Title: Across The Universe
Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Martin Luther, Dana Fuchs, Jim Sturgess, Linda Emond
Directed By: Julie Taymor
Produced By: Derek Dauchy, Charles J. Newirth, Matt Gross (II)
Genre: Musical/Performing Arts and Romance
Release Date: September 14th, 2007 (limited), Sept 21st (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some drug content, nudity, sexuality, violence and language.
Distributors: Sony Pictures Releasing
A love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, mind exploration and rock 'n roll, the film moves from the dockyards of Liverpool to the creative psychedelia of Greenwich Village, from the riot-torn streets of Detroit to the killing fields of Vietnam. The star-crossed lovers, Jude (Jim Sturgess) and Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), along with a small group of friends and musicians, are swept up into the emerging anti-war and counterculture movements, with "Dr. Robert" (Bono) and "Mr. Kite" (Eddie Izzard) as their guides. Tumultuous forces outside their control ultimately tear the young lovers apart, forcing Jude and Lucy – against all odds – to find their own way back to each other. - Official Site
Some may akin Across The Universe to a two hour long music video. Well, it is in a way. It takes elements of a movie and a music video and mashes them together in a way that will work for some, but not for others. I, personally, am not a Beatles fan so I cannot speak for the legions that are out there, but I am willing to bet that the majority of those who will not like this musical will be those fans. Me, on the other hand thought the music was handled superbly. The cast all sing very well and there are a few surprise faces and voices peppered throughout, including Bono of U2, Eddie Izzard and Joe Cocker. Some of the more memorable songs used were Helter Skelter, sung in a vocal style reminiscent of Janis Joplin by Dana Fuchs, who belts out a few other tunes as well, I Want To Hold Your Hand, heartbreakingly done by TV Carpio and Come Together by Joe Cocker and Martin Luther. Sometimes trippy, sometimes confusing, but always well acted and with superb visuals, Julie Taymor's Across The Universe is one of the few musicals that I actually liked.
With a large cast like this it's hard to single out any one actor/actress so I will only mention those who really impressed me, mainly the two male leads, Jim Sturgess as Jude and Joe Anderson as Max. Sturgess has one hell of a voice and shows a lot of emotion through his eyes while Anderson is , for the most part, a happy go lucky type of guy which compliments Sturgess well. Evan Rachel Wood's Lucy is kind of caught in the middle between her love for Jude and her commitment to ending the war and does a fine job of showing that distress.
Even though at times it feels like you are watching a video, there is enough story to keep you interested, albeit the characters come last after the music and the protest against Vietnam (which I am sure is in reference to the war in Iraq), but I won't go into that. Let's just say that I was interested and amused by the whole movie, although it did seem to drag on a bit three quarters of the way through.
I can say that I enjoyed the music enough that I stopped by my local mall to pick up the soundtrack right after seeing the movie. Too bad the CD doesn't come out until the 14th. (which is when you will read this, so go get it!)
Until Three Kings: The Musical or Black Hawk Down: a Tragedy in Music,
keep reading
Mitch E
mitchemerson@hotmail.com
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