Across the Universe

Rating: 8/10 (13 September 2019)

Rated so highly for the music only. Along with Bohemian Rhapsody, Rocketman, et all, Yesterday is another attempt to revitalize old catalogues and make money (The Beatles' Apple Corps is involved, natch). But beyond that, it paints the music of The Beatles on a new canvas and, as in the film, creates a different universe for iconic songs some of us heave heard for most of our lives (I was 11 when The Beatles came to the US). So it was great to hear these mostly stripped down arrangements presented in a world which didn't know The Beatles (due to the intersection of a parallel universe or something). They are simple arrangements, but allow the songs to shine and the genius behind them to become even more apparent. In one sense, they are in the pantheon of the millions of Beatles' covers, but then again, they are very fresh, spare, and modern, performed convincingly.
Other than the music, this is a very mediocre film. "Saved by the music" has rarely been more true. It's watchable and never boring, but if not for the music, I probably would have stopped watching at the 10th joke I didn't laugh at (did get a chuckle out of the Googling, though). It's totally formulaic romcom. There are so many better places the film could have gone, questions tackled. Like would the songs have been iconic hits without Beatlemania (kind of implicitly answered)? Or even a realistic idea of where popular music went without them (apparently a world without Oasis but with the vapid and unoriginal Ed Sheeran (who gets WAY too much screen time). Yet The Beatles completely rewrote the music business, radio, recording, the album concept, group singer-songwriters, and rock music itself so it's likely neither Oasis nor Ed Sheeran would exist in that world. That Sheeran and Oasis are used as the conduits to the Beatles for modern youth is beyond shameful.
I lost it when Jack meets the alternative John Lennon, age 78. It is a very touching scene and punctuates the tragedy of his death so young. I hope Yoko doesn't see this movie, and I guess that makes this (unnecessary) scene tasteless at worst, maudlin at best. This scene was not integral to the movie in any way, so seemed sad opportunism.
If you are too young to remember, start with the revolutionary Rubber Soul, or fire up a blunt with Sgt. Pepper. After Abbey Road, go back to the beginning. Rinse, repeat for your whole life.