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ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
Movie Review by David Blackwell
131 minutes, PG-13
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
STARRING Evan Rachel Wood (Lucy), Jim Sturgess (Jude), Joe Anderson (Max), Dana Fuchs (Sadie), Martin Luther (JoJo), T.V.
Caprio (Prudence)
WRITTEN by Dick Clement (story and screenplay), Ian DeFrenais (story and screenplay), and Julie Taymor (Story)
DIRECTED by Julie Taymor
STUDIO: Columbia Pictures/ Revolution Studios/ Team Todd/ Gross Entertainment
Theatrical RELEASE DATE: 9-21-2007 (limited)/ 10-9-2007 (wide)
I love The Beatles. I also love the movie Titus by Director Julie Taymor. When the director and The Beatles collide, the
end result is the most ambitious musical in at least 20 years- ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. Julie Taymor blends the 1960s and reimagined
Beatles songs sung by the actors in the film (live on set) along with loads of vivid imagery. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE rocks my
world. It is in my top 10 films of this year. It has stayed with me since I saw it on Sunday. I even want to see it again
this upcoming weekend.
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE follows Jude (a young man from Liverpool) who goes to the USA to find the father he never knew. He ends
up becoming pals with max and falling for Max's sister. Lucy. Along the way, they meet all kind of characters including Sadie
(Janis joplin type singer), JoJo (Jimi Hendrix stand-in), Prudence (Asian chick), Dr. Roberts (LSD guru played by U2's Bono),
and others. The Beatles song are an intricate part of the story bringing ACROSS THE UNIVERSE to another level. The visuals
help sell the film even more. A few sequences are trippy, but the musical numbers feel at home in this alternate 1960s universe.
The events in history and rock and roll are mixed in to boot.
The actors in the ACROSS THE UNIVERSE were great choices. Dana Fuchs just brings Sadie to life and channels Beatles songs
as if they were sung by Janis Joplin. Bono singing I Am The Walrus is another highlight (he also sings the end credits version
of Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds). Over 30 Beatles songs from this fantastic film. I hope ACROSS THE UNIVERSE is nominated
for a lot of things. It deserves to be seen by more people. The ones who haven't seen it are in for a treat. Discover
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and let the film take you across the univserse in an experience unlike any film of this year.
this movie review is (c)11-1-2007 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com
look for additional content at http://enterline-media.tripod.com and http://enterlinemedia.livejournal.com
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