Directed by:
Julie TaymorCinematography:
Bruno DelbonnelComposer:
Elliot GoldenthalCast:
Jim Sturgess, Evan Rachel Wood, Dana Fuchs, Joe Anderson, Martin Luther, T.V. Carpio, Eddie Izzard, Bono, Jacob Pitts, Dylan Baker, Lynn Cohen, Harry Lennix (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
Across The Universe is an original musical film set against the backdrop of the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, the struggle for free speech, civil rights, mind exploration and rock 'n roll. This gritty, whimsical and highly theatrical love story moves from high schools and universities in Massachusetts, Princeton and Ohio to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the Detroit riots, the killing fields of Vietnam and the dockyards of Liverpool. Combining live action with painted imagery and three-dimensional animation, the film features an array of Beatles songs that have come to define the period. (Miramax Films)
(more)Reviews (3)
Compared to other musicals, this one is still quite okay. This is mainly due to the fact that in most cases I listened to well-known songs. At times, Across The Universe reminded me of Mamma Mia!, which has more in common with it than some might think. The parallel between Liverpool and The Beatles was very nice. Nevertheless, I was not particularly impressed nor offended. At times I was watching the movie, at times only listening to it, and that was more or less enough. Nothing more was necessary.
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Nothing's gonna change my world. Behind the beautiful camera, unique interpretation of beetle songs, and complete immersion in musical numbers, there is a slightly confused mixture that looks like the creation of at least a dozen screenwriters. The loss of love, innocence, or hope, so simply outlined by characters like Sadie or Prudence, sounds at least halfway. And yet, this love story with different views on the crisis period could have sounded absolutely perfect. On one hand, I am sorry that only a few perfect and several very solid scenes remained from such potential. On the other hand, the strengths (main duo, compositionally perfect Strawberry Fields, touchingly culminating All You Need Is Love) shine so brightly that they overshadow excessive surrealism and fragmentation. 70%
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I simply don't have much to add to this movie. The Beatles songs are used incredibly innovatively here, their new arrangements are excellent, not to mention that it's possible to create a quite meaningful story based on them. Great characters, but still, you just know that this whole thing is based on something that was created fifty years ago. These songs will never get old. Yes, I love the Beatles.
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