I have read many Lennon biographies as well as numerous detailed accounts of Chapman's life. The books that I have read go deep into his background and they explore what conclusions can be made about his thought process and motivations.
In that regard, this film presents a strikingly superficial rendering of who Chapman was and what was motivating him. While skipping realistic depth and detail, the film uses atmospheric shots, music, and creative editing to conjure an atmosphere that is in effect, an art project.
Given the subject matter, I find it distasteful.
The shots of Chapman walking around in a clearly 21st-century time square (the film is set in 1980) are silly. The randomly sped-up shots of him maniacally grimacing are irritating, and, honestly, a bit cheesy.
I will give the film credit for it's depiction of Lennon at the end, I found him strikingly life-like.
If you really want to learn about Chapman, get one of the recognized books on the subject matter and delve deep.
This film is an art-school project that reveals nothing and presents a superficial, unbelievable caricature of Lennon's murderer.
