Yoko Ono Movies

Artist and designer Keith Haring created work that bridged the gap between high art and pop culture during his short but influential career. Haring's simple outline drawings of characters without features were often loaded with meaning even if they seemed outwardly naïve, and while his canvases hung in major art galleries, his work was also embraced by pop musicians such as Grace Jones and Duran Duran, he created murals for public installations, and his illustrations adorned T-shirts and watches. Haring also created images for charitable and political groups, and he was at the peak of his fame when he succumbed to AIDS-related illness in 1990, at the age of 32. The Universe of Keith Haring is a documentary which examines the life and career of this influential figure in contemporary pop art, and features interviews with his friends, family, and colleagues, including Yoko Ono, David LaChapelle, Fab Five Freddy, Hans Meyer, Junior Vasquez, and many more. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Filmmakers David Leaf and John Scheinfeld offer a compelling look at the efforts of the United States government to silence one of rock & roll's most outspoken war critics in this documentary detailing the Vietnam-era struggle between the Richard Nixon administration and iconic peace activist John Lennon. The Vietnam War was raging and the nightly news was filled with stories of failed offensives and massacred U.S. troops. As anti-war protests back home gained momentum, it was the hopeful voice of former Beatle Lennon that served to perfectly encapsulate the frustrations felt by many citizens that the U.S. had gotten caught up in an quagmire from which there was seemingly no end in sight. There's a high price to be paid for standing strong in your beliefs and openly criticizing the ruling elite, though, and now, through interviews with those who knew him best and revealing glimpses into an era where all hope seemed lost, filmmakers finally uncover the truth behind the Nixon administration's highly classified efforts to isolate and eventually deport the man whose powerful words threatened to actually make sense in a world slowly suffocated by the grip of insanity. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Paul McGrath's documentary John and Yoko: Give Peace a Song offers a wealth of still photographs and film footage from the day that the former Beatle and his new bride recorded "Give Peace a Chance," during their infamous bed-in. The filmmakers utilize a wealth of rarely seen footage to explain how the duo cooked up this protest/publicity stunt. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

While John Lennon may have been one of Liverpool's most famous sons, New York was the city he called home in the last ten years of his life, and he often spoke of his love for the Big Apple. Lennon was also a man who wrote eloquently about loss, pain, and the importance of overcoming adversity, and in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a group of musicians and actors came together to perform Lennon's songs to honor his spirit, as well as to raise needed funs to support relief efforts related to 9-11. Hosted by Kevin Spacey, Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words & Music includes performances by Yoko Ono, Dave Matthews, Nelly Furtado, Alanis Morissette, Lou Reed, Moby, Marc Anthony, The Isley Bothers, and more, as well as readings from Dustin Hoffman, James Gandolfini, Kevin Bacon, Edie Falco, Leelee Sobieski, Tim Roth, and Steve Buscemi. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

The Beatles continue to fascinate fans around the world as both a force in popular music and as a cultural phenomenon. This documentary takes a look at the career and lasting impact of Liverpool's Fab Four, bringing together photos and newsreel footage of the band at the height of their fame alongside interviews of several of their friends and associates, including Eric Clapton and Pete Best. This home video release also includes Beatlemania!, a documentary capturing the excitement of the group's return to England following their triumphant first visit to the United States in 1964. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Learn about the people involved in the peace movements of the '60s and the '80s with this collection of interviews. ~ Rovi

The personal film archives of Yoko Ono were utilized for this feature-length documentary on the life of John Lennon. Predictably, it downplays Lennon's association with the Beatles and concentrates on his years with Ono. The film spends a lot of time recounting Lennon's anti-war activities, highlighted by a confrontation on a talk show hosted by conservative cartoonist Al Capp. The title of the documentary is, of course, taken from Lennon's idyllic ballad about a world free of hatred and discord. Imagine: John Lennon is a reverent but ultimately depressing chronicle of an artist who died the untimeliest of deaths. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono saw a television report about the lamentable conditions at the Willowbrook School for Children, a facility for mentally and physically challenged children in New York state. They were so moved they volunteered their services to raise funds to help improve treatment and facilities at Willowbrook. Toward that goal, Lennon and Ono played a benefit show at Madison Square Garden in New York City, one of only a handful of live shows the former Beatle would perform after going solo. Filmed for television, John Lennon: Live in New York City features Lennon and Ono performing 14 songs, including "Imagine," "Power to the People," "Instant Karma," "It's So Hard," "Give Peace a Chance," and more. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

In 1972, John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, made a strategic and historic week-long guest appearance on the hit talk/variety television program The Mike Douglas Show hoping to get their counterculture message across to middle America. Day three, February 16, 1972, features Lennon meeting his hero, rock & roll pioneer Chuck Berry, for the first time. Other guests include Peace Corps/Action Corps Director Joseph Blatchford, macrobiotic restauranteur Hillary Redleaf, and musician/biofeedback engineer David Rosenbloom. Douglas sings "I Whistle a Happy Tune." Berry performs two songs with Lennon, Ono, and the Plastic Ono Elephant's Memory Band: "Memphis" and "Johnny B. Goode." Ono and Lennon also sing "Sisters, O Sisters," and Douglas croons "Losing My Mind." Highlights also include the music video for the song "Crippled Inside" from the Imagine LP. In the video, artist Andy Warhol makes a cameo appearance. Besides the ongoing performance art pieces from the previous days, there are also demonstrations of how to cook macrobiotic Hiziki Eggrolls, and how to create musical sounds via Alpha Wave biofeedback. ~ Steve Blackburn, Rovi