An honestly beautiful love story told in the strangest of ways...an acquired taste with some downfalls

Rating: 7/10 (12 November 2007)

Across The Universe immediately appealed to me. First of all it looked totally out there...strange and bazaar, unique and unlike anything else. And it was ultimately a musical with the music of one of the greatest groups in history, The Beatles. I am, and always have been an enormous Beatles fan so I thought I had to see this. Now Across The Universe definitely fits the bill for being unique and different and fulfilled everything you might expect from it. It really had some stunning visuals and beautiful choreography and a really decent story to it as well. But the story is perhaps where it stumbles slightly. The film starts out absolutely fantastic, just literally sucks you in with the story of this young man going to America to fulfill his dreams, falls in love, finds a best friend and is living life to the fullest. They use all the best and most well known Beatles' songs and make you sway to the music and really get involved and then after about 45 minutes into the film everything....begins....to....slow....down. The film clocks in at an astounding and very long in the tooth 2 hours and 15 minutes and it's simply not necessary which is unfortunate. Musicals do tend to be longer than most but Across The Universe could have easily cut itself down to an hour and a half give or take. Still the characters redeem the slow pace in the middle and the end makes up for it and during that time you will find yourself mesmerized with the unique style of the film.
The very talented Jim Sturgess headlines the cast as free spirited Jude. Sturgess definitely gives us a character that you can really fall into and get involved and feel his emotions. Sturgess makes the film very worthwhile in all it's awkward stages and he is a star!! Evan Rachel Wood is the lovely and outspoken Lucy. She does a really terrific job and has a very pretty voice and a very girl next door look. She also plays the sixties protester very well and her characters goes through a lot of changes. Most importantly her and Sturgess make a dynamic couple and make for a really great love story. Also keep your eye on Joe Anderson who plays free spirited, smart talking Max. He doesn't have as big a role as some of the others but he still is a really great performer and really captures your attention on screen with his unique look. He also got sing one of my favorite songs in the world..."Hey Jude." Supporting cast including Dana Fuchs, Martin Luther, and T.V. Carpio do a really decent job although I would like to say that I believe Carpio's role as Prudence, the closet lesbian that breaks out into spontaneous song was completely forced into the story and had no real purpose at all other than to just be there.
There lies part of the problem with Across The Universe. Unlike a truly great musical parts of the film felt really forced, like they had to fight to get certain Beatles songs into the story...such as "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," which was a beautifully done song but pointless to the story. If they realized this and removed some of that overkill (although I love some of the songs they used) they could have made a shorter and more effective and brilliant film. Director Julie Taymor is certainly no new face to directing musicals having already won Tony Awards. Perhaps this musical didn't translate to screen as well as it may have on stage but she made a beautiful love story and the cast really do a terrific job. It's just a little long and definitely way out there which some might really enjoy. Certainly there is nothing wrong with being unique. It was also really cool to see cameos by infamous rockers Bono, and Joe Cocker (I knew that was Cocker as soon as he started to sing.) Across The Universe is definitely something to see to experience something unique and moving and if you love Beatles music then you'll be completely enamored. See it for yourself!! P.S. To the many reviewers and posters who feel it necessary that you have to be on drugs in order to enjoy this, and insist on blathering on about their obvious drug addictions...you're wasting your lives and hurting those around you. Get help.