Sam Taylor-Wood Twists and Shouts with John Lennon

Posted by Adam Sweeney (adam@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 29, 2008

Hot off the success of Love You More at the Cannes Film Festival, director Sam Taylor-Wood hopes to strike a chord in the hearts of John Lennon fans with Nowhere Boy.

Set for a March 2009 shoot in Liverpool, the story about the most controversial Beatle will “chart the influence Lennon’s aunt and mother played on the youngster’s life and recounts how tragedy strikes in the early days of his friendship with Paul McCartney,” Screendaily reports.

Personally unfamiliar with Taylor-Wood’s work, I do find it promising that the director is so passionate about the film. “I knew as I closed the final page that this was the film I had been looking to direct following Love You More,” Taylor-Wood said. “The story spoke to me on so many levels- both personal and artistic.” Funny, George Lucas said the same thing about the Howard the Duck script.

Taylor-Wood continued, saying “The women in John’s early life truly shaped who he became and the strengths and weaknesses of their relationships are central to this film.”

We’ve seen a lot of different interpretations of the Beatles story, such as the 1994 film Backbeat, but a focus on Lennon, a brilliant singer/songwriter and aloof personality, as a youth is something I would definitely be interested in seeing.

Are you interested in seeing Nowhere Boy? Who’s your favorite Beatle and what’s your favorite Beatles song?

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Stephen Ernest Smith

I do the world's absolute best imitation of John Lennon talking. (I'm pretty good at the singing imitation, too).

My sister lives in London and when she heard the voice on my answering machine and quietly said, "That's uncanny."

And it is. Sometimes it almost scares me.

Rob Hunter

@ Stephen, Probably not as scary as running into a Mark David Chapman imitator.

790

What's with the title ???
Nowhere Boy ???? Really stupid.

Stephen Ernest Smith

Well, it's a "cute" (?) takeoff on the song "Nowhere Man," for the few who may not know. But I hope Ms. Taylor-Wood strikes a reasonable balance.

John, like many artists, suffered no lack of psychic pain. But this was an intensely clever, artistically inspired, rapier-witted guy. He grew up to espouse love, peace and equality. Despite the confusion with his mother, something went right somewhere. I'm sure the women in his life are largely to credit -- or blame.

His early death was a tragedy but his life was a success. A "nowhere boy?" I don't think so.

Phoghat

There is a reason why the writing of Lennon-McCartney had Lennon first. John was the genius behind the popularity. That's why he would be my choice as favorite Beatle.

As for favorite song, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" probably comes out on top.

Sam Taylor-Wood Twists and Shouts with John Lennon

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