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'Across the Universe' a mixed bagBy Andrew Bearden
- Movie Review - Picture provided by: www.wikipedia.com
Yes, "Across the Universe" is a nod, nudge and a freight train of Beatles-laden references, characters and most prominently, songs. The film frequently bursts into renditions of familiar Lennon/McCartney and Harrison penned music, full of twists and turns that even a casual listener will recognize. It is also full of cameo appearances from pop stars, such as U2's Bono (who was eerily reminiscent of a hippie Robin Williams) and comedian/actor Eddy Izzard. As much as I love The Beatles and off-beat experimental films, I must say that I was rather disappointed with the movie. It simply felt like it was trying too hard; it was not quite "Forrest Gump", not quite "Moulin Rouge", and not quite "The Wall" (Pink Floyd's classic). Characters, such as the guitar-playing Jojo, and the hip landlady Sadie, were lightly-disguised facsimiles of other 60's rock icons that simply paled in comparison to the real things; Jojo looked the part, but he constantly reminded me that he was not Jimi Hendrix. Perhaps that is a good thing. The well done renditions of the Lennon/McCartney and George Harrison compositions help to illustrate the strange difference between rock and roll and musical theatre. The music doesn't have the same energy in this format as a traditional musical. In a way that's hard to pinpoint. It's not such a loss, though, as hearing such powerful music on-screen with characters and faces that leave goosebumps on even the more jaded audience members. Overall, "Across the Universe" didn't live up to high expectations, but if taken with a grain of salt, it can be enjoyable and a lot of fun. It could be much, much worse. There was once a movie called "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"… |
It's hard to think objectively about something that is close to your heart, and the film "Across the Universe" is something that will hit home in many hearts, spanning many countries and generations. Set in Vietnam era United States and Britain, "Across the Universe" is a retro, psychedelic look into the lives of Jude, a dock worker from Liverpool, and his American friends Lucy and Max. Those three, along with all the other principle characters in the film, are named for aspects of various Beatles' songs.