DVD Review: Yesterday

Yesterday
[DVD Yesterday]

I started looking forward to this film after seeing the earliest “teaser” trailers, back in 2018. Directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Sunshine, Slumdog Millionaire), from a screenplay by Richard Carpenter (writer of Notting Hill, Love Actually, Pirate Radio), this film ended up being a completely charming experience, with an unforgettable soundtrack.

Himesh Patel stars as Jack Malik, a struggle folk/pop composer/singer, whose efforts to become a success with his music have proven fruitless. Despite the support of his closest friends, including not-quite-girlfriend Ellie Appleton (Lily James), Jack decides it may be time to give up on music. Then, one night, while riding his bicycle home, he is hit by a bus during a freak global blackout. After recovering in the hospital, at a party to celebrate being released, he is gifted with a replacement guitar by his friends. To christen it, he decides to play “Yesterday”, one of the most beautiful songs for the guitar. Only — his friends don’t recognize the legendary song by Lennon and McCartney, nor do they know who The Beatles are.

At first disbelieving, Jack eventually realizes that, following his accident, nobody in the world except himself remembers The Beatles and their music. Initially suffering pangs of guilt and conscience, Jack eventually transcribes several Beatles songs and performs them himself, gaining the notoriety and attention he’s sought for his own music for years. What follows is a roller-coaster ride as Jack becomes a star, ostensibly for being a musical wonder, but constantly battling the guilt of playing someone else’s music and pretending it’s his own.

In addition to the great music — Himesh Patel is very competent and doing single-voice versions of classic Beatles hits — this film explores his moral quandry, and the relationships he has to the people who surround him. Patel’s performance is flawless, as is Lily James’ as Ellie. Joel Fry, as friend and “roadie” Rocky is amusing. Pop star Ed Sheeran is great as…Ed Sheeran. The only performance I didn’t care for was the usually reliable Kate McKinnon, who was way over the top as a music agent. Robert Carlyle (Once Upon a Time) has an uncredited cameo near the end of the film that provides for an emotional high point.

Suffice it to say, I really liked Yesterday. I’ve run into others who can’t stand it, so it might not be your cup of tea, either. But I found it an intriguing and effective tribute to the unforgettable music of The Beatles while still being a compelling personal story about an original character. Your mileage may vary.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the Yesterday soundtrack, currently available from the libraries only digitally on Hoopla.]

[ Internet Movie Database entry for this film ] | [ official Yesterday web page ]

Read Scott C.’s review of the soundtrack to the film Yesterday, from just last month (September 2019)

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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