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U.S. vs. John Lennon, The
Lions Gate Films

8.8 based on 26 reviews Read critic reviews How did we calculate this? based on 28 votes Read user comments Rate this movie

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MPAA RATING: PG-13 for some strong language, violent images and drug references

Starring Walter Cronkite, Mario Cuomo, Angela Davis, Ron Kovic, John Lennon, G. Gordon Liddy, George McGovern, Richard Nixon, Yoko Ono, Geraldo Rivera, and Gore Vidal

Exploring Vietnam-era struggles that remain relevant today, The U.S. vs. John Lennon tells the true story of the U.S. Government's attempts to silence John Lennon, the beloved musician and iconic advocate for peace. (Lions Gate)

GENRE(S):	Documentary  |  Musical
WRITTEN BY:	David Leaf John Scheinfeld
DIRECTED BY:	David Leaf John Scheinfeld
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: February 13, 2007  Theatrical: September 15, 2006
RUNNING TIME:	95 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow

This movie is both sad and inspiring. It offers proof that Lennon's wit and art are everlasting.

80

LA Weekly John Payne

The U.S. vs. John Lennon offers up the singer's famous, filmed confrontation with the ludicrously snotty New York Times writer Gloria Emerson, who calls Lennon "dear boy" as he heatedly attempts to defend the role of the artist in political discourse. No devious editing required here: Although Lennon seems to lose his composure in the encounter, Emerson looks an utter clown all on her own.

75

TV Guide Ken Fox

Ending the film with a perfunctory run-through of Lennon's murder on the doorstep of his Manhattan apartment building, however, foregrounds an unfortunate irony: Had the INS succeeded in forcing Lennon out of the U.S., he might be alive today.

75

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

While there is nothing particularly new in the film, it is a stirring celebration of a man of enormous talent, humor and humanity, laid waste by an assassin in New York in 1980.

75

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

To me, the most potent dimension of The U.S. vs. John Lennon is the way that it captures the contradictory romanticism of Lennon the radical.

75

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

Lennon's spirit, like his music, shines through this movie like a beacon. Powerful stuff.

75

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

People who love Lennon will almost certainly like the film; his detractors will almost certainly howl "bias!" Even so, it's a movie that, at its best, makes you ache with the memory of an anguished era and its fallen pop culture hero.

75

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Bill White

What is ultimately so special about this film is its handling of the relationship between Lennon and wife, Yoko Ono.

75

Boston Globe Ty Burr

The primary talking head is Ono, of course, who's serenely protective of Lennon's greater legacy. Her cooperation ties the film's hands, but only to a point.

75

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

Lennon's story is so remarkable and the footage assembled here so fresh and fascinating that the film engrosses despite its formal failings. Give it a chance.

75

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

Within limits, this is an excellent documentary. Even fans who think they've seen everything will see things here they haven't seen.

70

Washington Post Ann Hornaday

At a time when the country is engaged in fresh debates about the fragile relationship between privacy and national security, this particular chapter seems worth revisiting.

70

Salon.com Andrew O'Hehir

Sheds some unexpected light on the uneven and still undigested career of one of the most paradoxical artists pop culture has yet produced.

70

The New York Times A.O. Scott

One of the best-known cultural figures of the past half-century, leaves the movie with little to do but add its sometimes sanctimonious voice to the chorus of praise and admiration.

70

The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt

The thing that shines through most clearly, though, is Lennon himself. His widow allowed unprecedented access to the family archives, which along with ample newsreel footage bring us his presence once again.

70

Variety Phil Gallo

To track the transformation of John Lennon from adored Beatle to government-stalked peace advocate is David Leaf's stated intention for The U.S. vs. John Lennon, and the pic persuasively chronicles an artist sticking to his guns through activism.

70

Village Voice J. Hoberman

Snazzy, mawkish, and practically Pavlovian in recycling all requisite late-'60s images. Given its subject, though, this David Leaf–John Scheinfeld production is not only poignant but even topical.

70

Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

Loosely organized but still fascinating.

63

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Documents the Nixon administration's failed, almost comically inept attempt to deport the most political of The Beatles and his wife, Yoko Ono. Given the latter's cooperation with the filmmakers, it comes as no surprise the Lennons come off as saints.

63

ReelViews James Berardinelli

A nice little documentary that provides a view of recent history for those who didn't live through it, or a nostalgia trip for those who did. However, as vehicle for presenting anything new or surprising, it fails.

63

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

Speaking as one of the mourners, did I mention how pleasant it is to revisit footage of John Lennon? And to listen to his music which, in this case, comes either in taped performances or laid onto the soundtrack, no fewer than 40 songs drawn almost exclusively from the post-Beatle, pro-Ono phase of his career.

60

Los Angeles Times Sam Adams

There may not be a moral, but it's a fascinating human story, one that The U.S. vs. John Lennon only begins to tell.

50

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

A refresher course in the perils of celebrity and activism, but its syllabus and insights are purely remedial.

40

Empire Damon Wise

Perhaps not an entirely a faithful portrayal of the era or the great man, but interesting in parts.

30

Chicago Reader J.R. Jones

The U.S. vs. John Lennon isn't so much a history of Lennon's pacifism as a continuation of it, the last bed-in, so to speak, with contemporary figures like Gore Vidal and Noam Chomsky on hand to connect Vietnam with Iraq, President Nixon with President Bush, and the FBI's spying on Lennon with the current administration's domestic surveillance.

16

The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin

There's precious little of Lennon's legendary crankiness on display in The U.S. Vs. John Lennon, a fawning hagiography that diligently shaves away the ex-Beatle's rough edges and knotty idiosyncrasies.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 28 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Wade T. gave it a7:
The U.S. vs John Lennon suffers from what makes it enjoyable, which is the unabashed love the filmmakers have for John Lennon. Lennon is portrayed as a heroic figure who was beyond his time considering his political affiliations. While that makes the storytelling upbeat, it also makes the story very one sided. The alternative view on Lennon isn't really provided nor are his affiliations really explored for their full context. The shame is there appears to be more meat to the John Lennon story then the filmmakers had the courage to go after. It ends being an enjoyable film that somehow seems disappointing.

Mandy H. gave it a10:
Brilliant, like the man himself.

Theresa S. gave it a10:
Fascinating & inspirational with the best soundtrack of the year! I loved it!

horror grrrl gave it a3:
I like John Lennon more than I dislike him... but the high ratings this movie has received are proof that people too often base their opinions of such material on simplistic political sympathies rather than objective assessment of filmmaking prowess. This is a very poorly put together documentary. For all its talk of the Vietnam war, it doesn't even acknowledge its end... or the reason it was fought in the first place. As for John Lennon's answer? Peace. Well, peace is an objective not a solution... it's not a plan. And never does Lennon address the intricacies of the war, he just grows his hair and stays in his bed... and eventually shares that bed, figuratively speaking, with the same radical figures who comprise 80% of the interviews. Peace is an objective few would disagree with. It's like saying you're in favor of beautiful scenery and clear skies. What peace is not is a sophisticated answer to sometimes complicated problems. This film entirely avoids discussing actual issues in any kind of substantive manner. Is peace the answer to the rise of the Nazis? John Lennon's rise from humble beginnings would have been far more fascinating than this documentary - it is a 5-minute segment that has been stretched to almost two hours. I was moved by the ending, when I got to see him with his son... got to see the joyful life he was living with wife and child, a life taken far too soon. John's love story was far more powerful than his over-hyped battle with the American government. This is an example of how NOT to make a documentary.

Catresea A. C. gave it a10:
"We came here to show and to say to all of you that apathy isn't it, that we can do something!" ~ John Lennon speaking at Ann Arbor's Crisler Arena in December 1971 And even as he was being investigated, tapped, followed and threatened with deportation for speaking out against the war in Viet Nam, John Lennon kept on talking and writing and singing about peace. Whether you're old enough to remember the late 1960s / early 1970s or not, this insightful and engaging documentary is a must-see portrait of one of this century's most influential, passionate and fascinating men in the context of those times. You may be familiar with some of the photos, movie footage and interviews in the film - especially if you're an old timer like me - but the artful way it's all put together is brilliant and the all-Lennon soundtrack pulsing like a heartbeat throughout is irresistible. Yoko Ono's narration is thoughtful and tasteful and she also contributed some never-before-seen photos and home movies. But the star of the show is John's own charismatic presence as musician, activist and man. And by the time the credits rolled to the tune of "Instant Karma... and we all shine on", I couldn't help but sing along as I walked out of the theater. See this movie and be inspired.

Beatles Fan gave it a10:
If you're a fan of John Lennon, you will love this.

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