Cinema Verdict Review: LENNONYC

LENNONYC

OPENING: 2010

STUDIO: Two Lefts Don’t Make A Right Productions, Dakota Group

RUN TIME: 115m

The Charge
He was an artist. Why would you want to kill an artist?

Opening Statement
LENNONYC is a remarkably personal film, giving viewers a candid glimpse into Lennon’s life, from his struggle with drugs and alcohol to his adoration for Yoko and his son Sean. Fans of John Lennon will be very happy with the film’s portrayal of John as it paints him as a humorous and deeply passionate individual.

Facts of the Case
LENNONYC follows the life of legendary ex-Beatle John Lennon from his move to New York City until his untimely death in 1980. We are treated to large amounts of unseen films, photography and unheard audio recordings that have not been shown until this film. We also see numerous interviews with Yoko Ono and the countless musicians who spent time with Lennon during his last years. Lennon arrived in New York City in 1971 where he immediately began rallying for peace alongside the well known activists of the time. Lennon’s ability to engage the population against the government caught the nervous eye of the FBI, who spent a great deal of time trying to get Lennon deported. In 1976, Lennon was granted a green card on the same day Sean was born. Both of these occurrences brought him much joy, starting a new chapter of his life.

The Evidence
I was given the opportunity to view LENNONYC at the Santa Fe Film Festival and I am very pleased to have seen it. As a lifelong Beatles fan, I have always regarded John Lennon as an extremely clever person, with a sense of humor few possess. Not only do we see Lennon as the funny man he is, but this documentary shows us his dark side as well. Never before had I heard the story of John and Yoko’s separation, a time of deep despair for John in which his days were filled with drugs and alcohol until their reunion in New York over a year later. This separation began the night of the re-election of Richard Nixon in 1972, something which John took very personally after his endless work urging 18-year olds to vote. On the night of Nixon’s victory, John slept with another woman, thus humiliating Yoko and causing a break in their relationship. Upon their separation, John moved to Los Angeles, where his life seemed to be spiraling downward because of his unwanted time away from Yoko. I had never heard of this period of John’s life before this film and my admiration for John has grown because of it. The admiration stems not from his life of decadence, but from the remorse and healing that came afterwards. This healing stimulated change, a change which eventually took John to the place in life where he was the happiest.

It’s easy for people to revere the artists that we appreciate without a real clue of who the person really is, because we usually only know them by their art or what is presented by the media. Sure, a person’s art can be a reflection of who that person is, but merely on an impersonal level. Someone can write dark songs or sad poetry, but we can still look to that person as flawless because we so much love what they do. LENNONYC breaks down that wall of idolatry because while the music was an important part of the film, John Lennon the man was the focus. John struggled and this film lets us in on that struggle. Although LENNONYC touches on the albums produced during his time in NYC, they were only included because of how they played into his life at the time. John saw the injustices of the world and put it to music, often causing much controversy. In 1972, John Lennon wrote “Woman is the N*gg*r of the World”, a song speaking out against the inequality between men and women across all cultures. (For the record, I did censor the above word myself.) The controversy surrounding this song led to an appearance on the Dick Cavett show, where John and Yoko were given the opportunity to explain the context of the tune. This song speaks to the heart of John’s essence. He sees something wrong in the world and knows that change is possible in some form. Change may not have always occurred the way he wanted, but it never stopped him from doing his part. In fact, much of the film is devoted to John’s dedication to the beliefs he held and even though has last few years were in the role of a family man, he still cared deeply about the events in the world.

Closing Statement
LENNONYC is a must see for fans of John Lennon or anyone who wants a glimpse of the United States during a period of political unrest. This documentary presents Lennon not only as the rock star he was, but as a very personal human being who at times was very insecure and had intense struggles. Lennon loved people and wanted nothing more than to make people laugh and enjoy great music. In the end, he was loved by those close to him and adored by millions around the world.

The Verdict

8/10