Anyone who's ever had a Beatles phase will definitely enjoy the mostly brilliant covers...

Rating: 8/10 (20 February 2008)

I wasn't too keen to see this because of the lackluster reviews but I'm glad I did anyway. Anyone who's ever had a Beatles phase will definitely enjoy the mostly brilliant covers of the Beatles' classics that this movie's script is based on.
Even if this was set in the turbulent 60s, it is still based on real events, and the meshing of Beatles' songs did not seem forced into the story. There were some cringe-worthy sappy moments that come with most musicals, and overlong psychedelic sequences, but overall, the performances from every one in the talented cast were enjoyable.
Evan Rachel Wood was perfect as Lucy, a fresh-faced, sheltered teener from the suburbs, who attracts her polar opposite in Jude (played by Jim Sturgess), a scruffy sailor who jumps ship from Liverpool to the US in search of his father. They live a bohemian life in New York in the company of their flower power friends, amid the radical activism prevalent at the time.
Memorable renditions of Beatles songs featured in Across the Universe include: "Helter Skelter" performed by Dana Fuchs (who plays singer Sadie), "I Want to Hold Your Hand" performed by T. V. Carpio (who plays cheerleader/lesbian Prudence), and the best sequences were "With a Little Help from My Friends" performed by Joe Anderson and Jim Sturgess, which was incredibly choreographed, and so was "Come Together" performed by Joe Cocker and Martin Luther (who plays Sadie's guitarist and lover, JoJo), "Something" performed by Jim Sturgess while he was drawing a sleeping, naked Lucy, and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" performed by Martin Luther and Jim Sturgess.
Cameos from Bono and Salma Hayek perk up the already trippy and visually stimulating movie.