To all that know me, know for certain; my love for Star Wars, The Beatles and my hatred of Carnys.
Having witnessed the incompetence of the Bee Gees version of 1978’s “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (for some reason starring, George Burns and Steve Martin, WTF?) any high concept project dealing with Beatles material kept my expectations on the down low, until now, Wow! There are not enough superlatives to describe my instant love for my favorite movie of 2007! “Across the Universe” is a romantic, marvelously inventive film full of visual tricks and treats that will make you a Beatles fan if you aren’t one already. For me, this was like dying and ascending into heaven to be greeted by Elvis. Even though the film is basically a trip through the tumultuous 1960’s and the Vietnam war; it vibrates with urgency and plays just as relatable as if it was happening today, it’s not only the characters journey, but the country’s as well underscoring how The Beatles were embraced so enthusiastically.
Someone once said the most wonderful thing to do in life is watch someone sing, that’s certainly true here as the plot is just as firm and full of life as the songs they sing. The film’s many characters are all named after Beatle songs: Jude, Lucy, Rita, Julia, Max, Prudence, Sexy Sadie, Dan, Teddy boy, Martha, Dr. Robert, Mr. Kite, Jo Jo and a few characters make allusions to other rock giants; Janis Joplin, Jimmi Hendrix and Bob Dylan. The film begins in the early 1960’s with the dream-like opening on a beach, when newcomer Jim Sturgess as Jude swoons the opening lines to “Girl”-“Is there anybody going to listen to my story?” and shifts gears to Lucy, (Evan Rachel Wood) and her boyfriend Dan in middle America dancing to "It Won't Be Long", full of innocence and potential with the threat of Vietnam about alter their lives. We then meet Jude in his real life, (Jim Sturgess) a ship welder in Liverpool England, who works his way to a college in upstate New York in search of his father, who he initially thought was dead. At the college he meets his new best friend Max, (Joe Anderson) who takes Jude home with him on Thanksgiving break and announces to his family he’s dropping out. Jude and Max’s sister Lucy meet and fall in love. The trio, Jude, Max, Lucy, soon move to Greenwich Village in New York and share an apartment with musicians, Sexy Sadie who has a strong resemblance to Janis Joplin and her lover, Jo Jo, is a dead-ringer for Jimmi Hendrix and lesbian Prudence, (T.V. Carpio) who is unable to express her true feelings. As Jude and Lucy have a wild love affair they get caught up in the hippie and drug movement of the counter culture when they meet Dr. Robert, played by a mustachioed Bono of U2, bellowing out a ferocious, LSD stirred version of “I am the Walrus”, and taking a ride on his Magical Mystery Tour bus. Stranded by the guru, the kids get guidance from Mr. Kite, played by Eddie Izzard accompanied by his dancing Blue Meanies. Things soon take a serious turn as Lucy, much to Jude’s chagrin, gets caught up with an anti-war leader while her brother Max is shipped off to Vietnam.
The plot as it is, works to keep the story and characters coherent and to connect the musical moments together. The song arrangements sound familiar and some are radically altered, yet the essence is there. Steeped in reverence, the songs are thoroughly recognizable yet some even take on an entirely new meaning. “I Wanna Hold Yor Hand” was originally a cheery ode to the innocence of first love, yet here Prudence, sings a melancholy version of the song of her inability to express her lesbian feelings towards her classmate crush. Director Julie Taymor, (Titus, Frida and the Broadway version of “The Lion King”) shows off her Broadway sensibilities with inspired, beautifully choreographed dance sequences. My favorite is Max’s army induction, politically, poetically and ironically charged, where all the drill sergeants look like G.I. Joe on steroids while posters of Uncle Sam come to life to sing an explosive version of “I Want You,” the sequence continues on as the soon- to-be soldiers are put on a human assembly line carrying on their backs the statue of Liberty across a map of Vietnam. Bowling alleys will never be the same as Jude declares his love for Lucy for the first time as he sings a thoroughly romantic, toe-tapping version of, “I’ve Just Seen a Face." The lead cast is full of fresh faced newcomers who can carry a tune as well and act their asses off. All of the songs were sung live on-set. Jim Sturgess as Jude has a fine voice and brings every bit of conviction, joy and sorrow to his performances. Evan Rachel Wood as Lucy is a revelation as she pulls off effortlessly a convincing arc of innocent young adult to disillusioned activist. Joe Anderson is funny as the restless Max, who does a rousing interpretation of “Hey Jude.”
Executed beyond beautiful, the film never wallows in its political statements, it just plops the characters in their historical context and lets the songs take over. So many musicals sink or swim based on the catchiness of the music. For me, the ones considered classics (West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers) are instantly forgettable with the cumbersome, irrelevant songs. Some of the newer musicals for their lack of appealing cast, strangled in style or inaccessible music, “Chicago” & “Moulin Rouge”, have left me cold. I didn’t even bother with “Phantom of the Opera” for the same reasons. Not that case here as everything about the greatest band ever is showcased and given the love and reverence they so rightly deserve. More in the spirit of The Beatles very own “Hard Days Night”, “Jesus Christ, Superstar”, “Tommy” and “Pink Floyd: The Wall”, this rock opera knows what works and leaves out what doesn’t. Although the film has very little insight into the historical events, but honestly who cares? No one is watching for a history lesson and who better to walk us through it than the group who personifies the 1960’s. The film begins in the relative innocence of the early 1960’s and effortlessly proceeds to cleverly integrate the story with puppets and 3-D animation. The darker half of the decade gets the meatier, more political songs and is adjusted accordingly. The films first half is full of the catchy, poppy love songs, It Won't Be Long", ’Hold Me Tight", “If I Fell”, ’With a Little Help from My Friends". Things go considerably darker with the killing of Martin Luther King that kicks off a superb heartfelt, gospel/soul version of “Let it Be” and continues on with the escalation of the Vietnam War, “I Want You, (She’s So Bad)” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” “Happiness is Warm Gun”, “Revolution” and “Blackbird.” The film's soundtrack has remained on near constant rotation in my CD player. Several big deal cameos have fun with their bit parts, the aforementioned, Bono as “Dr. Robert”, Eddie Izzard as “Mr. Kite” and legendary rocker Joe Cocker, who did several covers of Beatle songs over the years; (With a Little Help from My Friends, Come Together) as three street characters and Salma Hayek who appears to Max (through digital special effects) as five sexy nurses. The film also has fun with other Beatles references as the last act has a concert on a rooftop that mirrors the groups famous impromptu rooftop concert atop their Apple offices in January 1969 - their final live performance. When Prudence first comes to New York she enters Jim, Lucy and Maxi’s apartment through the bathroom window. To which Jim replies to a question of where she came from, “She Came in through the Bathroom Window.” Prudence then responds to a question of where she’s from, “Nowhere, man”, (get it?) The film is full of many more genius touches that need to be seen to be appreciated as this sincere work of art full of heart, ardor and joy jumps off the screen and fills the viewer with pure delight. The most astonishing achievement, at least in cinematic form, is how the songs themes transcend time, most of the songs are over forty years old, yet they sound better than ever. Enjoying their third generation of adulation, the fab four’s brilliance and influence have taken hold and show no signs of fading away. Unlike anything you will see this year, ”Across the Universe” is trippy, wild ride that will generate new found love for the Beatles or if you’re like me, just reaffirms what was already true.