Directed by:
Julie TaymorCinematography:
Bruno DelbonnelComposer:
Elliot GoldenthalCast:
Jim Sturgess, Evan Rachel Wood, Dana Fuchs, Joe Anderson, Martin Luther, T.V. Carpio, Eddie Izzard, Bono, Jacob Pitts, Dylan Baker, Lynn Cohen, Harry Lennix (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Across The Universe, from director Julie Taymor, is a revolutionary rock musical that re-imagines America in the turbulent late-1960s, a time when battle lines were being drawn at home and abroad. When young dockworker Jude (Jim Sturgess) leaves Liverpool to find his estranged father in America, he is swept up by the waves of change that are re-shaping the nation. Jude falls in love with Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), a rich but sheltered American girl who joins the growing anti-war movement in New York's Greenwich Village. As the body count in Vietnam rises, political tensions at home spiral out of control and the star-crossed lovers find themselves in a psychedelic world gone mad. (Umbrella Entertainment)
(more)Reviews (3)
Compared to other musicals, this one is still quite okay. This is mainly due to the fact that in most cases I listened to well-known songs. At times, Across The Universe reminded me of Mamma Mia!, which has more in common with it than some might think. The parallel between Liverpool and The Beatles was very nice. Nevertheless, I was not particularly impressed nor offended. At times I was watching the movie, at times only listening to it, and that was more or less enough. Nothing more was necessary.
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Nothing's gonna change my world. Behind the beautiful camerawork, the unique interpretation of Beatles songs, and complete immersion in musical numbers, there is a slightly confused mixture that looks like it was created by at least a dozen screenwriters. The loss of love, innocence, or hope, so simply outlined by characters like Sadie or Prudence, resonates at least halfway. And yet, this love story with different views on the crisis period could have sounded absolutely perfect. On one hand, I am sorry that so much potential resulted in only a few perfect and several very solid scenes. On the other hand, the strengths (the main duo, the compositionally perfect "Strawberry Fields Forever", the touchingly culminating "All You Need Is Love") shine so brightly that they overshadow the excessive surrealism and fragmentation.
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I simply don't have much to add to this movie. The Beatles songs are used incredibly innovatively here, their new arrangements are excellent, not to mention that it's possible to create a quite meaningful story based on them. Great characters, but still, you just know that this whole thing is based on something that was created fifty years ago. These songs will never get old. Yes, I love the Beatles.
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