Across the Universe (2007) Revisit

This is a jukebox Musical that features songs from The Beatles and performances by Young cast set against the backdrop of the late sixties in particular the year 1968. It's hard to go wrong with songs from Lennon and McCartney and occasionally George Harrison and even a Ringo Starr tune or two, so it is certainly not the song score that creates the issues then make this a less than satisfying film to me. Some of the sequences using the music are incredibly beautiful and moving in and of themselves. The problem here is that the filmmakers tried to create a story that was deep and profound instead of one that is fun and inspiring.

Over the years I've gotten a lot of flack for defending the 1970s musical comedy Sergeant Pepper is the only Hearts Club Band, which also featured the music of The Beatles. Admittedly the film looks a little cheap and it is certainly cheesy at times, but it knew that that's what it was. Sergeant Pepper was supposed to be a light summer entertainment that would make you smile and let you enjoy the classic Beatles Tunes. Across the Universe attempts to create a drama, it uses the music to forward the plot, but it does so by relying on incomplete song passages in congruent song selection, and heavy-handed symbolism in nearly every moment.

If this movie had been made in 1970 or '71, it could be forgiven it's dour look at the Times and ponderous attempt to create social significance. But thisis film is from the mid-2000s and it simply feels silly when Julie taymor the director, dresses up the scenes with puppets, stereotyped revolutionaries, and Drug flat lines that go nowhere. The screening we attended was a watch party at the Alamo Drafthouse, and the cinema provides some props to make the party more fun. Hey do you think a blue plastic hypodermic needle is a fun prop? Especially when the point is to celebrate the drug addiction of one of our key players? Like I said the movie is way too serious and ponderous to overcome. So many of The Beatles songs are used in morose moments, that you might forget the exhilarating ones that means something. There is a really terrific sequence in a bowling alley that shows off the choreography of the director and the exuberance of the cast. Unfortunately those moments are few and far between.

I was still glad to see the movie, and those people who are fans of The Beatles will enjoy some segments of the music, but be warned there are times when the music get started and you'll be warmed up to it and it'll stop. So across the universe is a frustrating story, set to classic rock and roll from the late sixties from the greatest band in history, made by a director who is a fantastic visual Style, but by people who have no way to know how to tell a story.