I finally got to see Nowhere Boy. In a nutshell:

I really didn't know much about Lennon's young personal life except that his aunt raised him, so everything I learned was new to me.

With a free-spirited and neglectful mother and an unknown father, John lived with his somewhat strict aunt Mimi ( in between going to live with his mother and then basically getting kicked out and went back with his aunt). As the movie progresses you get a better sense of John, Aunt Mimi and John's mother. It's the final scenes when family secrets are revealed and marks another turning point for John.

Although we do see a young John and his interest in music and we see Paul & George as part of "The Quarrymen", the movie focuses mostly on John facing his demons and making adjustments in his life from a young boy. One can not help but feel sorry for him after hearing his story.

The movie was not without good ol' 50's rock & roll though. Starting from the beginning scenes with "Mr. Sandman", Shake Rattle & Roll, Be-Bop-A-lu-la and add a little Buddy Holly and some Elvis footage and the era is tied together. Not only that, you get the British version of the 50's.

TIS