More than just Brilliant!

Rating: 10/10 (5 November 2008)

I didn't much care for this film the first time I saw it, however during the second viewing, I began to understand what the director had intended and in subsequent viewings, I grew to not only just love it, but admire it's brilliance! With the exception of one or two songs, the story is not driven just to include another Beatles song....rather each song chosen ENHANCES the storyline. And thankfully for CGI (or whatever, Salma Hykek portrays ALL five dancing/singing nurses at the same time. Eddie Izzard is truly great, in an almost impromptu performance of FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR KITE. The main performances, by mostly unknowns, all very well done. Never over the top. The singing is great (who know EVAN RACHEL WOOD could sing, too, after her stellar acting work in THIRTEEN). Jim Surgess, Joe Anderson and Dana Fuchs are wonders to behold and have great work ahead of them, too.
The is NOTHING not to like about this film. It does NOT exist for 30 music videos of Beatle music. The surviving Beatles (and Yoko and George Harrison's wife) loved the film, and it is easy to see why. This movie USES their music....it doesn't exist BECAUSE of the film.
A perfect evocation of the times and....well, just perfect!