20 Comments

Thanks Beth (and Faith). I wanted to watch this and feel like I've watched it now, which is cool. It looks like a lot of fun. Himesh Patel is great, isn't he? That 'Back In The USSR' gig is really funny! And the ruthless agent, yes, looks like the actress is really enjoying herself. The other two trailers don't do much for me. Enjoyed my visit to this webpage anyway :)

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Thanks for stopping by! And for your words. Himesh Patel is fantastic.

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Just rewatched β€œYesterday” and so disappointing. So many favs but β€œNo Reply” is in my top ten and β€œI Feel Fine” for the serendipity of the feedback intro.

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Thanks Michael. Ooh. I’ll have to check out β€œNo Reply”. What’s the thing that disappoints the most?

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"No Reply" of course is the fav Beatles song (you haven't heard it? hrm.) As for "Yesterday" the movie, didn't Richard Curtis write it with Danny Boyle directing? Or did Boyle write and direct? I love most Curtis films (except for "Love Actually") so the big disappointment is once you finish watching "Yesterday" it's a big shrug. So what. The music business. The what if? Not particularly interesting, at least to me.

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β€œLove Actually” is the worst. And yes to Curtis though truthfully the only one of his films I really liked (and had a lot to do with my life at the time - had just lost my mother) was β€œFour Weddings and a Funeral” In fact the Auden poem in the film that John Hannah (love him) recites was my β€œquote” inscription on my senior high yearbook page. But yeah β€œNotting Hill” is shlock

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The best thing about "Notting Hill" is how it's Hugh Grant's film to win or lose and I'm partial to how deftly he made dialogue decisions. There are moments in it where I was truly charmed. But that's just me.

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Maybe I’ll have to go back and rewatch. Any scene(s) in particular?

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How he reacts when he first meets Anna Scott is impressive. I've met celebs before and the way he reacts (nonchalance) helps put everyone at ease, much like I'd strive to do. It's a lesson in civility. It's peppered throughout the movie. I think it's what the character of Anna Scott falls in love with about William (Hugh) since it's so lacking in her world. Guess it's lacking in mine so I'm along for the ride and mostly enjoying it. Yeah, give it a revisit.

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Mar 30Liked by Beth Lisogorsky

I have always loved this movie, finding the sentiment in the silly.

In fact, a few years ago on the site, I declared this the best Beatles movie ever:

β€œI understand that the film is flawed, let’s get that out of the way. On top of the fact that it takes more than the average amount of belief suspension, the Ed Sheeran to Ana De Armas ratio is criminally lopsided, the Cordens and McKinnons poo a little too much on the sentimentality, and the fact that it sets up a β€œWonderwall” joke that it never finishes is a complete breach of trust between filmmaker and audience. I recognize these flaws.

But there’s something about it that just feels right to me: the passion and love the movie has for the music of The Beatles.”

Here’s the rest, for anyone interested: https://featurepresentationvideo.substack.com/p/yesterday-2019-the-best-beatles-movie-ae63c7b90d66?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Thanks for a fun read, Beth.

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Thanks Patrick. Will check out your piece! How fun!!

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Mar 30Liked by Beth Lisogorsky

Beatles superfan here and I loved this movie, warts and all. I think it works for me simply because it evokes the joy of the music itself. I also give the movie credit for the ending. It didn't wrap up in the way I expected, which was refreshing! Ohh and Kate McKinnon--so hilarious!

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Thanks for sharing Morgan. This is my second time seeing it and it’s one of those films I could watch again and again. Partially because I love Himesh Patel and Lily James (the leads) but also for sheer enjoyment of the music (the joy, as you mention). Kate McKinnon is always comedic gold.

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Mar 30Liked by Beth Lisogorsky

I must say that I somewhat disagree with Faith. Yes this is probably the most influential band ever, but they did not exist in a vacuum, and they themselves were influenced by other musicians of their time. So if there was no Beatles, there would have been something else. After all, they didn't invent music...

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Well, this is the thing with pull quotes, yes? It's impossible to distill the work I've done over the past years into a single paragraph, though I did try for Beth's sake :-).

The question you raise is the central premise I'm unpacking in detail in the upcoming 12-episode podcast (still in progress, release date hopefully July). I'd love to have you along -- agree or disagree, I think you might find it interesting. 🎸

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I think that this discussion is being had in the first place is a testament to the staying power of The Beatles. And Danny Boyles’ intent in posing an alternative universe along the theme of β€œwhat if they never existed” to a mainstream audience is an artistic itch that was waiting to be scratched. The playlist alone made one nostalgic.

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