Imagine

Author(s): Harry
Location: Colombia

“Imagine”
A Universal Pictures Release

Directed by Taylor Hackford
Written by Bill Condon, Larry McMurtry and James L. White
Produced by Taylor Hackford, Martin Scorsese and Yoko Ono
Cinematography by Pawel Edelman
Costume design by Arianne Philips
Editing by Hughes Windborne

Principal Cast:

Jonathan Rhys Meyers as John Lennon
Maggie Cheung as Yoko Ono
Johnny Depp as Paul McCartney
Orlando Bloom as George Harrison
Tyler Hilton as Ringo Starr
Richard Schiff as Brian Epstein
David Strathairn as George Martin
Paul Dano as Phil Spector
Christian Bale as Eric Clapton
Jude Law as Klaus Voorman
Eddie Murphy as Billy Preston
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Alan White
Elizabeth Shue as Cynthia Lennon
Catherine Keener as Julia Lennon

Tagline: "Music Made Him a Legend. The World Made Him a Dreamer'

Synopsis: Imagine. You just need to open your minds and reflect. Seek for peace in these moments of sadness that unite you all. Today, you have all come at Central Park, to give one of the most shocking manifestations you will remember. They day before yesterday, John Lennon left us. Right now, in these moments, begin to remember him. Remember his music, his scandals, his love, and most importantly, his message. Remember…

With his own eyes, John Lennon sees his mother Julia die in a car accident. This strong image gives him an enormous impact that lives him with many depressions. Lennon is a sensible being. His sensational talent makes him create “The Beatles”, a band that uses a sound, so beautiful, that it lives you speechless after listening to such a perfect combination of voices. The band changes history forever. After being discovered by producer Brian Epstein, “The Beatles” make a big boom in the 60s at England and the United States. The band is conformed by Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Lennon. With the rhythm of #1 hits such as “Love Me Do”, “She Loves You” or “Can’t Buy Me Love”, millions of teenage girls dance and cry in the tours. John Lennon marries his girlfriend, Cynthia and names their son Julian, in memory of his mother. Lennon begins to pass by feelings of desperation. The band becomes drug addicted. After the phenomenon of “Help!” the band gets decorated by Queen Elizabeth and scandalously smokes some herb in the royal bathrooms. “The Beatles” continue making various top records such as the travel of the “Yellow Submarine” in the sea of green, the loneliness of the funeral of “Eleanor Rigby” and the mysteries of the “Nowhere Man”. They become internationally successful. It is then, when the band makes its last tour and in San Francisco, gives its final live performance.

At the end of the 60s, “The Beatles” make a comeback and release “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band”, a fascinating album with a terrific music. The LP becomes an instant #1 Hit and the songs, such as “Sgt. Peppers”, “Lucy in the Sky” and “All You Need Is Love” become very popular. Brian Epstein then commits suicide and creates a big confusion between the four members of the band. After a transcendental meditation in India, John Lennon meets Yoko Ono. Love. A feeling that John feels for Yoko. The beauty of souls connected by one force is something that makes them have a relationship of affect. In their hotel room, they stay in their bed for various days. They call it Hair Peace/Bed Peace and they draw, make love to each other and mix their emotions in that wonderful moment. The couple then releases “Two Virgins” an album with various strange sounds such as farts, cries and voices among others. While Lennon discovers himself thru Yoko and divorces Cynthia Lennon, Paul McCartney releases his hidden egos. Lennon and McCartney begin to have intense fights. Ringo Starr gets manipulated by the two “beatles” and George Harrison also reveals some of his egos. After a strong crisis, the band is ended by Paul McCartney. Lennon would never forgive his action because he created the band.

“Suddenly I’m 30 years old and there’s so much to do.” These are the words that John Lennon pronounces, a few years after the separation of “The Beatles”. Next to Yoko, he releases the album “Plastic Ono Band”, contributed by Eric Clapton, Klaus Voorman, Billy Preston and Alan White. Lennon expresses various feelings with this album in songs like “Working Class Hero” and “Mother”. After a strong success with this album, Lennon releases “Imagine”. This song gives a tremendous message of peace and is one of Lennon’s most personal works. Lennon expresses his vision of the world thru “Imagine”. After learning that England begins a war, Lennon returns his decoration in bathroom paper. This enormous scandal makes the Queen ban him from the country. Then, in the United States, Lennon releases a controversial metal album entitled “Sometime in New York City”. Lennon is called a crazy man for his strong lyrics and there are various tiresome political feuds between him and the States. After releasing “Mind Games”, Lennon and Ono enter into a crisis and separate. Lennon begins to date Mei Pang, who becomes Yoko’s substitute. Lennon then releases the album “Walls and Bridges” and makes peaces with Yoko. Their love is miraculously reborn. John and Yoko finally have a son after various tragic aborts of Yoko. They decide to retire and live in various peaceful moments for a long time.

People, after connecting thru a reflexive meditation with one man, we must all come together and receive various feelings. John Lennon was a dreamer, but one whose dreams had a magic touch of happiness. As you slowly close your eyes, I want you to imagine a world, were people have no possessions and share, imagine a world were everyone could eat, a world were there is only a harmony of a solid love. All I want to tell you is that all of us can dream of a wonderful world, but we can also make it possible thru some little actions that make us feel good. “Imagine all the people living life in peace”.

What the press would say:

I have just seen one of the most powerful, beautiful and inspiring films. Using words to describe this piece of art is something very difficult because this motion picture has left me speechless and blowed away. The film gives a brilliant portrayal of John Lennon in every single of his aspects thanks to the directing of Taylor Hackford that captivates all of the atmospheres. From the first brilliant narration to the scenes of music and scandals, this film makes me feel as if I were living everything. A solid and very emotional script is brought to life by Bill Condon, Larry McMurtry and James L. White. Every single line gives you a certain emotion and the drive of the story is heartbreaking and reflexive. In one of the most important portrayals of the last years, Jonathan Rhys Meyers truly impacts as John Lennon. His performance is so convincing that you never see him in the screen, you see John Lennon as if Meyers was his reincarnation. Complementing Meyer’s astonishing performance is a terrific cast whose standouts are Maggie Cheung with a magnificent performance as the polemic plastic artist Yoko Ono and Johnny Depp in one of his best performances as the polemic singer Paul McCartney. With an excellent cinematography, a costume design that complements the period elements and an editing that conducts the drive, “Imagine” is one of those films that not only makes you enter the story of John Lennon but that also speaks of hope, love and most importantly, a message of peace. “Imagine” is a cinematic achievement and a film were people will reflect.

Awards:

Best Picture – Taylor Hackford, Martin Scorsese and Yoko Ono
Best Picture (Musical or Comedy) (HFPA)
Best Ensemble
Best Director – Taylor Hackford
Best Actor – Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Best Supporting Actor – Johnny Depp
Best Supporting Actress – Maggie Cheung
Best Original Screenplay
Best Cinematography
Best Costume Design
Best Film Editing