The U.S. vs. John Lennon is a strong anti-war biographical documentary about John Lennon, which details the musician’s anti-war political stance and threat to the U.S. government, during the Nixon administration. It tries to answer some tough questions, like: was John Lennon’s murder a political assassination? How involved in politics should artists become? Where is the line between stardom and leadership? The U.S. vs. John Lennon constructs a documentary composed of archive footage of John Lennon, amongst other well known activists. Friends, journalists and ex-governmental figures from the time recount the turmoil at the time of the Vietnam war, and give some insight into the administration’s take on Lennon.
David Leaf and John Scheinfeld are best known for their work on pop culture specials, and this documentary is a diluted in comparison to Michael Moore. One has to ask the question, why now? John Lennon was assassinated in 1980, and this doesn’t seem like a tribute. One wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s subversive propaganda based on the current international policies of the United States, but it generally supports the view of anti-war activists.
Leaf and Scheinfeld choose to keep a two-sided argument by presenting members from both sides of the story. However, they never really have many contradictions from the talking heads, and for the most part, they choose to rally for Lennon rather than the government. They don’t deny that Lennon had his enemies, and seem to suggest that the man’s popularity gave him a megaphone for the youth. The concert for John St. Clair, Lennon’s Bed Peace protest and his immigration problems are highlighted with an ear to his political songs. The assassination conspiracy doesn’t get much attention, and the film-makers probably left this part as an ellipsis for the audience to come to their own conclusion.
The interviews are slightly one-sided, despite opening the floor to ex-government officials. However, the impression is that both sides have been equally represented. The documentary flows smoothly thanks to solid editing and visual effects with still photos and interview backdrops. The documentary would have been more interesting if the film-makers had taken a stronger standpoint, although it may not have seen the light of day. The parallels of the Bush and Nixon administration are clear, and there are some quotes that leave no doubt. This is an insightful biographical exploration for anyone that knows the name John Lennon.
The bottom line: Insightful.
