By Peter Covino

Entertainment Editor

If you ever wished you could go back in time to that fateful day when someone said, “John Lennon, I would like you to meet Paul McCartney,” Nowhere Boy is the film for you.

 Nowhere Boy is a nicely made British film that step backs in time to the 1950s, to the troubled youth of Lennon, when he was plagued with the mother issues that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Aaron Johnson gives a lot of believability as Lennon, ages approximately 17-19. Younger versions of Lennon also are shown in flashback, but the story here primarily deals with the former Beatle being raised by his Aunt Mimi, a prim and proper lady who loved her “adopted” son and his biological mother Julia, who was more about having fun than being a mom.

Amazingly, and for the betterment of the film, the historic moment of Paul meeting John for the very first time, is no big deal, most likely just as it was. Baby-faced Paul was just 15 at the time, and not given much credence by the older Lennon who already had put a band together, that is until he heard him play.

And while there are some musical interludes in Nowhere Boy, Lennon and various mates performing the hot British musical craze of the day, skiffle, most of the film deals with those relationships with his mom and aunt.

Lennon is portrayed as a sharp-witted, quick to temper kind of guy by director Sam Taylor-Wood. If you are a fan of Lennon or The Beatles, there probably isn't much here you don't already know, but screenplay, direction and acting seem to get it all right, right down to that nearby Liverpool park Strawberry Fields, later immortalized in song, as well as the Cavern, the club The Beatles made famous.

The actors/actresses here are probably unknown to American audiences (except Kristin Scott Thomas who plays Aunt Mimi) , but Aaron Johnson (Lennon) is definitely a rising star. Side note: he began a relationship with the director during filming and they now have a child.

Along with the Paul meet John scene, other highlights include Lennon’s first introduction to a man named Elvis in a newsreel at a movie theater and his relentless practicing on a banjo and eventually guitar, given to him by mom Julia.

Nowhere Boy opens in limited release in Central Florida this weekend at the Enzian Theater.

Critic's rating: B

Rated PG-13

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Planning a trip to movie-fan type trip to California in 2011?

Make sure you include the TCM Classic Film Festival. Festival tickets go on sale Nov. 3 for next year’s festival which will include a tribute to the film music of George and Ira Gershwin. The opening night gala features the 50th anniversary restoration of An American in Paris. Other highlights include the 70th anniversary restoration of Citizen Kane.

There are four levels of festival passes. If you purchase before Dec. 17 save $100 on the Matinee Pass, regularly $299.

Go to TCM.com/festival for the latest updates and more information.