When I was in middle school, I got my very first record by The Beatles. To be honest, I got a bunch right in a row, including Rubber Soul, Let It Be, Magical Mystery Tour, Abbey Road, and One. The British quartet remains one of my favorite bands to this day, making me a super basic white dude. As such, the news of Yesterday going into production seemed like an extremely interesting movie. The basic plot, that there would be a world without the iconic rock band, seemed like an interesting idea. However, it seemed like a way for Danny Boyle to make a middle of the road movie that grabbed the attention of some Beatles fans. After seeing a trailer for the new movie, this looks like it could be one of the big hits of the summer.
Yesterday follows Himesh Patel as Jack, a young man who hits his head after a blackout. After the accident, he begins to play a song by The Beatles, only to realize everyone else’s collective memory has been wiped. Now, as the only person who knows the songs of the famed band, he begins a meteoric rise to superstardom. The movie also features big roles for Lily James, Ana de Armas, Lamorne Morris, Ed Sheeran, and Kate McKinnon.
If I’m being honest about the trailer, I’m mostly just excited to see a film that shows off a lot of Beatles songs. However, there is something about Patel that shows some real talent. He seems like he’s going to be a strong lead, and the high concept of the movie could give him a chance to really break out. This kind of role would go to an actor like Hugh Grant, Colin Farrell, or Hugh Jackman. Instead, taking a chance on an unknown actor like Patel means that Boyle knows that the concept itself will sell the movie. It’ll be curious to see how this one gets rolled out, but with any luck, this could become one of the breakout hits of the summer.
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