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Movie Review - Across the Universe (2007)
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(What this rating means)
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| Director: |
Julie Taymor |
| Starring: |
Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs, Martin Luther, and T.V. Carpio |
| Rated: |
PG-13 (for some drug content, nudity, sexuality, violence and language) |
| Length: |
131 minutes |
| Genre: |
Drama/Musical/Romance |
| Tagline: |
All you need is love. |
| Studio: |
Sony Pictures |
| Website: |
Across the Universe |
| Release: |
October 9, 2007 |
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PLOT
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(from imdb.com)
An original musical film, Across The Universe is a fictional love story set in the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, the struggle for free speech and
civil rights, mind exploration and rock and roll. A combination of live action and animation, the film is paired with many songs by The Beatles that defined the time. A review
by Nikki Bluejeans ensues.
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NIKKI BLUEJEANS' TAKE
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When I first saw the trailer for Across the Universe back in April, I honestly thought that someone had somehow gotten into my brain and pulled out a concept that
I had had for years. A film that takes place in the volatile 60s, with all of the love, flower-power, British invasion, and Vietnam-related turmoil... and it's all told
through the music of The Beatles? Sign me up!
The film begins with our lead sitting on a beach, head turned around - drawing us in - and singing a haunting rendition of the song Girl. What unfolds is truly
visionary storytelling that is, if nothing else, unique. As every character is introduced - Jude, Lucy, Max, JoJo, (Sexy) Sadie, Prudence, Mr. Kite - my love for the
Beatles was not only re-awoken, but somehow validated as well.
It's true that to many people, those names won't inspire a knowing chuckle - but that's ok! The many references in the film will delight true Beatles fans (The Cavern
Club, Rooftop Concerts, Silver Hammers, Green Apple Drawings, Brigitte Bardot) - but they are not necessary to understand the plot of the movie. Non-Beatles fans will
NOT be lost and should not avoid seeing the film because of it. I saw the movie with someone who is by no means as overtly obsessed with them as I am, and she thoroughly
enjoyed the flick, comparing it quite rightly to Moulin Rouge. But for those of us who know every song, there's a little something extra. And it made me feel
special... and a little geeky.
The biggest issues I had with the film came from the almost forced presence of drugs and their effects. Granted, it was a part of the culture, but the scenes that
involved it - namely Dr. Robert's party and the scene featuring For the Benefit of Mr. Kite - were so different from the rest of the movie that they stuck out like
sore, trippy thumbs. Knowing that the song itself was very psychedelic ? and having seen some of the Beatles films of that era - I was able to understand and almost accept
the animated graphics and over-the-top theatrics. But it definitely might turn off a few viewers who were otherwise on board.
I also thought that some of the music was over-produced and muddled. Some of the song choices were either too cliché or random for my taste. For instance, the inclusion of
Blackbird seemed out of nowhere and not used as I would have liked - or as it was originally intended by McCartney (a social comment on the civil rights movement).
So, a huge opportunity to film something meaningful was missed there.
But the singers are all fantastic, and the interpretation of the music was, for the most part, well done. There are some pretty interesting twists on the classic songs,
and there were some "deep cuts" included that I was particularly happy about. It's time the world got to know the forgotten songs like Dear Prudence and
Happiness is a Warm Gun - and my all-time favorite (and always overlooked), I've Just Seen a Face. I wanted even more music, but I concede that over 30
songs - spanning their whole career - is a good start!
Sometimes, the film seemed a bit choppy from one scene to the next. Conceptually, the story is good - told from different perspectives: upper-class American family,
lower-class Liverpudlian family; Greenwich Village bohemians, opposing sides of the Vietnam War - but there is nothing too preachy either. Perhaps there are just too
many perspectives to touch on, which contributes to the lack of flow. But ultimately, the underlying theme that connects them all is (say it with me, people): Love. It
is, after all, all you need...
The movie is enchanting and simple in design. There are no huge plot twists, so it takes a fairly predictable course. But, is there anything wrong with that? How refreshing
to be able to sit back and enjoy a good love story. A few scenes border on cheesy, but are easily forgivable within that context.
My expectations were extremely high, as they often are when it comes to something I'm passionate about, so I was a tougher critic than most would be. And yet I was able
to enjoy Across the Universe. It's fun, at times intense... and good luck sitting still!
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ODDS & ENDS
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- Jim Sturgess (Jude) is the spitting image of Paul McCartney, and his Liverpudlian "scouse" accent will send most American girls into a tizzy.
- The high-collared coat that Jude wears in the opening of the film is reminiscent of the coat Paul McCartney wore in The Magical Mystery Tour when he sings
The Fool on the Hill.
- The filming of the movie changed the life of actress Evan Rachel Wood so much that she got a Beatles-themed tattoo of "strawberries, where the leaves are in
the shape of a blackbird and diamonds for Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." She now plans to have it covered up "because nobody can figure out what it is."
- Julie Taymor directed the Oscar-nominated film Frida and her leading lady, Salma Hayek, asked to be in this film. She shows up in a fun role - or six.
- Julie Taymor also directed and won Tony Awards for The Lion King on Broadway.
- Not all of the characters have "their song" featured in the film. Filmmakers just assume we'll get the references. Random lines that reference songs are thrown in as
well, so keep an ear out...
- There are a few surprise cameos that will make young and old music fans smile.
- In one scene, Jude reads a newspaper at the Albert Dock in Liverpool. Nikki has been to that exact spot.
- The character of JoJo is an obvious reference to Jimi Hendrix.
- The character of (Sexy) Sadie resembles Janis Joplin.
- Nikki's favorite number ? 9 ? makes an appearance toward the end of the film... Spot it, and win her respect.
- If you are a non-obsessed Beatles fan and are seeing the film with someone who is one, be warned: you may feel the urge to smack the huge Beatles fan next to you every
time they lean over and say "get it?" or start singing along. (Sorry, Angie!)
- ...And if you are said obsessed Beatles fan, please don't hold it against them for doing it. You know you deserve it.
- Evan Rachel Wood was in The Missing with Tommy Lee Jones who is in No Country for Old Men with Josh Brolin who was in Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon.
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MAMA'S APPROVAL
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The movie earns its PG-13 rating. There is some nudity and sexual content. There are drug references, though I don't recall seeing many actually being used. I don't
remember there being excessive profanity, either.
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TRAILER COMPARISON
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The trailers are great, and they are a good indication of what to expect.
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THE GIST
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It's a love story set to Beatles tunes! If you enjoy The Beatles, you will like this film. If you also enjoyed Moulin Rouge, you will like it even more.
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