Backbeat

Stephen Dorff, shut up and stay in The Beatles.

I really liked this, it's a well-told tale of a favorite band.

What I always loved most about this film is the soundtrack. It's one of the best soundtracks of all time. Its modern take on 50's rockabilly music is the perfect accent for this period film. Dave Pirner, and Greg Dulli in particular, despite only having their voices in the film, sure add a lot, as there's a lot of music in the film, but it's never in vain, forced or annoying. Softley uses the performances to showcase chemistry. The cast isn't captivating, but it's otherwise pretty decent.

Focuses on relationship between John Lennon and his best friend Stu Sutcliffe and their time together in Hamburg. Story and acting are OK but it's kinda dull overall. It doesn't even appeal to Beatles fans all that much as it isn't about them. Horrible choice with Dave Grohl (whom I'm a big fan of) covering the songs in the style of punk/grunge - just didn't work. The musical that came out a few years ago, which oddly enough was based on this movie, is MUCH better!

A well-told look at the Beatles story with a few good young actors in it. The film is stronger for focussing on Stuart Sutcliffe and his relationships with the band, his art, and Hamburg, rather than the typical John-Paul duo that everyone knows and expects. Although a tragedy, the story is not very dark or psychological, and focuses more on the fun things that alive young men enjoy: sex, drugs and rock'n'roll. Sheryl Lee is particularly mesmeric, and of course there is a fabulous soundtrack.

#90s#, story, Sheryl L

Interesting take, but ultimately the main character is not nearly as interesting as the others he surrounds himself with.

It's dullsville. It may be because the film focuses on Stu Sutcliffe and his story is simply less interesting. It could be because Dorff, a mediocre actor utterly lacking in charisma, was chosen to play him. The screenplay inserts a few apocryphal details, but its mostly flatly straightforward. Hart delivers a nice, if somewhat predictable, characterization of John Lennon as a grouchy wiseacre tempered by an ambitious brilliance.

Great music, compelling story, and decent acting. Definitely a good movie for Beatles fans.

I started watching the movie not realizing that one of the main characters was John Lennon. I became interested because I didn't know there was a biopic about the Beatles. Well, there still isn't. This movie teases us into thinking that it's about The Beatles but it's really about Stuart Sutcliffe, the man who was kicked out of the Beatles before they hit it big. Ultimately, I was disappointed that the movie ended up being about him as I found the character uninteresting.

Not bad.