If there is a ‘most valuable player’ to this film it is Ian Hart, who blends an uncannily accurate voice with perfectly mimicked mannerisms and an impressive depth of character.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Apr 17, 2024

The truth often undercuts the film’s simplistic notions about true love and about friendship.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 6, 2022

When we have a comprehensive documentary available in the form of The Beatles Anthology, films like Backbeat end up serving as a moot point.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 1, 2019

Why would anyone would want to see a movie about the pre-fame Beatles when the post-fame Beatles had enough drama and excitement to fill several movies.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Feb 24, 2019

Despite some meandering moments, this remains a unique experience.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Feb 24, 2019

Get back, get back to where you once belonged, you want to shout. But the movie is stuck in the wrong groove.

Full Review | Apr 4, 2018

It is the band, the group - with or without Sutcliffe - that makes Backbeat such a powerfully emotional elegy.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 4, 2018

There's nothing very profound here, but we do at least get a nice handling of period and milieu, and pretty good performances of the songs.

Full Review | Sep 10, 2007

What pulls you over the bum spots is the electrifying immediacy.

Full Review | Sep 10, 2007

First-time director Iain Softley makes the film more visually distinctive than most music bios.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 10, 2007

The early, pre-fame days of the Beatles are a great subject for a film, but the potential has been only partly realized in Backbeat.

Full Review | Sep 10, 2007

The film tells the story of the original, little-known fifth Beatle, Stuart Sutcliffe, a young painter with rock n' roll sensibility who in 1960 forgoes his promising art career to join his best friend John Lennon (nicely played by Ian Hart) in Berlin

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Sep 12, 2006

You can't miss the affection and sincerity Backbeat carries from start to finish.... Softley bottles the attitude and energy, the excitement of the new, that were as integral to the Beatles' success as their songs.

Full Review | Apr 9, 2006

The music is loud and raw, but nevertheless evokes the excitement it generated.

Full Review | Jan 26, 2006

The music, done here by a group of grunge all-stars, doesn't even attempt to sound dead-on, but remains mostly true to the raucous spirit of the time.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 6, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Nov 14, 2005

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Oct 9, 2005

points to the tragic irony of immortality being achieved through early death

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Aug 17, 2005

Iain Softley directs his feature debut with simplicity and feeling, and you don't have to have been a Beatles fan to get with the beat. Gives you hope for the British film industry.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 22, 2005

All the cast give credible performances.

Full Review | Oct 4, 2003