PIC of the Week – Yesterday
Article series by Ray Schillaci
Once again, I have a PIC that spans over several weeks. Announcing, unabashedly, that not only did I love the Universal Pictures Home Entertainment release of Yesterday, I cried as well. Those were tears of sadness, joy, and elation. Director Danny Boyle, who has brought us to the very edge with films like Trainspotting and 28 Days Later, once again proves that he can be just as endearing and sweet as he was with Millions and Slumdog Millionaire. Now, I’ll warn you ahead of time, I am a romantic. And, those jaded may not feel as strong about this movie.
Boyle takes us through a series of powerhouse emotions along with his leads Himesh Patel as Jack Malik, a struggling singer/songwriter, and his roadie/agent and best friend Elle Appleton, played by Lily James. Coming back from a dismal gig, Jack is ready to hang it all up when the fates wreak havoc as a solar flare delivers the entire world a brief electrical blackout and causes a terrible traffic accident involving the singer. He awakens in a hospital missing his beloved beard, two front teeth, and soon he will discover the world is missing something as well…the Beatles. No Paul, John, George or Ringo. Their music gone as if it never existed.
Jack happens to be the only one that seems to remember the Fab Four and their music. What’s a struggling artist to do in a case like this? Jack tests the waters with the unknown legends’ music, and at first it still proves to be a bumpy and amusing ride. But, once he catches on, the world falls in love with him. Jack soon discovers that world is a very lonely place having cast aside the one person that believed in him from the beginning, his long time friend and manager, Elle. But, it proves to be a necessity of the business to launch his career, especially since she was never cut out to handle a music sensation.
As Jack plays bigger venues and becomes world famous as a one-man musical genius, he is haunted by his conscience. What if he’s discovered as a fraud? What if the Fab Four suddenly show up and demand the rights back to their music? What if somebody else out there knows what he’s doing? Between all the anxiety of fame, the possibility of being found out, and wrestling with his true feelings for his best friend and ex-manager, Jack is close to a meltdown.
Himesh Patel as Jack has us feel his struggle, defeat, and eventual elation as a musician finally heard by fans listening to him. It’s a beautifully grounded performance that easily captures our heart. Speaking of capturing hearts, Lily James is downright exquisite as Elle, Jack’s long time companion, fighter, and manager. She is so damn adorable and she captures the pain of losing not only a good friend, but perhaps a soul mate as well. These two have such a wondrous chemistry going on we cannot help but cheer them on.
Danny Boyle and his writing team, Jack Barth and Richard Curtis, keep us on the edge of our seats and delight us at the same time with this whimsical fantasy that’s every bit as enjoyable as other high-concept properties of the past: Back to the Future, Groundhog Day and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. In fact, there is such an air of innocence around Boyle’s film it practically plays out like a Frank Capra movie. Especially, one particular scene late in the movie that may make your jaw drop. That scene alone is worth the whole picture and brought me to tears. For those of you unfamiliar, Capra has a cannon of feel-good movies that became classics over the years including It’s a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It Happened One Night.
Visually, Boyle captures the feel of The Beatles and their music, and at the same time gives it a twist or two. The Blu delivers a great picture with all the luster supplied by the visual razzle dazzle and preserving the earthy look of the natural settings of the small English towns to the sharp contrast of sunny L.A. Skin tones are natural as are the night sequences. But, just when you think this picture cannot be improved upon, the 4K delivers an added punch worth the purchase. Why is that? Perhaps it’s the 8K source photography and the 4K digital intermediate.
That brings us right into the Dolby ATMOS sound that is provided by the 4K experience. The music score is rich and yet not overpowering the dialogue and quiet moments. This is a reference quality disc that can be played over and over again to impress family and friends. A pure cinematic joy.
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment gives us a delightful array of extras. The alternate ending has some enjoying it more than the original which I loved. This is a film that fell short with some critics, but audiences showered it with love. I urge all of you to see why and experience a whole new way of looking at The Beatles. The bonuses include:
¥ Audio Commentary with Danny Boyle and Richard Curtis
¥ Alternate Ending (3:10)
¥ 12 Deleted Scenes
¥ Live at Abbey Road Studios
¥ An Alternate Opening
¥ Gag Reel
¥ A Talented Duo
¥ Playing for Real
¥ Soul Mates
¥ Ed Sheeran: From Stadium to Screen
¥ Agent of Comedy: Kate McKinnon
¥ A Conversation with Richard & Ed
Lowest Price – $27.96 – 4K – Walmart
$29.96 – Blu – Walmart and Amazon
