|
Across The Universe
Directed by: Julie Taymor
Starring: Jim Sturgess
Genre:
Musical
Run Time: 131 min.
Release Date:
October 2007
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
is a musical for those who love the Beatles and/or the Vietnam War era
anti-war protests. Specifically, it’s for those who love the Beatles
though.
Paying homage to almost all the Beatles’ songs of this era, Across
The Universe paints a set of narratives across the silver screen
against the lyrical backdrops of such greats as ‘All My Loving’, ‘Let It
Be’, ‘Come Together’, and ‘Hey Jude’ to name a very few. All of the
character names are also either pulled directly from Beatles tunes
(Jude, Maxwell, Lucy, Sadie, etc.) or from the times (JoJo as Jimi
Hendrix, etc.).
Although very cleverly put together as a whole, the first forty minutes
of the film are scattered and much of the music forced into the plot in
order for it to make sense. The constrained script plugs along, trying
to take wing but more often than not, falling back to Earth and trying
again.
About an hour into the film, however, Across The Universe finds
its wings and gets aloft. After Max (Joe Anderson) gets inducted into
the military, there’s an incredible sequence in which we see a platoon
of soldiers carrying the statue of liberty across the jungles of
Vietnam. Never have I seen something so contrasting yet beautifully
explored with regards to how the U.S. felt as boys were sent to fight in
Southeast Asia (‘Liberating’ the Vietnamese by trampling down their
country). The song ‘I Want You’ is interspersed here with the lyrics
“she’s so...heavy!” cut from it. Amazingly done.
The story is really about love and tolerance during a time of incredible
bloodshed and governmental turmoil. Lead actors Jim Sturgess (as Jude)
and Evan Rachel Wood (as Lucy) do a fine job of making us care about
this conflicted couple and how in love they eventually become thanks to
their similarities but also their differences. Jude wants to stay out of
the war and focus on his artwork, while Lucy is forced into the Peace
Movement when her brother (Max) gets drafted and shipped out. Lucy finds
that peace at any cost is too high a price, while Jude’s eyes are
awakened when he pulls his head out of the proverbial sands.
The drug culture is explored in-depth as our would-be lovers trek across
the U.S. in a psychedelic bus after drinking some “purple punch.” The
visuals are wild, and the colors even wilder as their “experience” drops
them into the hands of Mr. Kite (Eddie Izzard,
MY SUPER
EX-GIRLFRIEND) who sings, not surprisingly, ‘Being For
The Benefit Of Mr. Kite.’” His blue buddies are indicative of the LSD
experience for those who wanted to “turn on, tune in, and drop out.”
The ending is well rendered if a bit predictable. Love cannot be denied
amongst these terrible times, so Jude and Lucy must find a way to make
theirs work.
If it weren’t for the terrible beginning, this film would’ve gotten an
easy five star rating. But it faltered so much in those first forty
minutes that I’d be lying to myself if I said the middle and end made up
for all of it. It didn’t. But Across The Universe is still a musical
worth watching. Just get past the beginning and you’ll be swept up in
the nostalgic music and characters.
(back to top) |
Image from Across The
Universe
DVD cost: $27.35
Purchase:
Tower.com (Blu-Ray)
Film Review Stew
Favorite? No.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
When Max and Jude first
see their apartment, Sadie comments that Max seems harmless, but could
have murdered someone with a silver hammer, and in another scene Max is
shown holding a silver hammer, both homages to the song that lends Max
his name, "Maxwell's Silver Hammer."
Movie Quote: "As
blissful as you two are in the throws of young love, I've got an
appointment with Uncle Sam."
Other Actors/Actresses
from Across The Universe
   |
