Backbeat

Enough already! I get it. John and Stu were good friends and close. The movie didn't need to beat us to death suggesting gay tendencies. That was really overdone. And, was it directed by a 13 year old boy? How many sets of breasts did we need to see to prove the the sort of area the Reaperbahn was in the 60's? Sure, the Beatles had sex when they were there. It was readily available and they were just teenage boys away from any supervision, but did we REALLY have to see so much of it? It was a pathetic distraction from what is an amazing story on its own.This could have been such a good movie, but they blew it with such an immature vision of what they wanted.

An honest attempt to retrace the ambitious, youthful, and often turbulent times of a band that would alter the course of music as we have come to know it. A tall order indeed, because we fans love the Beatles and all of us key on certain ideas, beliefs, myths, along with our own perspectives of how we want our boys perceived. This movie came pretty close in capturing the Fab Four's youth and raw vitality while in their prime. We get a glimpse early on in their career honing their skills, living life's challenges before their unprecedented success and popularity. This movie was a must see for me, and is a part of my study of everything about them. Having said all that, the acting, and yes; the music was superb and very believable. I enjoyed this film for it's content and intended purpose, and also for the boost to my imagination, and memories of those four lads from Liverpool that rocked the world.

I liked this movie first time I saw it years ago. Glad to get the Blue Ray for a decent price on Amazon. Story of the Beatles in early years leading to their cusp of breakout stardom. Actor who played John Lennon gave an irreverent, excellent performance. Did not so much mimic Lennon but conveyed the wicked humor and underlying anger that Lennon carried with him, which would occasionally reveal itself. Stephen Dorff as Stu Sutcliff and Sherly Lee as his true love interest were both excellent. Vivid and exciting recreations of various very early Beatle performances in Hamburg and at the Cavern Club are big bonuses. "Mr. Postman" is the rocking highlight when you see the band really come together. I saw a definite subtext that begs the question: were the feeling Lennon had towards Stu Sutcliff bromance or something more? Fired Beatle Pete Best never gets a word of dialogue, much like the lack of respect he got in real life. Other Beatle actors also fine. Highly recommended movie for any Beatles fan!

I had seen the movie twice, when it had first come out, and was rather impressed. BUT, then, over the next many years, I have read nearly everything I could find about the early Beatles years, and Stu, Astrid, Klaus, etc. (I have not read the book by Stu's sister, and probablly won't.)'Backbeat' is sort of like the 'Harry Potter' movies; they are sort of well done, and sort of fun and easy to watch, (an hour or so of watching, rather than hours and hours of reading...) BUT the HP movies are often SO different from the books. Now, we can easily compare the HP books and movies, there they both are...it is WAY less easy to compare the 'Backbeat' movie, and all the books about Stu and the early Beatles; and too much is too different.Stu was already OUT of the band when they did the 'My Bonnie' recording. The Beatles had a much different sound than the movie group does. The Beatles went home seprately at the end of the first trip. The move to the 'Top Ten' was on their second trip. Stu had many, many attacks of headaches while living at Atrids home (and probably NEVER attacked Klaus and Astrid!!!). He died on the way to the hospital in her arms. Etc, etc, etc... The 'real' story, as best we can figure it out from many books is already a very real, very eventful, VERY emotional story. Why did the 'Backbeat' crew need to change so much?After watching the Harry Potter movies once or twice, you almost forget that they are INCORRECT, and you forget the REAL stories of the books. After watching 'Backbeat' once or a few too many times, you might start thinking that this really happened.A mostly fun movie, but too often too far from what probably really happened. It is a fantasy, NOT a documentary!!!

Terrific film about Stuart Sutcliffe - examining his friendship with John Lennon, become a Beatle, meeting Astrid Kirchher and eventually following his heart to become an artist. His sudden death was just another abandonment for Lennon, who was in London at the time. He did not learn of Sutcliffe's death until he returned with the Beatles to Germany. Terrific acting performances. The movie has aged very well in 25 years and is a terrific addition to any Beatles fan's collection.

Saw it when it first came out, years ago, and was fascinated by it. It's not the greatest movie ever made, but if you're a Beatles fan, it's an interesting one. We tend to forget that the Beatles were at one time just kids, trying to put a band together, play in front of an audience and inching toward becoming "The Beatles" as we know them today. They were punks playing 'Long Tall Sally" and other cover tunes in dive Hamburg bars in between strip shows. Layer in the story of Stu Sutcliffe, and it's a well-rounded tale. The actors are good, the accents are passable and there are moments of triumph and tragedy. Worth watching if you're a music fan.

This is probably one of my favorite "Non-Beatle" Beatles movie (along with "Yesterday" and "Across The Universe") Although it's not 100% factual, it still showed the friendship between Stu Sutcliff and John Lennon to an amazing degree. Kudos to all the actors in this movie. They nailed their characters head on.

One of my favorite 'non-Beatle' movies. Well portrayed, historically faithful with a well rendered soundtrack. The story of how they honed their craft, the influences of Astrid, Klaus and Stu Sutcliffe are oft overlooked: 'footnotes', in the development of The Beatles legend.

Superb film of the Hamburg period of The Beatles...Oh, No! Actually a story centering on Stu Sutcliffe and Astrid Kirkherr...but it manages to kill two birds with one stone, if you will forgive the inelegant analogy. Well acted and superbly cast, this film takes some beating. Forget the physical resemblances to the real characters, the personalities of the three core Beatles are so accurately depicted that Cynthia Lennon was bowled over when she saw the film with her son Julian. "That is what your Dad was like!" she is supposed to have remarked. The loving couple, Astrid Kirkherr (Sheryl Lee) and Stu (Stephen Dorff) are touching, and believable. Kudos to both for their credible German and Liverpudlian personas respectively. The music is also brilliantly performed by 1990s rock talents. Very atmospheric, since it is shot in many of the very same locations as the historical actions occurred...even down to Dorff leaning in the same tree that Kikherr had photographed the real-life Sutcliffe up against. Some have lamented the absence of Lennon/ McCartney material; doubtless a copyright problem...but there wasn't that much around pre-1963, and the original band made do mostly with cover material.

This is not intended to be just a film about The Beatles, it is primarily a film about Stuart Sutcliffe and Astrid Kirchherr although The Beatles can scarcely not be a major part of the story. The actors playing Stuart and Astrid are brilliantly chosen and I have to disagree with those reviewers who cannot see much, if any, likeness for those playing the other Beatles. Lennon is good but McCartney is, well, McCartney. Check out the scene where Paul first appears. Check the actors for yourself by looking at Astrid's original photos from the time - they're on the internet. Character-wise, John Lennon comes across as having one very serious chip on his shoulder but I believe that is pretty accurate. Backbeat is well acted all round and Iain Softley doe an excellent job with directing. The soundtrack is superb but as the actual band playing the songs includes the likes of Dave Grohl this should not come as a surprise to many. At £5 this film is an absolute bargain and is a welcome update for my old Laser Disc. If it ever gets a Blu-Ray release I'll buy it again.

The film focuses on Stuart Sutcliffe and his relation with both John Lennon and Astrid Kirsherr and hence his modest part in The Beatles before they hit the big time. Excellent play with true scouse accent by the Liverpudlians to further underline the realism of working class Liverpool youths. The Beatles play on stage in Hamburg - in the film only American rock'n'roll standards (probably a license issue with the owner of Lennon/McCartney material) - nevertheless the music is brilliant in spite of the fact that the actors cannot play the instruments, but it all adds to the atmosphere in the film and indeed adds to understanding the sort of pressure The Beatles were actually under during those busy days. The film is highly recommended to any Beatle-enthusiast out there who would like to get an insight into the early Beatles days and how things began.To get an even broader view of this period, I can also recommend the film Nowhere Boy, in which the very young John Lennon is excellently portrayed before The Beatles made it big.

Great film. Apart from the obvious story there are many other stories and themes within this film in addition to many moving moments. In my opinion one of THE best films of all time and amongst my most favourite films. I only wish I could watch this film again for the very first time.

This is the story of "the fifth Beatle" - Stuart Sufcliffe - who was friends with John Lennon. Stuart was in on the Beatles earlier concerts and was prepared to play second fiddle to the group until they went to Hamburg and he saw and fell in love with a German girl and so leaves the biggest rock and roll band in the world. That basically is the story of "Backbeat" which contains some great Beatles songs and also has a powerful story line. The actors portray the "Fab Four" very well and praise must be given to Stephen Dorff who plays Stuart and Ian Hart who portrays the young John Lennon. If you are a Beatles fan and have not seen this then get it and watch this excellent film. If you are not a fan and wonder what all the fuss is about then this is a good introduction to them Either way. Buy it and enjoy it.