Lennon Naked

Christopher Eccleston did an astounding job depicting John Lennon in the hard hitting drama, John Lennon: Naked. Made as part of the BBC's Father's Day themed week of programs the drama looked at Lennon's role as a father as well as his relationship with his own wayward father.

Eccleston was excellent - for a moment during the early black and white scenes with Beatle Lennon I thought they were using old news footage until I realised this was actually Eccleston. He wears the role like a second skin. Now I'm a Beatle nut myself and I know my John Lennon and what I have just seen must be the most perfect interpretation ever.

The rest of the Beatles were okay with Ringo seeming particularly well realised - the involvement of the three Beatles though, is minor as the narrative drive of the drama is very much with Lennon. This is not a Beatles story but rather the story of the anti-Beatle.

Eccleston's performance is bound to gather mixed opinions - there are hordes of Beatle fans out there who will, no doubt, think it was all over the top, but to my mind the actor nailed Lennon perfectly and the supporting cast, especially Naoka Mori as Yoko are equally excellent.

Well known incidents in the Beatle story - Lennon smashing McCartney's windows, George's snide remarks to Yoko, the launch and fall of Apple are played out in the background with the main focus being Lennon's anger at his own father for abandoning him and his guilt for failing as a father himself.

It did seem curious though that the drama ended with Lennon and Yoko leaving the UK for America in 1971 and not with Lennon's later house husband days when the singer seemed to have found some contentment. This would have seemed logical given the theme of the drama but as it is the ending seems to suggest that once again Lennon is running from the past, a troubled man carrying the burden of genius.





Excellent - I'm going to watch that again. iPlayer here I come.