Backbeat [DVD] [1994] | ![Backbeat [DVD] [1994]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51W6K9469XL._SL160_.jpg) | Director: Iain Softley
Actors: Stephen Dorff, Sheryl Lee, Ian Hart, Gary Bakewell, Chris O'Neill
Studio: Uca
Category: DVD
List Price: £5.99
Buy New: £3.17
as of 24/11/2009 05:08 GMT details
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Seller: selectcheaper
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 16494
Format: Anamorphic, Collector's Edition, Dubbed, PAL
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region: 2
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 96 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5050582251067
ASIN: B0002DXETE
Theatrical Release Date: April 15, 1994
Release Date: July 12, 2004
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Ian Hart's second performance as John Lennon (the first was the little-seen IThe Hours and Times/I) commands attention in this marvellous musical bio of the Beatles in Hamburg directly before their stardom. The focus is on the "5th Beatle" Stuart Sutcliffe (Stephen Dorff), a bluesy bass guitar player who finds Germany has more interesting things (art and a woman) than music. The woman, Astrid (Sheryl Lee), chronicles the early years of the Beatles and shefalls in love with Stuart, a move that would influence many aspects of the Fab Four. Nearly overpowering the film is Hart in a great, energized performance of an artist on fire. The music was adapted for the movie, rediscovering the raw sound and ballistic energy in the back street clubs. These scenes of rock and genius intermixed with a nervy lead singer evoke similarities to Kurt Cobain and Nirvana. IBackbeat/I is directed by Iain Softley. I--Doug Thomas/I
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
 Wait a minute Mr Postman March 13, 2000
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Before I saw this film I had no time for the Beatles, but it changed my feelings about them and their music for good. It's really the story of Stuart Sutcliffe, who formed part of the Beatles' original line-up, and his experiences in Hamburg in the early 1960's. In additional to playing a less and less significant role in the band over this period, Sutcliffe (Stephen Dorff with a faultless Liverpool accent) matures as an experimental painter, strikes up a passionate relationship with Astrid Kirchner (Sheryl Lee - formerly Twin Peaks' Laura Palmer) and degenerates in mental health as he heads towards a brain haemorrhage. It's a sad story, but excellently acted and with an awesome, awesome soundtrack.pIan Hart plays John Lennon (with a grouchy catchphrase, throughout the film, of 'It's all dick') - he's brilliantly cast, as the actor looks so much like the singer! The soundtrack is made up of early Beatles hits ('Rock and Roll Music', 'Twist and Shout', 'Twenty Flight Rock') all originally recorded before the band started writing their own material. The difference here is that the songs are revitalised by 'The Backbeat Band', a one-off combination of grunge / rock artists such as Greg Gulli (Afghan Whigs), Dave Grohl (Nirvana / Foo Fighters) and Mike Mills (REM) and the new versions are all fantastic. Get this video! Stuart Sutcliffe trivia: several of the artist's paintings were recently used as covers for Mansun's Closed for Business EPs.
takes you along for the ride. January 14, 2006
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Even though most people know some of the story of the Beatles, the acting and direction in this film will rivet you to your seat. Keep an eye out for Ian Hart (John Lennon), who also appears in Clockwork Mice and Hollow Reed. Arguably one of the most believable actors around.
Film about the pre-fame Beatles June 11, 2008
Kona (Emerald City)
"Back Beat" is about the early trials and tribulations of John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe, art students and rock musicians from Liverpool. They were scrappy trouble-makers when they formed the Beatles with Paul, George, and Pete Best and went to play in the shabby strip clubs of Hamburg, hoping to make a name for themselves. There, Stuart met and fell in love with photographer Astrid Kirchherr. Although he was very close to John, Stuart chose to leave the group and stay with Astrid, just before the Beatles released their first record.
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br /John is well-played by Ian Hart (Quirrell in "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone"). Being a native of Liverpool, Hart gets the accent right and conveys John's scruffy, irreverent attitude and love of music. American actor Stephen Dorff does a good job as the sensitive, doomed Stuart. None of the actors look much like their characters, but they do project a believable image of the group.
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br /The songs (none of which are by Lennon-McCartney) were sung by members of established bands such as REM. The sleazy locations in Liverpool and Hamburg contribute to the rag-tag feeling of the movie. In spite of ample profanity and nudity, this is a movie that Beatles fans will enjoy, and the DVD has many interesting extras.
Powerful Moving Film. July 3, 2009
Ms. J. F. Gilby (bexhill, uk)
I knew the Beatles but never of how they joined togther to make one of the most successful bands in history. Stuart and John go to Germany to make themselves known also joining are Paul, George and Ringo (who is in later on in the film) But while they are pefoming every night, Stuart meets Astrid, the love of his life, though he must choose between her and the ondemand band. This a powerful and moving film, the music is turned up in volmues that makes you tap your feet along to the beat. The outstanding pefomances are just jaw-dropping, Ian Hart was amazing as a very angry but passionate John Lennon, Sheryl Lee was excellent as Astrid but the greatest one for me was Stephen Dorff. Yes, you may think I'm biased because I'm a fan of his work and is hot to boot but he played Stuart with such emotion that I felt his pain of being the middle. It's also a sad true story that he died so young, I cried at that moment haunted by the final few scenes though it had a lively song playing. I really highly recommend this film even if you haven't heard all the Beatles songs, it's a movie that people should see just for the pefomances itself.
 The lost genius May 19, 2002
Beowulf #34;Wulfie#34; Mayfield
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
THE treatment of Stuart Sutcliffe is good, very good, although the rest of the fledgling Beatles look terrible - particularly the George Harrison and Pete Best characters. pOverall, The Beatles are presented as a very loose set of relationships, John Lennon appears to hate everybody and while many biographies describe Lennon as a man with a twisted sense of humour, the kind of antics described in the Hunter Davis and Philip Norman biographies are missing completely. George and Paul are little more than extras much of the time which, as a devotee of history, grated rather a lot with me.pHowever, the film is about the relationship between Stu Sutcliffe and the beautiful Astrid Kirscher and this is dealt with sensitively and tenderness. Throughout, they are presented as beautiful people, made for each other but tragically torn apart.pOpening with Sutcliffe and Lennon being set upon by a bunch of Liverpool heavies, the die is cast for young Stu within five minutes, setting up the tragedy of this brilliant but humble and hugely likable young painter who keeps telling Lennon how great the Beatles are destined to be and seems quite happy to step aside and watch them rise to fame, happy to have stepped off the bandwaggon. Who knows, if Sutcliffe had lived he may have risen to similar heights himself in the art world. Perhaps the Sgt Pepper or Revolver album covers might have gone his way if he had been around to do them. . .pMusically, the film rocks from start to finish with excellent arrangements of classic Beatle covers and a recreation of the recording of My Bonnie with Tony Sheridan which actually comes out sounding much livlier than the original.pAlthough the Beatle history freak in me longs to see a film about the band in Hamburg, this is not a historical documentary. It's a film based on the tragic story of a Liverpool painter who was struck down far too young and the beautiful woman he loved - and who loved him. As a tale of tender love set against the backdrop of the Beatles in Hamburg, it's a fine film with a rocking soundtrack.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 8
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