Yesterday

(10,259)IMDb 6.81h 56min2019X-RayPG-13

HD. A struggling musician awakens to discover that he is literally the only person alive who knows who the Beatles are.

Director: Danny Boyle

Starring: Himesh Patel Lily James

Genres: Romance

Subtitles: English [CC]

Audio languages: English (US) [Audio Description]English (UK)

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MPAA rating: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)

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Hey dude, go see this movie

Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2019

Imagine a world where everyone but you had no knowledge of the Beatles. Struggling singer-songwriter Himesh Patel gets to live out this fantasy in the film which has a leisurely pace at times but some undeniably great songs.

True story: Joshua Bell, after he had already established himself as a world famous violinist, performed an experiment where he hung out as an ordinary-seeming busker. Oddly enough, everyone hurried by him, unaware of the treat, except children who apparently picked up on the fact that something extraordinary was happening. Much the same occurs in "Yesterday," when Himesh performs Beatles songs to oblivious patrons of coffeehouses, no different from when he's playing his own music. At the film's start, Himesh has one loyal fan - his longtime friend Lily James - and is ready to give up his dream of making it big and going back to teaching. However, due to a worldwide blackout, Himesh wakes up in the hospital minus a few front teeth (having gotten into a bike accident) but with his knowledge of the Beatles intact. When he discovers that no one else (not even Google) has heard of them, he seizes the chance to appropriate their work.

Though it takes awhile, eventually Himesh is approached by an enthusiastic guy offering to manage him, and then things begin taking off. Himesh outwrites Ed Sheeran (playing himself) in an impromptu songwriting contest, which is when he's noticed by Kate McKinnon (employing her usual manic energy) an American manager. Soon Himesh finds himself pursued by screaming fans wherever he goes, etc.

Unfortunately, Himesh's new fame leaves Lily feeling unappreciated, so there's conflict there. Also Himesh (shadowed by a couple of strangers) begins to have qualms of conscience. When it looks like Himesh's secret knowledge may be shared by other people on the planet, even though initially this didn't seem the case, he is forced to decide whether or not to come clean. "Yesterday," is predictable, but it's a fun and sweet (and very clean) summer movie which the audience I saw it with clearly enjoyed.

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Disappointing Variation On The Faust Legend...With A Great Song Score

Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2019

“Yesterday” Distributed by Universal Pictures, 116 Minutes, Rated PG-13, Released June 28, 2019:

It’s probably not a good idea to put too much thought into “Yesterday” while you’re watching it, although you’ll probably find it impossible to not think about it afterwards.

The violations of the space-time continuum in the picture are difficult to accommodate, especially for those audience members who follow the “Star Wars” and Marvel Comics-based pictures, and are notoriously picky about such details. And although “Yesterday” is filled with amusing scenes, charming set pieces, and some of the best music ever composed and performed, the whole is decidedly not a sum of its parts. And that’s a real shame.

In “Yesterday,” Jack Malik, a struggling British musician on the worn edge of youth, is tempted by his lack of success to quit the music business and return to his primary profession of school teaching. But after he’s knocked unconscious in a traffic accident caused by a cosmic anomaly and momentary global power outage, the young musician awakens to find a substantial change in culture. Specifically, the world has no memory, or historical account, of Coca-Cola, cigarettes...or The Beatles.

Now the failing musician is faced with a dilemma...and an opportunity. With a head filled with Beatles songs in a world that’s never heard them, his path to global superstardom is open--all he needs to do is to claim the Beatles music catalog as his own. But first he needs to decide whether unprecedented fame and wealth is worth the burden of having to live with a lie...and possibly losing the affection of the only girl who ever truly loved him.

Despite an original premise and a musical score filled with a dozen or so of the best songs ever written, “Yesterday” ultimately becomes a fairly standard rags-to-riches entertainment story, a variation of the Faust legend, with British actor Himesh Patel’s Jack in the Faust role, Lily James as Marguerite, the girlfriend, here called Ellie Appleton, and Kate McKinnon as Mephistopheles in the guise of the venal and soulless talent manager Debra Hammer, who promises young Jack riches beyond comprehension in exchange for his talent.

Part of the joy of the Beatles experience was in witnessing their growth and maturation. When heard today, their early music--songs such as 1962’s “Love Me Do” and “She Loves You” in 1963--seem primitive and primordial, little more complex than prehistoric cavern-dwellers chanting and pounding on hollow logs. That the group in a few years’ time was able to gain the musicianship and sophistication to produce works like “A Day in the Life,” “Penny Lane” and “Strawberry Fields Forever” is nearly astonishing.

There’s no sense of that wonder in “Yesterday,” and even less of the joy. Jack, the movie’s central character, possesses the knowledge of the Beatles catalog, but not the discipline the band’s members required to produce it. Despite his presumptive skill and experience as a musician, during Jack’s first solo appearance with his own band to perform one of “his” new compositions before an audience, the opening song (the 1965 hit “Help”) is almost laughably inept, hardly even worthy of a suburban teenage garage band.

Additionally, despite the movie’s premise there’s never any real sense of the band’s eventually modifying world culture. The impact of The Beatles extended beyond popular music, and eventually affected world culture. To begin with, without The Beatles there likely would’ve been no Rolling Stones, Woodstock, Michael Jackson, or long hair on men--all details mentioned in the film as having occurred anyway.

Worse, in a movie which turns on the audience’s liking the central character, Himesh Patel’s Jack Malik becomes almost painfully unsympathetic, and even unlikable. To be successful as a persuasive dramatic narrative, the movie has to show us plainly why the lovable Lily James as Ellie follows her musician crush, and encourages him to persist in his pursuit of success in music. Instead, the audience falls in love with Lily James as Ellie, and vaguely wishes she’d come to her senses and dump Jack, maybe find a guy who’s a little more attentive and caring.

Of Jack’s musical work without the spirit of The Beatles on his shoulder, Kate McKinnon as the Mephistophelean manager Debra delivers the picture’s best line: “I hate it...but I’m not interested enough to listen to it again to find out why.” It’s a great line, but she might also be describing the picture’s plot development, or even the movie’s central character.

In the end, Jack’s decision, and the path of his soul, is made easy by a piece of advice he receives from a familiar countenance indeed. Led by an address slipped to him by a fan, Jack arrives at the door of an aging, reclusive artist living in a remote seaside cottage on the periphery of society. The old artist shares with the conflicted young man the culmination of his long years of experience: “Tell the girl you love you love her,” the old man advises Jack, “and tell the truth whenever you can.” Come to think of it, that’s what those four guys were telling us all along.

Directed by the talented and eclectic Danny Boyle, the filmmaker behind 1996’s “Trainspotting” and 2008’s “Slumdog Millionaire,” from a screenplay by the equally-talented Richard Curtis, the writer behind 1999’s “Notting Hill” and 2003’s “Love Actually,” “Yesterday” is entertaining enough, but richly unsatisfying. The picture ultimately presents viewers with more questions than answers. For fans of the Beatles--and honestly, if there weren’t millions of us, there’d be no movie--”Yesterday” might inspire a sense of disquiet, and possibly a feeling of blasphemy.

One character is exactly correct when she observes toward the end of the picture, “A world without The Beatles is a world that’s infinitely worse.” But at the same time, the picture’s premise and structure begs a question: If a single musician were really able to compose the whole of The Beatles’ catalog of songs before even releasing his first record album, what in the world would he do for an encore?

“Yesterday” is rated PG-13 for suggestive content and language concerns.

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Rich Whitcomb

Finally, A New Original Movie!

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2019

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I love seeing new movie's that are original and not a lousy knockoff of other movie's. I loved this move SO much that I had to give it 5 stars and nothing less! The plot was awesome, the acting was terrific, and the message they give is also superb! The ending was predictable, but I can look past that being so enjoyable and original. Himesh Patel (Jack Malik) and Lily James (Ellie Appleton) were perfect together in this movie. After watching this movie, I couldn't think of anybody better to play those roles. I'm not going to say anything else in order not to ruin this, but I very highly recommend this movie , even if you're not a Beatle's fan.

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Person of Interest

Astounding!

Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2019

I saw the movie yesterday (no pun intended) and preordered the 4K version today. Himesh Patel's voice is so clean and clear and provides a fresh rendition of the Beatles best songs. Loved the music and the story but hope they produce an extended release with full versions of most of the songs. There are some songs I wish they had included but for the most part, the song list was representative of the whole of the Beatles' music career. The one part in the movie that brought me to tears was the visit to the cottage by the sea which dearly left me wondering, "what if".

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RON B.

Must see for any Beatles fan

Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2019

Wow, the movie of the year. Great acting with a perfect story that used great Beatles songs perfectly throughout.

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Martin Smith

Disappointed

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2020

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The DVD came from USA and will not play in a UK machine. Can’t understand why a UK resident was sent a DVD that will not play here as it from a different region.

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ようこうじ

※※『日本語字幕はありません』※※

Reviewed in Japan on December 1, 2019

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日本語音声だけでなく日本語字幕もありません。海外では無く、日本で販売されている物を購入したのに驚きです。
アプリでは字幕には一切触れていません。PCでは最近になって表示が追加された様に思います。
何故、この様な販売方法を取るのかが理解できません。訳の分からないDVDも入っていますがリージョンが違うとエラーになります。
洋画はAmazonで買うのをやめます。

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schnuffelm

Öde

Reviewed in Germany on February 1, 2020

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Die Idee hätte durchaus das Potenzial gehabt, etwas Nettes daraus zu machen. So bleibt ein stinklangweiliger Film, der sich dahin schleppt. Wer Beatles-songs erwartet, wird herb enttäuscht, es sind nur ein paar angespielte Klassiker und die auch noch echt mies interpretiert. Dazu noch eine 08/15 Love-story, die es schon 100mal gegeben hat.
Ganz schwach.

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Doktor von Pain

Ordentliche Musikkomödie mit ein paar Schwächen

Reviewed in Germany on March 4, 2020

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Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) ist ein erfolgloser Singer-Songwriter, der sich mit Gelegenheitsjobs über Wasser hält. Die Einzige, die wirklich an ihn glaubt, ist seine gute Freundin und "Managerin" Ellie Appleton (Lily James). Während eines mysteriösen weltweiten Stromausfalls wird wird Jack von einem Bus angefahren - und danach ist die Welt nicht mehr dieselbe: Bis auf Jack scheint kein einziger Mensch mehr die Beatles zu kennen, sämtliche Spuren der wohl größten Band aller Zeiten sind verschwunden. Jack kann eine Handvoll der (einstmals) bekanntesten Beatles-Songs spielen, nun glauben alle, er hätte die Stücke geschrieben. Eines Tages wird er von dem berühmten Musiker Ed Sheeran (als er selbst) entdeckt, was Jacks Karriere mächtig ankurbelt. Bald ist er kurz davor, einer der größten Popstars aller Zeiten zu werden. Darunter leidet jedoch seine Beziehung zu Ellie, außerdem ist sein Repertoire an Beatles-Songs leider begrenzt...

Yesterday ist ein 2019 erschienener Film von Danny Boyle (Regie) und Richard Curtis (Drehbuch). Der Streifen vereint Komödie, Musikfilm und Liebesgeschichte miteinander. Die originelle, beinahe schon märchenhafte Geschichte hat zwar viel Herz, bleibt über weite Strecken aber auch ziemlich oberflächlich. Vor allem zum Ende hin wird mir der Teil mit der Liebesgeschichte eine ganze Ecke zu schmalzig, wobei ich aber sagen muss, dass ich Liebesfilmen selten etwas abgewinnen kann. Dafür bietet Yesterday einige wirklich komische Momente und natürlich tolle Musik. Nun habe ich in einer Kritik gelesen, dass bemängelt wurde, dass ja nur ein paar der bekanntesten Beatles-Songs auftauchen und man keinen tieferen Einblick in das Schaffen der Band bekommt. Diese Kritik finde ich aber unsinnig, denn Jack ist schließlich nicht der größte Beatles-Fan, er kennt halt nur einige der Songs - und das sind eben die bekanntesten, was ja völlig realistisch ist. Wie dem auch sei: Yesterday kann man durchaus mal gesehen haben, ein Muss ist der Film aus meiner Sicht jedoch nicht. Bild und Ton der Blu-ray gehen absolut in Ordnung, auch einen Schwung Extras gibt's.

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Allesleserin

Guter Film, den man auch mehrmals ansehen kann

Reviewed in Germany on December 9, 2019

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Auf diesen Film hatte ich mich aufgrund des Trailers schon sehr gefreut und die DVD auch gleich zum Erscheinungstermin vorbestellt. Da das Drehbuch von Richard Curtis ("Tatsächlich...Liebe") ist, war die Erwartung natürlich recht hoch. Im Grunde wurde ich auch nicht allzu sehr enttäuscht - der Film ist schon sehenswert und hat auch ein paar wirklich mitreißende sowie komische Szenen. Allerdings fehlt doch der gewisse Pep, und zwischendurch weist die Story auch ein paar Längen auf.

Die eigentlichen Start des Films sind für mich Rocky, Gavin und Jacks Eltern. Amüsant fand ich, Ellise Chappell, die bei Poldark die Morwenna spielt, als Ellies Freundin wiederzusehen. Solche kleinen Entdeckungen sind für mich immer noch ein zusätzliches i-Tüpfelchen.

Im Großen und Ganzen ist es schon ein recht guter Film, den man sich auch noch ein paarmal öfter ansehen kann.

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Marcbad

Manca lingua italiana!

Reviewed in Italy on December 31, 2019

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Al contrario di quanto riportato sul sito e sulla copertina del blu ray 4K, mancano sia l'audio sia i sottotitoli in italiano. Le uniche lingue presenti sono tedesco, inglese e turco.

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potterengel

Überraschungs Wohlfühlfilm

Reviewed in Germany on January 12, 2020

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Ich war und bin ein sehr großer Beatles Fan. Daher tu ich mich normalerweise mit jeglichen Versuchen die genialen Originale zu kopieren oder neu aufzulegen eher schwer.
So war ich auch bei dem Film mehr als skeptisch

Dann hab ich ihn mir aber doch im Kino angesehen und war sehr positiv überrascht. Ich finde ihn nicht nur musikalisch toll gelungen sondern auch sehr liebevoll, warmherzig, humorvoll und vor allen Dingen in keinster Weise durch Klamauk oder gewollt und nicht gekonnt herabwürdigend was die Musik und die Genialität der Beatles angeht

Ich selber gehöre schon, da Jahrgang 68, zu der nächsten Generation Beatles da ich sie nun nie selbst erlebt habe.
Und so war es toll zu sehen das dieser Film Menschen der Über Übernächsten Generation einen neuen und positiven Zugang zu dieser Band und ihrer Musik bekommen.

Gut, ein paar Dinge sind unrealistisch und/oder etwas übertrieben aber das macht meinem Empfinden nach gar nicht so viel aus.
Vielmehr liebt und leidet man hier mit dem Hauptdarsteller mit in seinem Bemühen etwas was so bewegend und toll im eigenen Leben ist bzw war nicht in Vergessenheit geraten und auch anderen zukommen zu lassen.

Eine der besten Szenen ist für mich die, wo er (voll Ehrfurcht, Emotionen, Stolz und Freude) versucht seinen Eltern bzw auch noch einem Freund der Familie "Let it be" vorzuführen und diese zwar wohlwollend aber alltagstypisch reagiert und man selbst mitleidet mit der kopfschüttelnden Frage "WARUM NUR??? WAS MACHT IHR DA???"

Aber sie haben halt noch nie etwas von den Beatles oder ihrer Musik gehört...

Und der Schluss ist zwar auch ein wenig "Hollywood like" (auch wenn es ein britischer Film ist) aber die Vorstellung seiner letzten Begegnung hat mir persönlich schon ein wenig die Tränen ins Gesicht gezaubert...
Wie wünschenswert wäre das.....

Ich habe mir den Film dann noch ein zweites mal im Kino angesehen, dazu zwei Freundinnen mitgenommen, die auch eher pessimistisch eingestellt waren und beide waren genauso positiv überrascht und begeistert.

Somit war klar das ich ihn mir als DVD kaufen musste

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Amazon Customer

Guter Familienfilm, unterhaltsam-lustig

Reviewed in Germany on November 23, 2019

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Wir haben den Film voller Spannung sofort nach Erhalt angeschaut und wurden gut unterhalten. Die Grundidee ist super, wenn auch ähnlich unrealistisch wie z. B. bei"Er ist wieder da". Aber wenn man sich darauf einlässt, ist es ein lustiger, musikalisch abwechslungsreicher Streifen. Einzig die typische American-Lovestory, die schließlich zur Läuterung des sympathischen Helden führt, nervt etwas. Der moralische Zeigefinger steht ausgerechnet den USA derzeit nicht.

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Lizzy

Ok, aber nicht als Kauf!

Reviewed in Germany on November 16, 2019

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Ich wurde relativ gut unterhalten, mein Mann und meine Kinder fanden den Film so langweilig das sie den Raum verließen!
Zum Kauf nicht zu empfehlen!
Kurzweilige Unterhaltung, mehr leider nicht!
Schade, wir haben den Film extra vorbestellt...

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Tornado

Molto deluso.

Reviewed in Germany on April 8, 2020

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Le 3 stelle che ho dato non sono per l'opera cinematografica che ne merita comunque 5,ma per la parte tecnica e precisamente quella audio che non contiene ne nel Blu Ray ne nel Blu Ray UHD 4K,come eroneamente descritto sulla copertina, cercate di correggerla perche questa è fuorviante. Meno male che capisco qualcosa di Inglese, altrimenti ve lo avrei restituito.

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C. U. B.

Schöner unterhaltsamer Film

Reviewed in Germany on March 25, 2020

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Ein Filme bei dem ich jetzt nicht völlig begeistert und fasziniert zurück bleibe, aber durchaus unterhalten wurde. DIe Musik ist hervorragend und der Film als solches ist lustig und mach Spaß.

Empfehlenswert

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Lena

Toller Film

Reviewed in Germany on May 4, 2020

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Der Film schafft es die Beatles Klassiker toll einzubinden.
Er ist an vielen Stellen echt lustig, an einigen aber auch schön emotional.
Eine lustige Idee die Beatles Songs für einen Film zu verwenden ohne eine "Beatles Biografie" zu verfilmen, wie es ja zur Zeit bei einigen anderen Musikern/ Bands gemacht wird. Tolle Abwechslung!

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José Mª Nieves Andrés

Sólo alemán, turco e italiano

Reviewed in Spain on May 12, 2020

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Cuidado! A pesar de anunciarse en castellano, opiniones de clientes incluidas, la película sólo está en alemán, turco e italiano. Ni subtítulos tiene en español. Ya se que dice entre paréntesis Alemania, pero uno espera qu ennun bluray europeo tenga muchos más idiomas. En ningún sitio puedes ver los idiomas disponibles. Tal vez sea culpa mía, pero muy defraudado. No la recomiendo para nada.

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M09

Impossibile selezionare italiano

Reviewed in Italy on December 7, 2019

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Purtroppo devo confermare quanto già detto nelle altre recensioni: nonostante la traccia audio e i sottotitoli in italiano siano fisicamente presenti sul disco, è impossibile selezionarli. Non compaiono nel menu iniziale dei dischi (né sul Blu-ray, né sul 4K) e non sono presenti tra le lingue disponibili durante la visione del film.

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Butsch

Unsterbliche Hits !!

Reviewed in Germany on March 5, 2020

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Nette Lovestory, eingebettet durch die Musik der Fab Four. Hatte mir aufgrund des zuvor gehörten Soundtrack zum Film eine hohe Erwartungshaltung aufgebaut, die der Film dann doch nicht ganz erfüllen konnte..... auf jeden Fall kurzweilig..... somit noch 4 Sterne !!

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