Yesterday
U.K./U.S.A. 2019

Opening 11 Jul 2019

Directed by: Danny Boyle
Writing credits: Jack Barth, Richard Curtis
Principal actors: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Sophia Di Martino, Ellise Chappell, Meera Syal

Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) has given up teaching to embark on a career as a singer/songwriter. Unfortunately, after one too many unappreciated gigs and against the wishes of his longtime friend and manager Ellie (Lily James), he decides to give up. That very same evening he is hit by a bus during a worldwide power cut. His breakthrough comes when he realizes that after the blackout he is the only one who seems to remember the Beatles.

With a constant bewildered look on his face, Jack tries to remember all the lyrics to the Beatles songs and becomes a BIG hit. His friends are supportive and even Ed Sheeran (playing himself) appears to help Jack produce recordings. Ed resolves himself to playing second fiddle to Jack, but does succeed in getting him to change "Hey Jude" to "Hey Dude."

Although Jack is now a big star he feels guilty at deceiving the world and he decides to remedy that. The movie has everything. It is a love story and a story of friendship -- sentimental, funny, silly and warmhearted. And very definitely an homage to the Beatles. (Thelma Freedman)

Second Opinion

Director Danny Boyle’s latest comedy will have audiences humming as they leave cinemas, on top of reenergizing low-key “Beatlemania.” The script creates a phenomenally improbable global event concocted around the four irascible Liverpudlian lads, while taking a poke at “image makers.” Throughout, the best-selling rock band’s classic song titles and/or tunes are cleverly, feasibly interspersed; globally, 800 million Beatle records have been sold.

Presently, this peculiar marvel lasts just long enough for Jack (Patel), watching lights blink off instead of where he is going, to collide with a bus. Waking in hospital, Ellie (James), the singer-songwriter’s ever-faithful manageresses is patiently waiting and together, with a little help from his friends (Harry Michell, Sophia Di Martino) Jack is soon back on his feet, although bewildered. It seems this worldwide blackout erased collective memories about a number of things, including the Beatles! Which gives Jack a brilliant idea – nothing ventured, nothing gained. Traveling a long and windy road playing small clubs, his first break is from Gavin (Alexander Arnold); Ed Sheeran follows with a gig offer—Rocky (Joel Fry) is Jack’s roadie—and then, Roxanne (Kate McKinnon delivers a top-notch performance) moves in for the kill with an offer too good to refuse. Or, is it?

The cast is sound, with great chemistry between Lily James and newcomer Himesh Patel. Cinematography (Christopher Ross), and editing (Jon Harris) are solid. Daniel Pemberton’s music is genuine without trying to compete. Its dialogue’s harmless humor, and meandering surprises builds to a witty finale. So, yesterday Jack was screaming, “help me” but most likely, tomorrow people will be humming Yesterday. (Marinell Haegelin)