Weekly Hornet

Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: Entertainment

"Across the Universe" is a psychedelic wild ride of a musical, as it told a story with an obvious parallel to the realities of today and those of the '60s. Director Julie Taymour
("Frida"), deserves a long, standing ovation and round of applause for her ability to manifest this masterpiece from her uber-creative and culture-smart vision.

Though the film included a familiar love story, its backdrop of the '60s anti-war movement against the Vietnam War and era of experimentation has brought a completely new dimension to such a feeling. Watching the movie is like falling in love.

Scene after scene was jam packed with pure emotion: It could make one angry or empowered, make them want to laugh and cry or dance and sing, or all of the above.

Most of the movie was narrated through the casts' strong and powerful voices. They sang more than 30 thoughtfully picked Beatles' songs, while simultaneously holding a perfect balance of originality and reinvention. It not only showcased the many genres and phases that The Beatles have gone through, but also seemed to finally get their message across.

"Across the Universe" follows the story of several characters including; Jude (Jim
Surgess), who is a native of Liverpool, England visiting America where he falls in love with Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), the once pampered All-American girl who lost her boyfriend as a result of the war.

Max (Joe Anderson "Becoming Jane"), Lucy's eccentric brother from Princeton, and
Prudence (T.V. Carpio), the shy cheerleader whose in the closet and many others are mixed into the play. Throughout the course of the movie, these characters are completely transformed as an effect of the world unfolding before them and in turn, the once unknown faces end up revealing an extreme amount of depth and presence in our lives today.

From Surgess' spine-tingling A cappella rendition of "Girl," to Dr. Roberts' (Bono) delivery of "I Am the Walrus," the audience is amazed in the wonderment of this work of art. It's clever choreography and strategically arranged Beatles soundtrack literally swept the audience off their feet and permanently engraved the melodies in the audience's heads.

Taymour's truly ambitious vision was flawlessly executed as she gave us a bizarre mix between the real and surreal.

The cameos were exciting, the truth of the war and its effects were intense, the trips were high, the ideas were thought provoking and the freedom was wildly liberating.

The vivid beauty and art of the movie allowed the audience to jump into a complete wonderland, opening the audience's eyes and minds to areas unexplored. Each in-your-face moment was counter weighed with a melodic lullaby while maintaining the same level of intensity and importance. Behind the neon lights and dream-like imagery was reality and truth.

There was, surprisingly, no strong underlying message that went extremely left or right on the political spectrum. It was simply what was in fact happening and how it affected the nation during that time.

There was no better way to impact an audience but with undying Beatles' harmonies that will ring out for centuries. The fantasy and pure magic of the film was a reminder that the creative energy and ambition within us is never too crazy, and when the troubled world around you is filled with nothing but chaos and doubt remember, "All you need is love."

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