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Presented with a love story set in the sixties, accompanied by only The Beatles as a soundtrack, was something I frankly could not resist. I know, overly emotional, painful pauses leading to the inevitable burst into song, coupled with the usual bile-inducing antics do not often make musicals an appealing offer. Be prepared to quash your preconceptions.
Across the Universe is offered up as a romantic musical, tracking the meeting and relationship of two lovers from either side of The Pond, all to the soundtrack of The Beatles back catalogue. Although an incredulous proposition at first, the visually led directorial capabilities of Julia Taymor (Frida, Titus) carry any suspicious or nauseating dialogue. Jude, played by newcomer Ben Sturgess, leaves Liverpool in favour of Princeton University where he attempts to track down his father. His epiphany is realised through his friendship with student Max (Joe Anderson) rather than through parenthood. After attending a Thanksgiving celebration with Max’s family, his love for the student’s sister Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood) ignites. As their worlds collide, so does the world proper as the Vietnam War reaches television sets showing the atrocities caused by the US Government. The boys move to New York, sharing an apartment that will ultimately influence their lives.
Luminous colours, 3-D animation and collaged film create the sensation that you are drowning in celluloid technicolour. Taymor’s visual language is reminiscent of the Coen Brothers’ The Big Lebowski, where surreal dreamscapes and dance formations carry The Dude’s chemical induced trips. There are some notable interpretations; mainly ‘I Want You (She’s So Heavy)’ sung by Uncle Sam’s officers who share the same faceted masks whilst singing their recruitment mantra. The scene closes with the underwear-clad recruits heaving the Statue of Liberty through war torn Vietnam. Let’s be honest, this could have been car crash cinema, but cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel does not compromise the integrity of the band or the actors.
Although sub-plots keep the story going, you are left anticipating the next hippy-inflected explosion sung by the impressive Sturgess – whose character is a Lennon and McCartney hybrid – or by one of the many cameos that includes Joe Cocker, Bono and comedian Eddie Izzard. Bono cast as counter-culture revolutionary Dr. Robert leads the cast on a veritable magical mystery tour whilst singing ‘I Am The Walrus’. The greatest mystery however, is why wardrobe dressed him up as The Edge. Of all the renditions the most memorable is slightly gratuitous in terms of narrative, featuring Izzard as circus ringmaster Mr. Kite, delivering the tune ‘Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite’ with zealous dancing and a kaleidoscopic fusion of images.
Sturgess puts in a good innings as Jude, as does Wood as Lucy the anti-war activist frustrated by her boyfriend’s ‘doodles’ and lack of action in a turbulent time. The Hendrix parody Jo-Jo who along with singer Sadie, share the NY flat with the two boys as well as exceptional voices.
Taymor takes advantage of The Beatles own musical development that mirrors the emotional maturity of Jude. The songs taken from With The Beatles and Help! will forever capture young love at its most burgeoning and natural, as opposed to the downright feral Soulja Boy of today.
The visual power and musical prowess of Across the Universe may on the surface be aligned with Baz Luhrmann’s musical manifesto Moulin Rouge, but that’s where the similarities end. Taymor uses The Beatles to capture the zeitgeist whilst relating the story, and coupled with hysteric visuals creates a psychedelic film worth a trip.
Credits
Director & Story: Julie Taymor
Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs, Martin Luther McCoy, T.V. Carpio
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