Review of The U.S. vs. John Lennon (2006) by Mike K — 31 Mar 2007
What does that have to do with the Nixon era government that cemented the perception of evil greed behind closed doors for the lower class malcontent??
Nothing on the surface, but Vidal's comments and other "hammer to your head" references comparing that era to the modern age White House Bastard Troupe are a slight detraction to the overall effect. As a viewer of some discernment, I'd prefer to make such comparisons of my own accord.
To Lennon, we underline the way celebrity is used to further political opinions, making the person a puppet to his benefactors and a prominent target to self-important blowhards like G. Gordon Liddy (small penis) and J. Edgar Hoover (panties in a knot) for clandestine surveillance and outright threats to his person.
We know how it ended for John, and you come away from the film with your biases intact, though there is some chance given to both sides of the issue for comment. However, Liddy is painted, admittedly in our words, as what I stated above, for example, and so I find the film to be too slanted in its perspectives.
It is the Evil Empire vs John Lennon, really, and if all allegations are true, as Geraldo tells us they are proven in public record (I must believe then!), then it is something to ponder indeed.
Some familiar interview pieces are included, and some that I haven't seen before, but the old ground has been well covered to me.
I'm really getting leery of these "documentaries". I believe as I do, and surely I'd like to buy in to belief in Evil Government, Bad Electric Car Destroyers, and Heartless Corporate Polluters, but how far does it go before it becomes a 90 min political campaign??
For US vs John Lennon, Who Killed the Electric Car?, and Inconvenient Truth, I had my sides picked going in, but I wonder how much better they would all be if they presented really coherent opinions of the other view, instead of showing edited clips that make them seem foolish and close-minded.
I enjoyed this film, but do not need another viewing.
This review of The U.S. vs. John Lennon (2006) was written by Mike K on 31 Mar 2007.
The U.S. vs. John Lennon has generally received positive reviews.
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