John & Yoko: Above Us Only Sky

Seasoned documentary filmmaker Michael Epstein brings a sense of balance to this portrait of John Lennon during the ex-Beatle’s sometimes rocky 1970s, refusing to deify him as the patron saint of world peace, and instead presenting him as a complex man who fought for his own artistic freedom as much as he did the sociopolitical freedom of others. The dominant storyline in the film is the making of Imagine, Lennon’s 1971 album that is anchored by the titular anthem but also contains a number of fan favorites, including "Gimme Some Truth," "Jealous Guy," and "How?" Film cameras seem to have been omnipresent for those recording sessions, which mostly took place at Lennon and his second wife Yoko Ono’s home studio at their pastoral UK estate Tittenhurst Park. It’s great fun to watch Lennon collaborating with George Harrison and a cadre of other Beatles loyalists including bassist Klaus Voormann, pianist Nicky Hopkins, and Badfinger guitarist Joey Molland. Lennon is in good spirits, and producer Phil Spector flits around in dark glasses, solving little problems in huddles with the musicians. There are also a lot of visuals of communal meals and other downtime, all of which looks outstanding on restored footage. Besides the focus on Imagine, the documentary also addresses warts-and-all topics about the first half of the ‘70s (which were an extended lost weekend for Lennon, who was nevertheless productive). The background on Ono’s entrance into Lennon’s life is reviewed once again, as is her influence on him to break free of Beatledom. The multiple interviewees include people who knew and wrote about Lennon over the decades. While not the most exciting documentary about Lennon, this archival-footage-rich film will certainly appeal to fans. Extras include an interview with Lennon fan Curt Claudio and bonus songs. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)