Finally saw the film, "The US vs. John Lennon", today.
Keep in mind that I have read a lot of reviews of the film, and read
comments in this usenet group about it, so I tried to make my mind a
blank, without any prejudice, as I viewed it. I was fairly
successful, except for the criticism often levied by those who had seen
it before me. And that criticism was that other aspects of John's
personal life, e.g. his estrangement from Yoko, were not mentioned.
I can honestly say that those other aspects weren't needed. The film
makers set out to show the poltical climate of the 1960s and early
1970s, and how John reacted and was affected by it, morally and
legally. And that's exactly what they did.
The editing was great...the story line developed in a logical order
with occasional out-of-sync chronological segments, which purists like
you and me might notice, but didn't really matter in the telling of the
story (e.g. showing Walter Cronkite's famous editorial against
continued US troops in Vietnam in early 1968 coming after the story
line progressed into 1970). There is a lot of footage familiar and not
so familiar of John, but what made the movie work for me was the
assemblage of those interviewed for the film today...George McGovern,
John Sinclair, Bobby Seale, Paul Krassner, Stew Alpert, Carl Bernstein,
Angela Davis, and of course, Yoko Ono, who I found to be honest, frank,
and reflective in such a way that she wouldn't be accused of
sugar-coating. I'm sure she is aware of criticism levied against her
involvement in other Lennon projects. As his wife, and partner in much
of John's antiwar activities, in this film she projected a restraint
not to over-glorify him, while still commenting with candor and
honesty.
All of the "talking head" interviews were used judiciously by the
directors of the film, and for me, personally, none as poignant and
truthful as Gore Vidal. One of the many facets to this film is the
low-key, not hitting you in the head with it, comparison between the
political climate 35 years ago during the Nixon Era, and what is
happening with the war on dissent today. Of the many people
interviewed, Vidal, in a subtle, yet stern way, drew that comparison in
such a way as to remind folks who grew up back then what was at stake,
and to tell, perhaps for the first time, those who were too young or
not yet born, about those days, and the similarity to the first decade
of the 21st century.
The most chilling part was the unrepentent, unapologetic comments by G.
Gordon Liddy. He left no doubt that he felt John was a threat, and
dealt with properly, and were there to be a "Lennon" type figure today,
the authorities should do the same thing...stop him at all costs.
And that is the main thrust of the film...that John Lennon through his
stardom in the Beatles, his political and artistic evolvement in
meeting Yoko, and the fun-loving, yet honest way he tried to awaken the
thought of peace in others was, indeed, a threat to the dark forces of
America, in the form of the FBI, INS, and ultimately the office of the
president of the United States.
One criticism that kept nagging me in the back of my mind was one
mentioned by a few posters here...they said that the movie should have
ended with John gaining his green card status, and that mentioning his
murder was gratuitous. However, in the context of the film, it was a
logical ending. The film-makers showed John's growth as a peace
activist, the bed-ins, War is Over campaign, involvement with Abbie
Hoffman and Jerry Rubin(which contrary to othera' opinions did not
result in John being manipulated...the film shows him turning down the
Yippies' request to go on tour culminating in a protest at the 1972
Republican convention), the harassment by the FBI and INS, and his
fight, and eventual success in that fight, against de****tation from the
US. During all of this, the film never delves into what the average
Lennon fan thought, but by showing the tremendous outpouring of grief
during those dark days of December 1980...the photos, vigils, signs
held by the mourners, and their tears...it showed how John Lennon's
brand of activism had affected the m*****.
He gave them their voice, and they loved him for it.
--
All follow-ups are directed to the newsgroup rec.music.beatles.moderated.
If your follow-up more properly belongs in the unmoderated newsgroup,
please
change your headers appropriately. -- the moderators
|
