you want to yell at the screen for people to shut up, a feeling usually reserved for particularly dopey horror film characters. You live the movie through Patel, and it's so natural empathize throughout.
Roy: I loved the scene where they were recording the Beatles early work on Jack's first album and they had so much fun doing it. Before the fame inevitably hit Jack like a freight train. I also loved how they brought an underrated classic to the forefront like Back to the USSR when Jack played his first real gig in Moscow. It was cool moment. However, every time James was on the screen the whole place lit up. She played the girl reluctantly residing in the friend zone perfectly and we, along with everyone else couldn't understand what Jack was waiting for when it came to Ellie.
Cody: It might be a slight flaw in the movie that it made so little sense that he wouldn't be with her to begin with. She didn't undergo some major transformation of character, either physical or personality. Though, I guess the point was that it took the fame for him to see the importance of what he had all along. Another small moment I loved: Jack is confronted by two people who also remember The Beatles. This is the moment you've been waiting for. The inevitable scratch on the record player as Jack is found out and things come unraveled. Instead, true to the charming uniqueness of itself, Yesterday swerves as the two thank Jack profusely for bringing the music back into the world. I loved this because of the unexpectedness, but also because it just heaped further guilt onto Jack. It was at this point you could tell he would be glad to be relieved of the choice of whether to keep up the facade or not. Instead, that choice continued to rest firmly on Jack's shoulders until he finally admitted it to the world on his own volition (with a little help from a still alive, at peace, and wise John Lennon). Once Jack revealed his secret to the world, the movie hastily wrapped up. It sort of felt like a novel that ended in 20 pages when 50 would have been better. I wish they could have given us a little more on the fallout of his decision, what is happening with The Beatles music now, etc. But like I said, the movie really is a rom-com at heart, and what we got was a happily ever after for Jack and Ellie. I'll take it.
Roy: When Jack was playing Life Goes On for a school assembly I just assumed that he would continue to grow the Beatles catalog and release free music to the world as it came to him. But that could have been what I wished to happen as opposed to what the story meant to convey. I also loved having a moment with John Lennon, even if it was completely fictional. This movie has sky-rocketed to the top of my favorite rom-coms. And I think Gosling and Stone will be alright sharing the top with Patel and James.
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| The look of a meddling genius about to ruin Hey Jude forever |
Cody: If there is one theme for the entire movie, it's "the world needs this music." Probably the greatest accomplishment here is that they took a subject on which a billion words has been written, The Beatles, and came up with a way to make it feel fresh and unique. You could argue that the premise should have been explored with a little more depth, but that doesn't feel like the point of the movie. This is a romantic comedy serving as a Beatles appreciation film. And if there's one thing you'll feel after leaving this, it's an appreciation for The Beatles. There are so many fun little moments along the way, though.
Spoilers ahead!! Turn back now if you have plans to see this and don't want to know any more details.
Cody: The big surprise plot addition that worked every single time it was brought up is that it isn't only The Beatles that disappeared from existence. The initial shocked anguish from Patel as he learns that Oasis is gone as well slowly turns to something like resigned bemusement as he learns more and more things have disappeared, right up until the very end of the movie when a Harry Potter reference goes right through Lily James with zero recognition. Yesterday does such a stellar job involving the audience at every turn with the music we've talked so much about, but also the moments where Patel is so alone in his frustration with the other characters' lack of understanding. When he is interrupted a dozen different ways while trying to unleash Let it Be into the world for the first time, you want to yell at the screen for people to shut up, a feeling usually reserved for particularly dopey horror film characters. You live the movie through Patel, and it's so natural empathize throughout.
Roy: I loved the scene where they were recording the Beatles early work on Jack's first album and they had so much fun doing it. Before the fame inevitably hit Jack like a freight train. I also loved how they brought an underrated classic to the forefront like Back to the USSR when Jack played his first real gig in Moscow. It was cool moment. However, every time James was on the screen the whole place lit up. She played the girl reluctantly residing in the friend zone perfectly and we, along with everyone else couldn't understand what Jack was waiting for when it came to Ellie.
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| Adorable -adjective: See -James, Lilly |
Roy: When Jack was playing Life Goes On for a school assembly I just assumed that he would continue to grow the Beatles catalog and release free music to the world as it came to him. But that could have been what I wished to happen as opposed to what the story meant to convey. I also loved having a moment with John Lennon, even if it was completely fictional. This movie has sky-rocketed to the top of my favorite rom-coms. And I think Gosling and Stone will be alright sharing the top with Patel and James.
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