Music stars often lead rocky lives, caught up in the glamor of sex, drugs, and fame, and are sometimes tragically lost before their time, making them perfect subject matter for an engrossing drama. As a result, notable stars like Johnny Cash, Elton John, and rock group Queen have all been the subject of some of cinema's most memorable biopics. There have also been a few underrated real-life stories centered on musicians, such as "Nowhere Boy," a 2009 biography of Beatles legend John Lennon.
Before rising to stardom in blockbuster movies like "Godzilla," and "Avengers: Age of Ultron," young actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson starred as the teenage Lennon. Portraying the musician's formative years, the film shows the future Beatle living with his extended family where he struggles with the death of his uncle. Eventually, to deal with his problems, Lennon turns to music and forms a band called the Quarrymen alongside a fellow guitar player named Paul McCartney (Thomas Sangster).
Though the early days of the Beatles are explored in the film, the real focus is on how his music helped him cope with the many problems in his youth, in particular his tumultuous relationship with his mother (Anne-Marie Duff) and Aunt Mimi (Kristin Scott Thomas). Though well-received, "Nowhere Boy" went almost entirely unseen when released, but was given high marks for its understated nature.
