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In ‘One to One: John & Yoko,’ a couple against the world comes into focus

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The difficulty with the Beatles’ greatness lies in its widespread acceptance and extensive documentation. As a result, discussions about their subject often seem redundant. New works, such as Peter Jackson’s groundbreaking 2021 documentary “The Beatles: Get Back,” may initially generate excitement due to never-before-seen footage, but the cultural saturation surrounding them can lead to a sense of exhaustion. With the Beatles’ legend deeply ingrained in our culture, it becomes challenging to find new ground to cover. However, this doesn’t deter Hollywood, as four upcoming Beatles biopics are scheduled for release in 2028.

In a different perspective: Kevin Macdonald, known for directing documentaries about influential musicians such as Bob Marley and Whitney Houston, deviates from this pattern with “One to One: John & Yoko.” Instead of scrutinizing his subjects in general or focusing on their iconic status, he dives deep into an intimate perspective, concentrating on 18 significant months in the lives of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. This approach intentionally avoids dwelling on the Beatles’ legacy to emphasize Lennon individually, beyond the band that catapulted him to fame. Seeking a raw and immediate feel, Macdonald, winner of an Oscar for “One Day in September,” strives to bypass sentimentality, transporting viewers back to the early 1970s following the disbandment of the Beatles. During this period, Lennon and Ono resided in a modest Greenwich Village apartment, where their artistic endeavors, political activism, and romantic bond flourished. This effort results in a captivating, at times uneven portrayal that humanizes one of the Beatles by showcasing the everyday life of Lennon and his beloved wife.

The documentary “One to One” centers around John Lennon’s only full-length concert post-Beatles, which was performed at Madison Square Garden on Aug 30, 1972. However, the filmmaker isn’t just creating a concert movie; instead, these musical segments serve as a backdrop for a broader exploration of Lennon and Ono’s psychological state during a tumultuous period in American history. The documentary symbolically switches between TV commercials, game shows, news reports on Vietnam War and Watergate, reflecting the couple’s perception of America influenced by their extensive television consumption. In Imax format, “One to One” immerses viewers in this flood of information, entertainment, and consumerism, implying that Lennon and Ono’s music and activism emerged from this visual chaos.

To emphasize the personal nature of the project, McDonald meticulously recreates the couple’s New York apartment, allowing the camera to smoothly navigate through the space while we listen to old phone calls. Thankfully, “One to One” doesn’t feature Lennon and Ono doppelgangers, making the empty apartment feel both lived-in and haunting. This method aligns with McDonald’s overall approach, which avoids modern commentary or extensive context for the film’s historical footage. The movie assumes you’re familiar with George Wallace, the segregationist, and allows you to appreciate the delight of seeing an unnamed Stevie Wonder performing with Lennon. McDonald doesn’t aim to amaze us with history unfolding; instead, he immerses us in the cozy, casual chaos of the couple’s everyday life, humorously accentuated by a seemingly unnecessary subplot about Ono investigating how to get live flies for her art project.

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This documentary, titled “One to One,” skips over retelling John Lennon’s professional milestones from that period, such as how his groundbreaking 1970 solo album “Plastic Ono Band” set the stage for the release of “Imagine” approximately nine months later. Instead, Macdonald offers snippets of Lennon and Ono on talk shows where they discuss their relationship or criticize Lennon’s former Beatles bandmates for failing to support Ono when she was targeted by the media. The personal issues that the couple faced, like Lennon’s deportation fears and Ono’s custody battle for her daughter Kyoko from a previous marriage, make the story deeply engaging. (Ono’s struggles led to the creation of her powerful 1969 song “Don’t Worry Kyoko,” which she performed with intense passion during the One to One show.)

The state of U.S. politics often lingers in their thoughts. In alliance with Jerry Rubin, a counterculture activist, Lennon and Ono advocated for peace and love, displaying a naive yet touching optimism. The documentary’s contemporary resonance is undeniable, as Nixon’s conservative America appears to be a prelude to the harsh nation we know today. However, there’s a sense of resilient protest in Lennon’s observation that despite the 1960s’ Flower Power movement fading, another could arise from its aftermath. Lennon’s anger towards societal injustices inspired songs like “Attica State” and “John Sinclair,” which were later compiled on the album “Some Time in New York City.” Regrettably, his humanistic values and music couldn’t halt America’s growing conservatism, but “One to One” suggests that Lennon’s message continues to be relevant, even though he is no longer with us.

If there’s a hint of nostalgia from the boomer era, “One to One” offers electrifying performances of “Come Together” and “Instant Karma,” which might make you question why these classics weren’t this intense initially. However, the film occasionally falls back on overused techniques common in music documentaries. For instance, longtime collaborator Sam Rice-Edwards, the editor and co-director of the movie, doesn’t offer anything new by alternating concert scenes with news clips (such as Nixon alongside Lennon performing “Hound Dog”). Additionally, while the idea that Lennon and Ono gained an understanding of America through television is intriguing, it often feels repetitive when combined with a montage of somber news and light-hearted commercials.

The less Macdonald focuses on mythologizing or summarizing, the more John Lennon and Yoko Ono appear as intricate, vulnerable individuals navigating their lives during challenging periods. “One to One” isn’t a tribute to the Beatles’ greatness or Lennon’s genius. In spite of its wide screen presentation, this film presents its subjects in an intimate, realistic light.

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2025-04-12 01:01

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