Watch The Killing of John Lennon

The Killing of John Lennon is a 2006 film that tells the story of Mark David Chapman, the man who assassinated John Lennon in 1980. The movie was directed by Andrew Piddington and stars Jonas Ball as Chapman, Mie Omori as his wife Gloria, and Krisha Fairchild as his mother. The film is based on Jack Jones' book, Let Me Take You Down, which details Chapman's life and his obsession with Lennon. It begins with a disclaimer stating that the views expressed in the movie are solely those of the characters portrayed and not the filmmakers or producers.

The movie opens with a montage of Lennon's life, including his music, activism, and marriage to Yoko Ono. Then it shifts to Chapman, a troubled man who was abused as a child and feels like a failure in life. He finds solace in the music of The Beatles and becomes fixated on John Lennon, whom he sees as a phony for his public persona as a peace activist.

Chapman decides to go to New York and kill Lennon, but he is conflicted. He visits the Dakota, the building where Lennon lived, and even meets the musician's son, Sean, whom he doesn't harm. However, his obsession with Lennon takes over, and he buys a gun and waits for Lennon to return from recording with Yoko Ono.

The second half of the movie focuses on Chapman's mental state as he prepares to carry out his plan. He becomes increasingly erratic and has conversations with imaginary characters, including Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye, who Chapman sees himself as embodying. He even has hallucinations of being on The David Letterman Show and confessing his plan to the host.

The Killing of John Lennon ends with Chapman murdering Lennon and being arrested by the NYPD. He is shown being interviewed by the police and the media, where he seems to revel in his notoriety. The movie closes with a tribute to John Lennon, set to his song "Imagine."

Overall, The Killing of John Lennon is a disturbing and intense portrayal of Mark David Chapman's descent into madness and his assassination of one of the most beloved musicians of all time. While it could be accused of glorifying the killer and giving him a voice, the film also sheds light on the dangers of obsession and the impact of celebrity on troubled individuals.