Watch Various - John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band- Sweet Toronto

Various - John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band- Sweet Toronto from 1971 is a music documentary film featuring legendary rock and roll performers such as Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Bo Diddley, and of course, John Lennon. The film documents the highlights of a live performance by John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival festival in 1969.

The opening moments of the film set the tone for the energy and raw power that's to come when Chuck Berry takes the stage. With his trademark duck walk and guitar licks, Berry delivers a performance that's sure to get the crowd pumped up and primed for the rest of the show.

Next up is Eric Clapton, who puts on a virtuosic display of guitar playing with his rendition of "Badge". Bo Diddley follows with his classic hit "Bo Diddley" that gets the audience moving and grooving to the beat.

But the real highlight of the film is John Lennon's performance with the Plastic Ono Band. Dressed in all white, Lennon takes the stage and delivers a set of songs that are both powerful and introspective. Throughout the performance, Lennon's voice is at its rawest and most emotional, delivering heartfelt renditions of his classics "Give Peace a Chance" and "Cold Turkey".

The Plastic Ono Band's tight melodies and steady beats provide a perfect backdrop for Lennon's singing and songwriting. The rawness and energy of their sound only adds to the sense of urgency in Lennon's message of peace and love.

Some of the standout moments of the film include Lennon's performance of "John, John (Let's Hope For Peace)" which features raw, unflinching lyrics about the Vietnam War and calls for peace. The film also captures the moment when Yoko Ono unexpectedly takes the stage to perform her own unique brand of experimental music, a move that was controversial at the time but which now stands as a testament to her artistic vision and creativity.

The vibrant energy of the audience is also a highlight of the film, with the camera capturing ecstatic fans jumping and dancing to the music, giving a sense of the communal joy that's inherent in rock and roll.

One of the striking elements of the film is its black-and-white cinematography, which gives the performances a sense of timelessness and gritty authenticity. The camera often lingers on the performers' faces, capturing the emotion and passion in their expressions, making the performances all the more visceral and immediate.

All in all, Various - John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band- Sweet Toronto from 1971 is a must-watch for any fan of classic rock and roll. From the legendary performances of Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley to the raw, impassioned singing of John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band, it's a film that captures the essence of what makes rock music so powerful and transformative.

Various - John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band- Sweet Toronto is a 1971 documentary with a runtime of 56 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.