across the Universe

Review #227
Revolution Studios, 2007
Mov No. 42759
Genre: Musical
Rated: PG
Directed by: Julie Taymor
Staring: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson, T.V. Carpio
Oscars: 1 nomination (Costume Design)
AFI 100 years, 100 _____ tributes: None
Runtime: 2h 13min
Best quote: "Is there any reason you shouldn't be in this man's Army?" "I'm a cross-dressing homosexual pacifist with a spot on my lung." "As long as you don't have flat feet." - Army Sergeant and Max Carrigan

Jude (Jim Sturgess) travels to America from England to find the father he never knew. Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), is grief-stricken after her fiancé is killed in action in the war in Vietnam.

Jude meets Lucy, and they fall in love.

Simple enough, right?

Mix in some amazing cameo performances by Bono, Eddie Izzard and Salma Hayek, add a liberal portion of The Beatles greatest hits, and final stick together with terrific direction from Julie Taymor and you get Across the Universe, a tribute to the Beatles if there ever was one.

The Beatles songs are used exceptionally well and fit in every scene as if they were made for those specific scenes. The actors who sing the songs belt them out with exceptional talent; Bono and Eddie Izzard take their song cameos and make them the best parts of the movie.

One of the best parts of the film (an exceptionally well made segue from action to song) comes when Jude and Lucy have a fight. Lucy, talking about protesting the war in Vietnam, calls the demonstrations "a revolution." Jude follows her and starts to sing Revolution. "You say you want a Revolution, well, you know... We want to change the world..." What an amazing scene it is, one that you have to see to feel its power.

The film takes the songs and uses them as dialogue, as if the actors are speaking to the other actors with the help of John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

All the great Beatles songs are here: Revolution, Hey Jude, Helter Skelter, All My Loving, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Let it Be, I am the Walrus, and more. Over 30 songs by the fab four are used.

Julie Taymor was a masterful director, sculpting the screenplay into what we see... the dazzling visuals, the movement and choreography, the placing of the songs, everything. She should have been nominated for Best Director, but then again the film was terribly snubbed by the academy.

Do yourself a favor and see what I am writing about; one of the best films of the year. A must for any Beatles fan.

Is the movie worth your time to watch?

FINAL RATING

07-04-08