Some documentaries are investigative, using new research to uncover hidden truths. Others serve as news digests, simply compiling
facts that are already out there. "The U.S. vs. John Lennon" falls under the latter category. Produced by VH1, it has a "Behind the Music" feel to it -- clips, music, talking heads, the whole nine yards -- and is essentially a history lesson on John Lennon's post-Beatles years. If you're a fan, you probably already know a lot of the basics. But then, if you're a fan, you'll be delighted to hear so much of Lennon's music and see so much footage of the man himself circa 1970. For viewers with only a passing interest in Lennon's doings, the film, directed by TV music-doc veterans David Leaf and John Scheinfeld, never fails to engage. It's well-paced and chock-full of interesting tidbits. Lennon was one of the world's biggest celebrities during the Beatles' reign, and his star didn't dim much after the group broke up in 1970. Always outspoken -- it was he who remarked on the Beatles' popularity relative to that of Jesus back in 1966 -- Yoko Ono's influence led him to become even more interested in political activism and the anti-war effort.
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