Across The Universe

One of the great things about living in large cities like LA or New York is having access to smaller-released films. While I missed out on Once, Ashley and I saw Across The Universe last week. I’m sure this is one of the wider released indie films of the year, but it is still considered a smaller scale film, which you would not be able to guess from the amount of talent and polished product that comes spilling off the screen during this film.
Don’t get me wrong. Any movie musical is bound to be a little cheesy in parts. And when it’s based to the music of The Beatles, you risk a campy Mamma Mia esque finished product. While Across The Universe did have a few such moments, for the most part the film is a beautiful, if not psychedelic, journey through the US during the Vietnam war (would you expect it to be set in any other era?).
Let me put this out there: Julie Taymor is a friggin’ genius. Genius.
The cast of this movie is stellar, not to mention the throng of NY theatre performers who make appearances: Curtis Holbrook, Matt Caplan, John Jeffrey Martin, Aisha de Haas, Orfeh, Antonique Smith, Diedre Goodwin, Tracy Nicole Chapman, Yassmin Alers, Luther Creek, Logan Marshall-Green, Saycon Sengbloh, Destan Owens, Nikki Snelson, Noah Weisberg, (P.S. You get major kudos if you recognize even a fraction of these names). I loved (repeat, loved) Evan Rachael Wood in Thirteen, and have always thought of her as one of those underappreciated young talents in Hollywood whose presence is outshined by the rehabbed, tabloided ones, but have recently began to get weirded out because of her directions in life (Marilyn Manson, need I say more?). What this film will do to her career, though. Wow. She was sensational. And her voice was pretty, too, who knew (I love finding out which actors can/can’t sing [Ewan McGregor/Amanda Bynes, for example])? Her two co-stars, Jim Sturgess and Joe Anderson were also highlights of the film as her lover and brother, respectively. And yes, they could sing, too.
While on the outset this film might seem like it would go the Mamma Mia direction, it ultimately sets out for something deeper (it is Julie Taymor, after all). And it succeeds, although perhaps not to its full potential. The release of this film is timed well, with negotiations on the war in Iraq and a looming Presidential election sparking new interest in war politics. Universe takes place throughout the Vietnam war, which one of the main characters is deployed for. The film had moments of brilliance in turning Beatles songs into political statements (“Let it Be” was chilling and intensely moving, “Blackbird” beautifully mind-opening, and “All You Need Is Love” equally effective). But then the “movie musical” in it took over, and the overall message was weakened by psychedelic montages (featuring Bono on a bus, Eddie Izzard as a circus ringleader, and Selma Hayek as a hospital nurse…all 10 of her!) and a few transitions and song choices that were hard to buy and ended up bringing the hoaky factor into the film. That was my big frustration. Visually, it was stunning. Audibly, it was pleasurable. The song connections were clever, the direction and talent flawless. But it fell short on its message, a message that could have resounded loud and clear if its attempt to be so artsy didn’t hinder it from going all the way.