# Yesterday (2019 film) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [February 18, 2019, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769 "2019-02-18T15:45:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/141 "2019-11-20T16:36:49Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I recently rewatched _Otherworld_. It is really, really, really, really bad. Seemed pretty cool when I was 12… ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/142 "2019-11-20T17:26:54Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Also, you have to presume he’s adding some modern production. Or even just going unplugged can make any melody sound contemporary if there’s no jarringly anachronistic lyrics. I actually liked the punk rock version of Help! He did leave in the anachronistic lyrics of Back in the USSR. Aside from the titular country, BOAC went the way of the dodo 17 years before the fall of the Soviet Union. On the other hand, if there ever was a time Russia would like to be back in the USSR, now would be it. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/143 "2019-11-20T17:31:52Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Already been done. > > [Otherworld](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0667370/?ref_=ttep_ep4) > > “In the Centrex province, Trace and Gina introduce rock ‘n’ roll music, and record songs written by the Beatles and other classic artists.” > > Everything old is new again. Especially if people forget the first time. > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > One more note–[the Otherworld episode is on YouTube.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYwbNErMdkw) (They started with _I Want to Hold Your Hand_, not Yesterday.) OMG, I had this vague memory of some Sci-Fi show from my teens using this premise… although I’ll stop short of thanking you for reminding me! 😃 > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > …I commented to her that, were we in the same situation, it would be much easier to recall McCartney songs than Lennon songs. Forget Eleanor Rigby, unless you’re a Beatles fanatic, can you remember all of I Am The Walrus without help? Goo goo gajoob, baby. ??? One of the ongoing issues for Jack throughout the film was trying to remember all the music and lyrics. There’s even a couple of instances where he can’t and substitutes his own. The woman who gives him Lennon’s address even mentions how he made a mess of Eleanor Rigby, I believe. I had planned on seeing this eventually but my 12 year old (who is a huge Beatles fan BTW) insisted we go. I was pleasantly surprised. I liked it, it brought back a lot of my nostalgia and love for The Beatles. Good film, yes. Is it Oscar worthy, no. Apparently, everyone, including myself, were surprised at the amount of the Beatles library was made available for the film by Sony. No one more than Sir Paul, who launched a lawsuit for copywright. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/144 "2019-11-20T18:03:12Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > Apparently, everyone, including myself, were surprised at the amount of the Beatles library was made available for the film by Sony. No one more than Sir Paul, who launched a lawsuit for copywright. My understanding was that Danny Boyle sought the blessings of the remaining Beatles (and, I think, Harrison and Lennon’s widows) and they granted it. So they were aware of what he planned to do. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/145 "2019-11-20T18:08:44Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > ??? One of the ongoing issues for Jack throughout the film was trying to remember all the music and lyrics. There’s even a couple of instances where he can’t and substitutes his own. The woman who gives him Lennon’s address even mentions how he made a mess of Eleanor Rigby, I believe. It was Eleanor Rigby he couldn’t remember (Father McKenzie, picks up the rice…No…), but the two others who remembered the Beatles complained he got Mr Kite all mixed up. Though ER was by Paul, and Mr K was by John, messing up my theory, he should have had no trouble with ER. It’s very straightforward. Compared to: Semolina Pilchard Climbing up the Eiffel tower Elementary penguin singing Hare Krishna Man, you should have seen them kicking Edgar Allen Poe or: Always, no, sometimes think it’s me But you know I know when it’s a dream I think, er, no, I mean, er, yes But it’s all wrong That is I think I disagree ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/146 "2019-11-20T20:02:47Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > My understanding was that Danny Boyle sought the blessings of the remaining Beatles (and, I think, Harrison and Lennon’s widows) and they granted it. So they were aware of what he planned to do. True, Danny Boyle got the family’s blessing… but that is irrelevant when it comes copyright ownership. ``` McCartney's 2017 lawsuit against Sony claiming ownership was set to take effect in September with a list of Paul's songs reverting back to him. The release date of *Yesterday* was moved up about 6 months to avoid any legal implications. ``` ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/147 "2019-11-20T22:31:10Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > Apparently, everyone, including myself, were surprised at the amount of the Beatles library was made available for the film by Sony. No one more than Sir Paul, who launched a lawsuit for copywright. When he was handed the slip of paper, I thought this might be where we get a brief scene with Paul McCartney, but I guess that’s why not. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/148 "2019-11-20T23:20:46Z")
Honestly, the scene had more emotional impact for showing Lennon still alive. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/149 "2019-11-20T23:53:59Z")
Oh, totally. I just figured that a McCartney cameo would have been neat and guessed that might be what was next as I was watching it. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/150 "2019-11-21T02:14:57Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > I thought that was interesting too, although I can see why they cut it. Because the other possibility isn’t that _she_ isn’t the only one to remember Harry Potter, but that his universe with the Beatles didn’t have Harry Potter. Since it’s a little confusing, it’s a lot less clean than the ending they went with. See, that’s something I wondered about, the second time I watched. There would have to be something in this universe that didn’t exist in the one with the Beatles/HP/cigarettes/Coca-Cola. A different rock band, different book/movie series, different soft drink, clothing item, slang term, that everyone else is familiar with and Jack has never heard of. I know, I know: it’s not alternate history, it’s a romantic comedy with music. Which is why I like but don’t love this film. Too much weight was put on the love story. In fact, part of why that was irritating was that I couldn’t figure out why Jack had been friend-zoned. He and Lily were **too** well-suited to each other, which eliminated the will-they-won’t-they tension. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/151 "2019-11-21T02:31:54Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > Oh, totally. I just figured that a McCartney cameo would have been neat and guessed that might be what was next as I was watching it. Especially when he drives out to a farm… … I was thinking about the _Ram_ album, and all the photos of the sheep farm where Paul and Linda lived. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/152 "2019-11-21T04:11:04Z")
Cute enough, though we questioned the choice of the lead actor. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/153 "2019-11-21T14:49:05Z")
> [@DummyGladHands](#): > > Cute enough, though we questioned the choice of the lead actor. Really…why? I think most agree, Himesh Patel was a great choice. He is fairly well-known in the UK due to a 10 year stint on the soap _EastEnders_ is a Beatles fan and can play piano and guitar. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/154 "2019-11-21T15:38:59Z")
[Geoff Bennett](https://twitter.com/GeoffRBennett/status/1197484807283822593), _NBC News_: > [@](#): > > Fiona Hill will tell Congress that domestic partisan politics have driven a “fictional alternative narrative” about Ukraine that is “misguided” and wrong, a source familiar tells NBC. Hill will also warn about the threat to the democracy posed by Moscow. [Josh Lederman](https://twitter.com/JoshNBCNews/status/1197534559434366977), _NBC News_: > [@](#): > > Fiona Hill testifies that Putin and his underlings operate “like a super PAC,” pouring in money to divide Americans [Josh Dawsey](https://twitter.com/jdawsey1/status/1197535719184576515), _Washington Post_: > [@](#): > > “This is exactly what the Russian government was hoping for … that they would pit one side of our electorate against the other,” Fiona Hill says, adding that the Russians just want Americans to question the legitimacy of any president & create chaos. [David Lauter](https://twitter.com/DavidLauter/status/1197535638758793217), _LA Times_: > [@](#): > > “The goal of the Russians” is to put any U.S. president “under a cloud” by delegitimizing the presidency, itself, Fiona Hill says. Their goal is to “have everybody questioning” the system. [Jonathan Lemire](https://twitter.com/JonLemire/status/1197167558169956352), _AP_: > [@](#): > > “Thank God,” Putin told an economic forum in the Russian capital on Wednesday, “no one is accusing us of interfering in the U.S. elections anymore; now they’re accusing Ukraine.” ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/155 "2019-11-21T16:57:32Z")
So–Putin was the same in _Yesterday_? ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/156 "2019-11-21T17:07:40Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > So–Putin was the same in _Yesterday_? I posted in the wrong thread and have reported the post for deletion. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/157 "2019-11-21T17:11:27Z")
And all your troubles seemed so far away! ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/158 "2019-11-21T17:18:29Z")
Now it looks as though it’s here to stay. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/159 "2019-11-21T17:53:29Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > In fact, part of why that was irritating was that I couldn’t figure out why Jack had been friend-zoned. He and Lily were **too** well-suited to each other, which eliminated the will-they-won’t-they tension. Yeah, I thought that was the biggest flaw in the movie. As his roadie friend says “I never understood what you didn’t see in her.” There needed to be something that was keeping them apart. It seemed like what it was _supposed_ to be was his sense of inferiority: that he didn’t feel he was successful enough for her. That sets up a nice conflict where his desire to succeed drives him further into the lie but finds that it’s hollow and doesn’t make him feel more worthy. They… almost made that movie. But they screwed up the first part. Sure, he feels like a failure as a musician, but there’s no real indication that that’s why he isn’t with Lily. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769/160 "2019-11-21T18:43:06Z")
BTW, the roadie friend reminded me of Spike from Notting Hill, played by Rhys Ifans. (Richard Curtis seems to have a formula.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yesterday-2019-film/829769.md?page=9)