Richard Curtis / Danny Boyle film, Yesterday

I liked some of this. (Don't go in wanting to hate it. You'll hate it.) The premise--clumsily brought into being--is worth pondering; definite affinities with Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood, in general and very specifically once. Thought some of the upside-down arrangements were good: "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You" as acoustic singer-songwriter, "Help" as something approaching punk, etc. The three songs that were confounding Jack, I thought there was interesting reading there, but when an explanation actually came, seems I was over-analyzing things. Drove me up the wall trying to place Lily James...didn't figure it out until I checked online. I'd see her in anything.

The biggest problem for me--not a small one--was Himesh Patel. Found him rather bland, not helped by a script that required he wear the same confused expression the entire film.

"an interesting"

So turns out Richard Curtis screwed the actual writer and ruined his script, massive shock at this revelation of course.

https://uproxx.com/movies/jack-barth-interview-yesterday-writer-richard-curtis/

This film needs a follow-up where Ed Sheeran - playing himself - wakes up one morning a nobody, then never gets beyond the pub circuit because his songs are so shit, despite telling everyone he played three nights at Wembley Stadium.

The thing that kills me about this story is that when the film came out everyone's reaction was "it would be much better if he didn't get famous instantly" and what do you know that's the original story, only in every Richard Curtis film everyone has to be wildly successful because his only mode is making nauseating low-key propoganda for the UK media establishment. Like every creative decision he ever makes invloves closing a door instead of opening one.

Like every creative decision he ever makes invloves closing a door instead of opening one.

otm and fwiw I have been on the receiving end of this in one particular instance although it was theatre so the stakes were much lower. I really feel for that writer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkqXyTwFt6g