DVD Review - “Across The Universe”
GRADE: F
I wish I would have seen this disaster in 2007 so that I could have at least added it to my “worst of the year” list. This absolutely ridiculous “interpretation” of the Beatles song catalog is 100% contrived, pretentious and downright corny. I was so unimpressed by creator/director Julie Taymor’s lack of ingenuity it was down right laughable at times.
What really baffles me about this movie is how it divides critics and fans; either you like this movie or you hate it. Currently on RottenTomatoes.com, it is getting a 53% rating by critics. If it isn’t obvious by now, I hated this turd. My favorite critic of all time, Roger Ebert, put it on his “top ten best of 2007″ (must be the illness….too soon?).
In the beginning of “Across the Universe” we meet Jude (of course) and Lucy (duh!), two lost souls from different countries with one thing in common - butchering Beatles classics. Joking aside, this film doesn’t even know what the word “subtle” means. All of the characters and stories taken from the music lyrics are portrayed too literally.
The scenarios and musical numbers in this film come off as so mediocree that they feel like they are from “Grease 2″ and not from a quality screen musical (like last years splendid “Hairsprayâ€?). This movie goes for the easy obvious interpretation of each Beatles song and pounds the sentimental meaning down your throat.
“Across The Universe” is in one word; blasphemy. No real Beatle’s fan in his/her right mind could actually love this silly piece of fluff. I would have rather sat through a Cirque Du Soleil version of this film than watch Eddie Izzard perform “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite” one more time. The same could be said about U2 frontman Bono’s irritating version of “I Am The Walrus.”
The chaos depicted on screen doesn’t represent anything about the Beatles in my opinion. The only thing I may have mildly enjoyed in this film was the charismatic (if not overblown) performances of Rachel Evan Wood (as Lucy) and Jim Sturgess (as Jude). Most of the actors on screen just come off as college theater majors, overacting in every scene with gusto.
Julie Taymor should stick to her Broadway roots and definitely not do another “artistic” rendering of another big screen musical. Her creative and artistic abilities are well better suited for the stage then in Hollywood. And if time has taught us anything it is that we should leave the Beatles’ music the way it is and quit trying to reinvent the wheel.
February 12th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
I can’t argue about the terrible acting, but DAMN it was a pretty movie!
I’m afraid this one, ironically, can’t be appreciated with a pop culture eye. It has no really big stars, an ultimately depressing storyline, no car crashes or really great sex scenes, and very little humor of any kind. OF COURSE you were going to hate it.
If there were a few laughs, you would have loved it for its gorgeous art direction at the very least. I think you were expecting a combination of “Hairspray” and “Mamma Mia!” and so of course you are disappointed.
But it really it a dazzlingy beautiful film, even if the script was uninspired and the cameos (read: Bono) made me want to drink lighter fluid then swallow a match.