Review of Imagine: John Lennon (1988) by Catherine S — 06 Nov 2010

I'll say this, even if I poured my heart and soul into this review, I wouldn't be able to give the film the praise it truly deserved. Imagine: John Lennon is a beautifully made film and in my opinion, one of the greatest films made about John Lennon.

Imagine: John Lennon is a documentary film made almost completely out of archive footage, most previously unseen by the public. The movie consists of interviews with family members, including Yoko Ono, his two sons Julian and Sean, and ex-wife Cynthia Powell. Most of the footage used is family movies, shot using the usual video cameras you could get back then. None of it has been tampered, so it's a very raw showing of John Lennon. It's certainly not censored, so you get the whole thing.

This film is one of the few that actually made me burst into tears. And I don't think it was because of the situation I was in at the time. It felt like watching a friend of yours grow up, you kind of got to know more about the man John Lennon. You could say the term "The Smart Beatle" felt pretty hollow after this. It doesn't take any side when talking about John's more questionable actions, it just shows John's side. No interference from reporters, it's just him. We learn that he was man that wanted to be loved, and that he's a caring and kind man. The film takes its time, letting you get to know him, so the ending is especially potent. Let's just say I've never cried listening to "All You Need is Love" until after this film.

Imagine: John Lennon is a lovely movie that John Lennon fans will definitely enjoy. I would say Beatles fans as well, but since the film focuses more on his solo career, there isn't as much Beatle info, but that makes me glad. It's a poignant tribute to what could be considered the most famous of the former Beatles, and perhaps the most endearing. (Real rating: 100%).