He knows he now has an alternative to becoming a scholar. He can go the iconoclast rock star route a la Elvis Presley or Buddy Holly. In the film, he begins his life with a band using a real working class name: The Quarrymen. While this is before the days of Ringo Starr’s debut with the group, it does give us a glimpse into John’s early relationship with band members Paul McCartney and George Harrison.
Baby-faced Paul can read and write music and so can George. This leads to jealously on John's part. He resists incorporating them into his—emphasis on "his"—band. John is nobody’s fool and knows that this is the way to go—band members with musical training. These young guitars get gigs with their polished look and sound. With John's newfound confidence Paul can play musical tutor to the soon-to-be famous founder of The Beatles, John Lennon. The beauty of Nowhere Boy is what we learn about the sad and ugly genesis of a teenager who fits in nowhere yet achieves global fame.
Limited release, running time: 98 minutes Rating: PG-13 for drugs, sexual situations.
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