Across the Universe

"Across the Universe" is a romantic musical comprised entirely of tunes by the Beatles. I am a Beatles fan but not an expert of their music. As a fan, I have considered how many of their lyrics could be sewn into a single story. At the same time, there were some songs, including the movie title, which I did not recognize. The movie incorporates the music of 32 songs and references at least three others.

The Beatles theme prevails throughout the movie in setting (1960s) and characters (Jude, Lucy, Max, Sadie, and Prudence). See the IMDB FAQ for a full list of interesting connections. The ensemble cast consists of unknown individuals who were great singers. According to one review, each song was recorded in studio before shooting footage, but they kept most of the performances in the film that were done while filming. Also, kudos to the person who developed the amazing choreography.

The plot is loose but follows the typical romance story: boy meets girl, boy and girl separate, boy realizes he loves her and they reunite. The challenge is bringing the ensemble together from their individual pasts, which caused some confusion early in the film. The smartest writing comes in transitions from one song to another. Unlike classic musicals where you feel a song coming on, these songs advance the story and add emotion.

I suggest watching "Across the Universe" as entertainment and for the historical perspective. The characters experience joy and loss because of the Vietnam War. They attend "peaceful" college protests. There are hippies, drugs, and psychedelic scenes. One particularly intriguing scene shows soldiers carrying Lady Liberty upon their backs as they trudge through Vietnamese forests that are devastated by napalm. Then, when Max returns from the war, he admits he is mentally broken although he is physically whole. The movie showcases so many high and low points of the 1960s that the historical references are nearly as impressive as the Beatles references. A person who lived through that decade would understand more than I, who only knows what is printed in history textbooks.

It is a pity the studio opted for a slow release of this film. There was a limited release on September 14. I diligently watched the movie listings for a local showing. After I saw it November 1 in Monticello, it left there but started showing in Hutchinson. (Here's a suggestion if you want the privacy of watching a movie at home but the big screen of a theater. Attend the 6:30 showing on a Thursday night of a movie that few people recognize and that has been playing for over a month. There were only 5 people when I went.) If you can find it somewhere, go see it. I will certainly add "Across the Universe" to my DVD collection when it is released.