Why "Across the Universe" May Be the Best Movie Ever Made...

"Is there anybody going to listen to my story,

all about the girl who came to stay.

She's the kind of girl you want so much it makes you sorry,

still you won't regret a single day. Oh girl..."

If you haven't seen this movie, go rent it. I might even be bold enough to say, go buy it! I am that confident that you will L O V E it! Across the Universe (from here on referred to as ATU) came out around this time last year and it is still my favourite movie ever. Why should I trust you, I hear you cry? Well, I may not be an infamous movie critic but I am someone who has seen A LOT of films in my brief 22 years on this planet. I appreciate good movies. I appreciate bad ones too, but for different and quite ridiculous reasons.

Across the Universe (i lied!) is based around the songs of The Beatles. It is set between 1960s Britian and America (my favourite places) and follows the story of Jude (the first of many unashamedly obvious character names). Jude is played by the formerly unknown Jim Sturgess. (You may now know him from films such as 21) Other than apparently looking like my dad when he was younger, you cannot fault Sturgess' performance. Even his Liverpudlian accent isn't that annoying.

Jude leaves his factory job in Liverpool and travels to Princeton in the hopes of finding his father. Although he succeeds, it is his new found friendship with student Max (Joe Anderson) that becomes most important and propels the story through Conneticut and into New York City.

In New York, Jude and Max rent a room from the amazingly gorgeous Sadie (Dana Fuchs) who is, arguably, based on Janis Joplin. Not long after the boys get to NY, they are joined by Max's little sister Lucy (oh yes they went there!) played by Evan Rachel Wood. The rest of the movie follows the love story that develops between Jude and Lucy alongside the backdrop of 1960s America.

A fairly standard premise. ATU is so much more than standard. Julie Taymor (director) incorporates 33 Beatles songs into this movie from "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" to "For The Benefit of Mr Kite". Every single song fits perfectly into the movie, and although there are some moments where you think "oooh that's a bit too perfect" e.g. the song Dear Prudence sung about one of the characters, dear Prudence (T.V. Carpio) you forget it as soon as the walls fade away and you are flying through the air with the rest of them. The song "I Want You" is subject to a particulary brilliant interpretation in which Uncle Sam wants you for his army to fight in Vietnam. I bought the soundtrack almost as soon as I got home from the movie theatre and it is still as fresh and brilliant as it was a year ago. Dana Fuchs in particular is amazing. Her rendidition of Helter Skelter, one of the best and most powerful songs in the movie. Jo-Jo (based on Jimi Hendrix) her partner, played by Martin Luther McCoy, is also astounding. There is not a bad singer amongst the bunch. Eddie Izzard, as Mr Kite, is an excellent addition and Bono, makes an appearance as Dr Robert. Also, The Beatles are amazing. Need another reason to watch? And, with the full knowledge I might be slaughtered in my sleep, SOME of the songs are better than the originals!!!The film isn't a traditional musical, however. You never wonder why the characters are stopping to sing about their lives, it just seems like a natural thing to do in Taymor's creation of the drug-addled sixties. Although some songs, such as "Because" are clearly sang in a drugged out state, there are also many that feel like a true expression of the characters feelings. A testement to the acting and directing.

The production and art direction of the film are out of this world. Literally. I challenge you to find a more ecclectic and inventive use of colour. If you didn't want to be alive in the sixties before this movie, you will afterwards.

Taymor intentionally brings the politics of the 60s to the forefront of this film, so it becomes much more than a love story. She marries the personal and political, however, as it seems so much of the success of Lucy and Jude's relationship, the survial of their friends, and the quality of their lives is based on decisions made by others. The film tackles the Vietnam War and student riots at Columbia University, amongst others.

The genius of the movie, I would argue, is the cast. All relative unknowns (Evan Rachel Wood is probably the most famous, and quickly becoming one of my favourite actresses!) each one delivers an outstanding performance. The fact that there are no big names helps the movie for a number of reasons. You are not distracted or have any pre-concieved notions of who they are. They are "ordinary" people. ATU is about your average young people caught up in the excitement of the sixties. They make you believe that you could be them. You want to be them. You want to hang out in bars listening to ground-breaking music and work for student organisations protesting against war. Hell yes! If only the noughties were so good!

This movie has everything. Singing. Love. A lesbian sub plot. Bright colours. Politics. Beautiful people. Sex. Drugs. Rock and Roll. The Beatles. I challenge you to find another movie which gives you so much. If this review is not the most comprehensive and articulate you have ever read, I apologise. It was really an excuse to re-live the magic (!) and put up pretty pictures. Besides, I get tired of writing about "the issues" now and again...Enjoy! And, WATCH THE MOVIE!