"The U.S. vs John Lennon" (Documentary) (2006) - Movie Review

All the information of John Lennon, the quintessential Beatles member and his influential wife Yoko Ono I have heard (not read, heard) is that (1) Lennon produced lovable cheery music with the Beatles and (2) he bedraggled in the pool of drugs and sex (3) Yoko Ono separated the Beatles and (4) both had a vague participation in the peace activism. And how much we assume out of media and inability to pursue for a truth or the necessity for knowing about them is a shame especially in my part in this case. “The U.S. vs John Lennon” in a manner is a post Beatles biography of John Lennon.

It in its title means a revolutionary stand against the then Nixon government for appeasement in Vietnam but all the more it is the illumination of Lennon not able to contain his excitement on learning things about the world or simply maturing. His first marriage with Cynthia is not discussed and it starts with his love for Yoko. Yoko Ono a creative audacious artist ignites Lennon to amalgamate hers with his in giving birth to a form of revolution which caused more stir, controversy and entertainment too.

The film begins by the controversy created by a statement by him and it is clever of the directors to start with the subject matter of religion. All of the arduous religious people (which are majority of the world) were terribly disturbed when Lennon said a statement of Beatles is more popular than Jesus Christ. I believe it was said as an expression of their status and their presence of theme and cult as that of religion ticked all the people. He tries to explain but only in vain. It is the genesis of his awakening in being a rebel from a rock star.

Seeing the footages of Yoko and him kissing, caressing, in bed and in tandem reciting their answers and points to the journalists, I was wondering how much love these two shared which is oozing out whenever they are over the screen. Of course the documentary is not a discussion of their marital problems but it is a matter of their unity in a cause both believed in and went beyond conventional approach to spread it.

Whether giving press meet out of big bag or representing their honeymoon as a mark for peace, Lennon and Ono had their way with the society. The notion of artists’ opinions automatically losing its intensity and value towards politics of the world is put into trashes by Lennon. He stood up to whatever was thrown at him. And he used his stardom and that over the media to bask the rest of the world. If I was in the era of the 60s and been in a society of shunned down view point of normalcy, then Lennon appears insane. He dances on the streets with Ono and comments bravely on the incoherence of war in the countries. His hope in changing for peace and prosperity through concerts and songs were sky high. And it brought him trouble too.

Nixon’s government nearing the election saw the mere presence of Lennon in the New York City a threat for their survival. Lennon in a plain sight is an artist with his principles of having harmony in the cacophonic universe of violence and vengeance. But it is “unpatriotic” in terms of the US government at that time. Patriotism always had the dubious misconception and deviation of fighting for the country one belongs or in simple terms is the egoistic attribute of protecting their property and acquiring others. This troubled Lennon who in his songs had a strong opinion of a single world with no country. Idealism is insanity in any time period as per the definition of normality. It will not work out which is the easiest way to dispose and discourage the attempt to take an effort. Lennon wanted the people to take that effort.

He made friends with Bobby Seale the head of a group considered dangerous in US called Black Panther party and activists such as John Sinclair to intensify his chances of getting axed by the government. He believed to be followed by the FBI. He believed that his phones were being tapped and basically driven to paranoia. He was thought to be paranoid because that a government watching a musician looked laughable. But it came to shock to have him deported from US. And that is the open declaration of war on his principles and presence by the Nixon government.

David Leaf and John Scheinfeld II does not over do the sentimentality and present a straight lined narration of the necessary elements needed for this statement of Lennon being singled out by the presidency of United States. Interviews, footages and songs are assembled accordingly which tells the character of this persona now viewed with the realization of what he was talking about. His actions reminded me of the Larry Flynt in “People Vs. Larry Flynt”, a man boosted to riches by selling explicit pornographic material through his magazine. Many did not like what he did but his right to live and lead a life was valid and similarly, Lennon did what he thought was to be a liberation from the cruelty of lives being lost in the name of patriotism and property.