Across the Universe (2007)

Across the Universe: Directed by Julie Taymor. With Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs. The music of The Beatles and the Vietnam War form the backdrop for the romance between an upper-class American girl and a poor Liverpudlian artist.

“This film is one of the most bipolar cinematic experiences Iu0026#39;ve had since George Lucasu0026#39;s 1971 minimalist masterpiece THX-1138 was recut with goofy CGI inserts.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFirst letu0026#39;s talk about the main gimmick of u0026quot;Across the Universeu0026quot;: itu0026#39;s a musical using modern remakes of Beatles songs. Some of these new versions, along with very compelling, bold and surreal visuals, are sheer poetry which Iu0026#39;m sure the fab 4 themselves would applaud. But then suddenly get a random toe tapper, full of melodramatic yet sterile vocals (you can hear the auto-tune working overtime) that have no place in the story but for some hastily contrived subplot to serve as a setup for a Beatles crowd pleaser. Yes, Iu0026#39;m talking about the cringeworthy u0026quot;Dear Prudenceu0026quot; where a minor character with only 10 lines in the whole film randomly locks herself in a bathroom until everyone sings her to come out because the characteru0026#39;s name is? Prudence.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOn the other hand, I loved Bonou0026#39;s bizarre, humorous and wittily fitting appearance as u0026quot;Doctor Robertu0026quot;, a self-proclaimed electric messiah who apparently comes to parties with his own personal PA system (or is it a Mr. Microphone cranked to 11?) as he sings to the crowdu0026#39;s orgasmic oohs, u0026quot;I Am the Walrusu0026quot;.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnother highlight is a very simple, touching and heart-rending version of u0026quot;Let It Beu0026quot; sung by a young African-American boy in the middle of the violent race riots and police brutality of Detroit 1960s.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIf these last 2 examples are any indication (and there are many more), the talented director Julie Taymor gave some of these songs the red carpet treatment and put them in the most provocative, social and historical context.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut then suddenly thereu0026#39;s a really sappy and unnecessary 5 minutes of u0026quot;I Want to Hold Your Handu0026quot; that has no bearing on culture, history or even the plot.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe plot itself is nothing special, but set against the backdrop of the 60s and the domestic unrest over the Vietnam War, it becomes powerful. Itu0026#39;s a simple boy-meets-girl story but with tons of quirky characters in the mix (one for every song, and I believe there are 33 songs). My gripe with the plot is that it flirts with making powerful statements about the 60s peace movement, but just when you think itu0026#39;s something you can sink your teeth into, it falls to an inane, predictable romcom cliché, like a misunderstanding because they donu0026#39;t spend enough time together, blah blah blah. (This is one of the moments of u0026quot;sheer stupidu0026quot;.)u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut then, lo and behold, the story shifts to a brilliantly satirical hospital scene with (Vietnam vet) Joe Anderson and (buxom nurse) Salma Hayek singing u0026quot;Happiness Is A Warm Gun.u0026quot; Thus the needle tips back to u0026quot;sheer brillianceu0026quot;.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eUltimately I enjoyed this film. Itu0026#39;s a worthwhile ride, and the talents of the actors and filmmakers are unquestionable. I just found myself periodically irritated by cheap gimmicks to sell a song or two, and I wish those parts could have been edited out, because otherwise I wouldu0026#39;ve raved about what a great film this wouldu0026#39;ve been.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs it stands, my favorite Beatles remake musical remains u0026quot;Sgt. Pepperu0026#39;s Lonely Hearts Club Bandu0026quot; featuring the excellent music of The Bee Gees (pre-disco) as well as other fantastic musicians (Earth Wind u0026amp; Fire, Alice Cooper, Peter Frampton, and who can forget the awesome finale by the 5th Beatle himself, the late great Billy Preston).”