Grant Watson Fiction Machine Apr 17, 2024 7/10

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.

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Nicole Arthur Chicago Reader Jun 6, 2022 2/4

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

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Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Jul 1, 2019 3/5

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

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Mike McGranaghan Aisle Seat Feb 24, 2019 1.5/4

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.

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Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Feb 24, 2019 3/4

Despite some meandering moments, this remains a unique experience.

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David Ansen Newsweek Apr 4, 2018

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

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Malcolm L. Johnson Hartford Courant Apr 4, 2018 3/5

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

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Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Sep 10, 2007

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.

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Peter Travers Rolling Stone Sep 10, 2007

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

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Todd McCarthy Variety 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.

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Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Sep 12, 2006 B-

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

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Mark Bourne DVDJournal.com Apr 9, 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.

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Geoff Andrew Time Out Jan 26, 2006

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

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Brad Laidman Film Threat Dec 6, 2005 4/5

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.

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Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Nov 14, 2005 2/5

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Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily Oct 9, 2005 2/5

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Dragan Antulov Draxblog Movie Reviews Aug 17, 2005 6/10

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

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Angie Errigo Empire Magazine Jun 22, 2005 4/5

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.

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