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The U.S. Vs John Lennon [2006]


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Editorial
Synopsis

David Leaf and John Scheinfeld struggled for over 15 years to produce this documentary, and it's emergence in the year 2006 is a testament to the film's timeliness. THE U.S. VS. JOHN LENNON focuses on a part of the music icon's life that is often overlooked: his politicisation both during and after the Vietnam War. Towards the end of the Beatles' career, Lennon began taking the band in a new direction, using their popularity to circulate a message of peace in songs such as ‘Revolution’. He became even more involved after the band broke up, and the film traces his growing awareness and dissent through both archival footage--much of which had lain forgotten in vaults for decades--and interviews with those close to him. This leads to the titular case, in which the U.S. government, which had already been monitoring his actions for some time, attempted to deport the star for fear of the threat he posed to the nation. The film also portrays Lennon's close relationship with Yoko Ono and the effect she had on his art, including an interview with the Japanese performance artist and muse that sheds much light on the couple's intimate history. Other interviews feature such luminaries as Mario Cuomo, Gore Vidal, Walter Cronkite, Angela Davis, and even G. Gordon Liddy, the former chief operative under Richard Nixon. The film avoids falling into the trap of one-dimensional idolatry, showing Lennon's politicisation as reflective of his own spiritual path, a very personal, at times fallible, journey towards using his fame to make the world a better place. The constraints and depletion of civil liberties Lennon experienced at the hands of the U.S. government, then in the throws of a neo-McCarthyism, invite comparisons to politics in 2006. The creative ways he fought for expression and peace, meanwhile, expand upon the known brilliance of a remarkable figure.


A Gross Misrepresentation of an Artist.
Review date: 2007-11-14 Rating: 2 out of 10

The U.S. vs. John Lennon

I have nothing but problems with this documentary. Firstly, this is a manipulated version of the events. The seal of `Authorized' has cost this documentary its impartiality and honesty.

This documentary has all the hallmarks of a Yoko Ono production. She is portrayed as a sympathetic talented artist with a heart of gold and inseparable if not the catalyst of John Lennon's emerging talent. So the message of this poor documentary is that `John would have been nothing without Yoko!'

Not once is Julian Lennon mentioned in this perversion of History. Julian suffered all his young life with the pain of being ignored and rejected by his own Father. Yet when Yoko's son is born it is reported as if this experience is revelatory and the only one of significance.

John and Yoko were having relationship problems before he died. In fact John was sleeping with another Asian girl introduced to him by Yoko. When John started to fall for her, Yoko terminated the relationship.

It is a crime that John Lennon's legacy and fortune are in the hands of Yoko Ono who has proved on numerous occasions how morally malleable she is. Julian Lennon on the other hand is forced to go to auctions to bid for articles that once belonged to his dad. He still to this day not received a penny of John Lennon's wealth.

The final insult to John's memory is having a sell-out like Geraldo Rivera comment on his life.

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Reviews


Working Class Hero
Review date: 2007-08-10 Rating: 10 out of 10



In retrospect, it seems absurd that the United States government felt so threatened by the presence of John Lennon that they tried to have him deported. But that's what happened, as chronicled in directors David Leaf and John Scheinfeld's The U.S. vs. John Lennon.

The film starts slowly, with a familiar look at the former Beatle's troubled childhood, his so called 'outspokenness' as one of the Fabs ("We're more popular now than Jesus Christ," etc.), and his eventual hookup with Yoko Ono, paralleled by the growth of political protest in '60s America, particularly against the Vietnam War.

John and Yoko went on to stage their own peaceful demonstrations, like the Canadian "bed-ins," but these were largely harmless media stunts. It was when the Lennons moved to New York in the early '70s and took a more active role in the anti-war movement, making friends with again so called 'radicals' like Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, and Black Panther Party founder Bobby Seale, that the government got interested--and paranoid--and men like President Richard Nixon, FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, and right-wing Sen. Strom Thurmond began actively looking for ways to silence him (it was Thurmond who came up with the deportation idea). That's also when the film picks up.

An array of talking heads weighs in, ranging from Yoko and others sympathetic to Lennon's plight (Walter Cronkite, Sen. George McGovern, even Geraldo Rivera) to those on the other side, including Watergate conspirator G. Gordon Liddy. Though The U.S. vs. John Lennon is hardly impartial, it's safe to say that although Lennon was more an idealist than an activist, he was an influential celebrity whom Nixon viewed as a potential nuisance in an election year. And, even once Nixon had won the '72 presidential race, the Immigration and Naturalization Service refused to drop its case. Why? "Anybody who sings about love, and harmony, and life, is dangerous to somebody who sings about death," says author Gore Vidal. "Lennon... was a born enemy of the U.S. He was everything they hated." Lennon's solo recordings provide the soundtrack. The DVD also contains considerable additional documentary footage.

Lennon's music and lyrics should be compulsory listening for all!!!!!!!!!!

The Man behind the Music....
Review date: 2007-05-30 Rating: 8 out of 10

"Great Spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds."

Albert Einstein.

John Lennon is one of those people that could really reach out and touch an audience. A highly intellectual, charismatic and unique individual, he was more than one fifth of the most famous band in music history, he was a free thinker and a revolutionary. This DVD shows us a part of John Lennon's life were his music was intertwined with the political scene at the time. Living in America and violently opposed to the Vietnam War, and all War, he wanted to spread the word of "Peace". He maintained it was simple, just think Peace, be Peace. And he was ridiculed by lesser minds. And yet if you think about, everything we think as people is reflected in the outer world, what goes on in the mind affects our actions obviously, so if everyone had calm, still, minds and wanted peace, it would follow that the world would be a better place, its common sense really. We are what we think. Those who want to create wars and mayhem can't have calm, still, peaceful minds and tend to see other people and countries as a threat unfortunately. If we had more people like John Lennon in the world, there would be less violence and bloodshed. The American Government felt so threatened by John Lennon, they had him followed, spied on and tried to get him extradited. Crazy really! Just goes to show the power of Music! Nowadays we see people like Bob Geldof, Bono and Midge Ure doing their bit to make the world a better place and help those who live in poverty. They realise the power they can have especially to the younger generation. This film is quite an eye opener and gives you a real insight into the final part of John Lennon's life and reveals a man who was a true individual standing for what he believed in. Definitely worth a watch.


Fascinating and disturbing
Review date: 2007-05-20 Rating: 10 out of 10

This documentary film detailed the disturbing lengths that the Nixon administration went to in order to silence the political powerhouse that was John Lennon.

From his support of John Sinclair, the Black Panthers and his outspoken views on Vietnam and various other issues, Lennon was perhaps the musician who has been the greatest thorn in 'the establishment's' side. Yet he would not compromise the freedom of speech which is supposed to be an integral part of life in the West.

As the documentary progresses, I became more and more impressed and admiring of Lennon's refusal to ever back down and go away. Instead, he used his great influence over young people to promote the causes which mattered to him, which in my opinion, is the way it should be. He was a man of great substance.

This documentary also shows Yoko Ono Lennon in a far more positive light than she has been shown in the past, as the documentary shows clips of her with Lennon, also speaking her mind. The body language between the two suggests a deep, loving bond, and a special feature of Yoko reading out the letter which she wrote after one of Mark David Chapman's many appeals was particularly moving.

But perhaps the most striking thing about this fascinating documentary was the deceitful nature of American politics. It concentrates particularly on the deceit and subterfuge of Richard Nixon, and his sly attempts to try and silence Lennon, including various failed attempts at having him deported. The clips of Lennon speaking are amusing, as his defiance, wit and charisma shines through. What's particularly amusing is just how threatening a figure of popular culture can be to politicians. I think this would indicate that people have greater interest in artists than politicians, possibly because people realise how profoundly corrupt the vast majority of politicians are. No, they cannot be trusted, but there's very little in the way of options when people are forced into a so-called 'democracy' from birth.

I would praise this documentary whole-heartedly, and it would no doubt be of interest to both fans of Lennon and those who aren't particularly familiar with him. I feel that this documentary is vital for young people in particular, so that the younger generation can gain some insight into what a true legend is, a man who is prepared to put his neck on the line for justice and truth. Lord knows, music will probably never have anyone like that again.

Product Details/Specifications


Director(s):

Recording label: Lions Gate Home Ent. UK Ltd
Manufacturer: Lions Gate Home Ent. UK Ltd
EAN: 5060052412119
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL,
Release date: 2007-09-10
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 95 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2006
Language: English (Original Language)

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