Review of The U.S. vs. John Lennon (2006) by Jeffrey L — 06 Feb 2012

John Lennon remains today as one of the most legendary pop culture icons in history. Though millions are fans of his music and his involvement with the Beatles, not everyone may realize how targeted he was. Not only by the man who assassinated him over 30 years ago, but by the United States government in general, due mainly to his anti-Vietnam stance and the millions who followed him. Through interviews and footage galore in this film, all should get a thorough glimpse into this extraordinarily famous man and what his views and actions have imprinted on our culture.

David Leaf and John Scheinfeld direct their first feature documentary here (with previous experience directing TV documentaries) and come off as credible almost instantly. Interviews with notable Lennon experts (with most feedback coming unsurprisingly from his widowed wife, Yoko Ono) make up the bulk of the film, and some of them get surprisingly graphic as many seem to still be dealing with his death. His life in general is presented informatively and hardly any detail is skipped, but his activity in politics and viewpoints towards the war at the time seemed to make him known for something more than just a musician. But this worked against him plenty of the time, especially his notorious remark about his band being more popular than Jesus. America's victory with the war, however may just not have happened without his part in the whole scenario.

A film not only entertaining but also educational, one studying the Vietnam War may learn a great deal from watching this and his devout fans may see him in a new light. Yoko Ono also speaks openly on many things she likely has kept inside for several decades. The film also proves a point that pop culture is more essential to world history than anyone may expect.