Across the Universe
I loved this movie. I haven’t seen a movie I loved this much in a long time. It is a magical piece of filmmaking. Director Julie Taymor tells a story of love and war, perfectly intertwining songs by the Beatles into a visually rich tapestry. To say it is a musical with Beatles songs risks making it sound smaller or like less of a work of art than it is. Which is not to imply that the music is not a huge part of what makes this movie so special. From T. V. Carpio’s hauntingly lovelorn rendition of “I Want to Hold Your Hand” to race riots over “Let It Be” to the uplifting “Hey Jude”, the music of the Beatles is an integral part of the tapestry that Taymor has created.
Jim Sturgess plays Jude from Liverpool, England, who leaves home to find his G.I. father in America. There he falls in with Max (Joe Anderson), the misfit son of a wealthy family and the brother of Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood). The social upheaval of the sixties swirls around and engulfs Jude, Max, and Lucy. Lucy becomes a passionate protester of the Vietnam war and Jude discovers his talents as an artist while they share an apartment in New York with Sadie (Dana Fuchs), who belts out songs such as “Why Don’t We Do It in the Road” and “Helter Skelter” with her band. To say more about the story doesn’t serve the movie, which creates an atmosphere with its songs, choreography, and cinematic composition while telling the stories of Max, Jude, and Lucy. There are a lot of good movies coming out this time of year, but the next one I want to see is this one again.
Although it feels like any attempt to describe this movie will diminish it, that is only because for me it is a work of art, and my hastily composed review will not be able to do it justice. Superficially one can compare it to Hair for its pop-music soundtrack and Vietnam backdrop, and to Moulin Rouge for its musical love story and colorful cinematography, but it is its own unique creation. Sturgess, who at times evokes the young Paul McCartney with his Liverpool accent and boyish features, gives a simple and touching performance, as does Evan Rachel Wood. The actors sing their own songs, frequently bringing a totally new emotional quality to them. Let it Be brought tears to my eyes, and Hey Jude gave me goosebumps. This is a movie that deserves to be seen, and should be seen on the big screen for the greatest impact. But I will definitely be buying the DVD.
October 6th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
I didn’t read your review, because apparently I need to see it. Mom said I would love it, and that she would buy it.