Across the Universe (2007)

Directed by: Julie Taymor | 124 minutes | drama, romance, musical | Actors: Jim Sturgess, Evan Rachel Wood, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs, Martin Luther, TV Carpio, Spencer Liff, Lisa Hogg, Nicholas Lumley, Michael Ryan, Angela Mounsey, Robert Clohessy, Ellen Hornberger, Amanda Cole, Linda Emond, Bono, Eddie Izzard, Salma Hayek, Joe Cocker

Director Julie Taymor is known for her creative excesses that manifest themselves in fantastic visual works of art. ‘Frida’ is such a film, in which the paintings of Frida Kahlo are incorporated in a great way. Taymor also knows how to get the most out of her cast, and she pushes them to great things. Under her direction, in ‘Across the Universe’, a group of young actors and actresses are in front of the camera who passionately interpret Beatles songs. ‘Across the Universe’ is a musical, in which about thirty songs by The Fab Four from Liverpool are processed. The story is set in the 1960s, the hippie era. With the anti-Vietnam war movement in the background, Taymor casually manages to incorporate some social criticism in it, but above all ‘Across the Universe’ is a heartwarming story that you will not be able to see sitting still. In a beautiful opening scene, we see the attractive Jude (Jim Sturgess) sitting on a deserted beach, singing the song ‘Girl’. Taymor could not have imagined a more appropriate start and it shows her skill that she will be exhibiting more often throughout the film. The ingenious way of using Beatles songs as a means of communication usually works astonishingly well.

During World War II, Jude’s mother became pregnant through a brief relationship with an American soldier. Jude leaves Liverpool to find his father he never knew. He leaves his sweetheart behind, but doesn’t seem overly impressed, though he solemnly promises “and then while I’m away, I’ll write home everyday, and I’ll send all my loving to you.” “You’d better,” she replies. Once in America, Jude soon finds his father, but this plot line is soon let go and turns out not to be the main point of the story. Jude arrives at the university where his father works against student Max and the two become friends. Because Jude likes it in America and Max wants to hang up his textbooks, they decide to leave for New York. They find an apartment with a talented singer, Sadie. Soon Max’s sister, Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood) comes to live with the couple. She recently lost her boyfriend who was deployed to Vietnam. Jude and Lucy fall in love, but their relationship becomes skewed when Lucy becomes too absorbed in her work for an anti-war group.

Jim Sturgess is perfectly cast as the hero of the story, but the rest of the cast also impresses. Evan Rachel Wood does a fine job as the spoiled rich kid who soon turns out to have a very strong opinion and can stand on his own two feet. Dana Fuchs as Sadie is amazing, what a voice she has! Joe Anderson as the rebellious Max is also irresistible. The cameos of Joe Cocker and five Salma Hayeks (!) are the icing on the cake. Unfortunately, the part in which Bono and Eddie Izzard perform is less interesting. The surreal, hallucinatory atmosphere fits in with the film and the era, but the scenes feel a bit artificial and distract from the central story. The songs are performed by the cast and although not everyone has an equally convincingly beautiful voice, there are quite a few goosebumps moments (“If I Fell”, “Hey Jude”, “I Want To Hold Your Hand”). The unique mix of Beatles songs and storylines continues throughout the film, though some are very obvious (a little music connoisseur will understand the references if he or she reads the names of the main characters, Lucy, Jude and Prudence for example), it doesn’t irritate anywhere. Taymor has not only used music, however, lines from well-known Beatles hits are also used in conversations (“She came into the bathroom window” and “When I’m 64” for example). What is also clever is that Taymor has given some songs a completely different meaning, while other lyrics are used very literally. You can say it’s just a gimmick, but it works! ‘Across the Universe’ is a beautiful tribute to the sixties and the music of one of the greatest bands in pop history. A treat for eye and ear.