cannabisnews.com: John Lennon Shines On In New Documentary





John Lennon Shines On In New Documentary
Posted by CN Staff on September 04, 2006 at 14:32:28 PT
By Kirk Honeycutt
Source: Reuters 
Los Angeles -- We live, as the pundits say, in the United States of Amnesia. Even so, did the makers of "The U.S. vs. John Lennon," an inquiry into our government's bizarre attempt to neutralize the perceived political juice of that famed English singer-songwriter, really need to spend half the movie explaining the Vietnam War and the anti-war movement to viewers? If things are really that bad, then perhaps the filmmakers should explain who John Lennon is. After all, the Beatles date back over 40 years.
For those who do remember or are aware of the zeitgeist of the counterculture, this lengthy regurgitation of well-known history mars an otherwise interesting probe into a strange sidebar of the Nixon administration's attempt to suppress those who publicly challenged its failed military and political strategies in Vietnam. For those who do need to be brought up to speed, writer-producer-directors David Leaf and John Scheinfeld throw in too many subjects -- from the rise of the Black Panthers to Watergate -- without sufficient sociopolitical context. A newcomer would indeed get lost.The guts of the matter, the administration's failed effort to deport Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono -- presumably in the delusional belief that one of the world's most famous individuals would go unnoticed if returned to his native soil -- is fascinating. Especially so in light of our current administration's fetish for spying on Americans without warrants and attempts to silence critics by questioning their patriotism or intestinal fortitude.The movie starts with a now somewhat obscure figure, John Sinclair, a poet and band manager whose lengthy incarceration in Michigan on marijuana charges triggered a 12-hour concert in December 1971, broadcast throughout the U.S. Lennon appeared along with many other musical acts. The Michigan Supreme Court released Sinclair three days later. This, according the movie's talking heads, alerted the Nixon White House to Lennon's sway over young people, who were now able to vote thanks to the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.So the administration hatched the idea of getting Lennon deported on trumped-up charges. The deportation case dragged on for several years. During this time, various government agencies made certain the couple were aware they were being followed and their phones tapped. Little wonder that Ono, in an interview, insists that the pair thought if they went to the 1972 Republican Convention in Miami, they would be "in danger of their lives." She offers no proof of this, however.A couple of ex-FBI agents agree that the agency under J. Edgar Hoover became a political police force to disrupt and harm those who opposed the war. It falls to the most infamous Nixon official, G. Gordon Liddy, one of the least self-aware individuals ever in political life, to make an even stronger case against the government through his bellicose and belligerent statements against Lennon and the anti-war movement.Other talking heads include journalists Walter Cronkite and Carl Bernstein, anti-war activist Ron Kovic, novelist Gore Vidal and Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern.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. His larkish sense of humor and quick, native intelligence is a breath of fresh air in this age of shrill, strident voices from all segments of the political spectrum. He is dearly missed.Writer-director-producers: David Leaf, John Scheinfeld; Executive producers: Sandra Stern, Kevin Beggs, Tom Ortenberg, Tim Palen, Nick Meyer, Erik Nelson, Michael Hirschorn, Brad Abramson, Lauren Lazin; Director of photography: James Mathers; Editor: Peter S. Lynch II.Reuters ~ Hollywood ReporterThe U.S. vs John Lennon Trailer: http://tinyurl.com/k9qpbSource: Reuters (Wire)Author:  Kirk HoneycuttPublished: Monday, September 4, 2006Copyright: 2006 Reuters Related Article & Web Site:John Lennonhttp://www.johnlennon.com/John Sinclair: Poet and Activisthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22023.shtml
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Comment #15 posted by Richard Zuckerman on September 11, 2006 at 13:01:16 PT:
richardzuckerman2002 yahoo.com
Yesterday, at the annual municipal wide yard sale of Highland Park, N.J., www.hpboro.com, I purchased a particular CD of music by a Mr. Peele, who is affiliated with Dana Beal of www.cures-not-wars, who sang the song for Howard Stern for Governor (of New York). One of his songs was for Libertarians, the only song I have ever heard for Libertarian pride!! He also wrote a good song about John Lennon!! I recommend this CD to anybody out there who believes in cutting down Big Brother state!!!Richard Paul Zuckerman, Post Office Box 159, Metuchen, N.J., 08840-0159, (cell)(848) 250-8879 (after 9 P.M.).
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on September 06, 2006 at 09:32:14 PT
Hope
I'm in countdown mode. AB will be arriving on Saturday at the airport and then Sunday is the day. We are going early. I am distracted because this is so exciting for me that if I seem like I am not here as much I guess in my mind I'm not. LOL! 
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Comment #13 posted by Hope on September 06, 2006 at 07:06:12 PT
Comment 5 "cannablog"
Well, Whig. I hope that turns out ok. At least she didn't think it was about cannas.
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Comment #12 posted by whig on September 05, 2006 at 21:00:28 PT
Dankhank
Thanks. I just wrote a post about it.http://cannablog.wordpress.com/2006/09/05/music-is-essential/
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on September 05, 2006 at 19:22:34 PT
Dankhank
Good article. I believe music is essential. The way they censor music now is a sad thing. Music with a message is important. What good is music if it isn't doing something for us? Music opens my mind to a better understanding most times or I won't even remember the song.
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Comment #10 posted by Dankhank on September 05, 2006 at 18:58:28 PT
"This Is Your Brain on Music"
http://salon.com/books/review/2006/09/05/levitin/something we here instinctively knew ...
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Comment #9 posted by afterburner on September 05, 2006 at 14:11:33 PT
FoM
Just got home. You have mails.
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on September 05, 2006 at 08:31:46 PT
Afterburner
I thought you might to read two reviews from the Sunday show in Chicago. I am so excited about this weekend. Blue-Staters Cheer CSNY Anti-War Rants http://www.suntimes.com/output/entertainment/cst-ftr-csny05.html***Young's Anger is Flame in CSNY Reunion Tourhttp://metromix.chicagotribune.com/reviews/critics/mmx-g282cvqmd.15sep03,1,1867363.story
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Comment #7 posted by afterburner on September 05, 2006 at 06:21:35 PT
Sounds Like a Keeper
{ did the makers of "The U.S. vs. John Lennon," ... really need to spend half the movie explaining the Vietnam War and the anti-war movement to viewers? }Yes! The prime movie audience is 18+ years old. They have *NO* experience with Vietnam or with the 1960s counterculture. And with the dumbing down of education and the media blockade, they likely learned little of lasting truthful value regarding this time period in school, in the press or on TV. "A newcomer would indeed get lost."Better lost and thinking, than ignorant!
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Comment #6 posted by mayan on September 05, 2006 at 05:44:49 PT
Misc.
Cannabis-derived MS treatment filed in Europe:
http://www.pharmafocus.com/cda/focusH/1,2109,21-0-0-SEP_2006-focus_news_detail-0-465024,00.htmlGW Pharma files cannabis-based pain drug Sativex for marketing approval:
http://www.iii.co.uk/news/?type=afxnews&articleid=5769178&subject=companies&action=articleMarijuana lobby aims off target:
http://www.diamondbackonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/09/05/44fd45265215dSuccess of anti-drug ads questioned: 
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_4968643,00.html
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Comment #5 posted by whig on September 05, 2006 at 01:38:37 PT
Changing minds
My mother-in-law now knows about my blog and I gave her the web address as well.I am hoping it will open her mind. I did not tell her what it was about, though I did tell her what it was called. She doesn't actually know where I stand on cannabis because she has been so fervently opposed to it that I've never had a good opportunity to discuss it and I am better at expressing my thoughts and feelings about this in writing than I am by talking out loud. For some reason I don't seem to express myself in nearly the same clarity when I speak, and I don't want to have an argument in any case. She expressed some concern that with a name like "cannablog" people might think I was some kind of pothead from Berkeley. I told her that was okay.Anyhow, I'm back home and I have a few posts up tonight.
http://cannablog.wordpress.com/
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on September 04, 2006 at 22:14:25 PT
knowhemp
Thank you. Please lets un know what you think after seeing the movie. I believe it will be very good.
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Comment #3 posted by knowhemp on September 04, 2006 at 21:54:45 PT
FoM
I'll let you know how it is when i check it out ;) 
Growing up in the 80s it wasn't too cool to be a die hard beatles fan, but i was. I have older siblings who were always playing them and others (Neil Young included)check this out if you have a moment - there's some good mp3s you can listen to here but first scroll down and check out 'Can't Touch the Herb' - you may like it and it's all about cannabis.http://www.clandyken.com/Music_Lyrics/music_lyrics.htmpeace
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on September 04, 2006 at 19:40:26 PT
knowhemp
I think it will be very good too. I don't think it will get played around here but I will buy it when it is put on DVD.
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Comment #1 posted by knowhemp on September 04, 2006 at 19:04:33 PT
Sept 29
Can't wait to see this one. Looks good to me anyhow.
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