Review of Across the Universe (2007) by Billys. — 10 Oct 2007

When Hair opened on Broadway in 1968, it brought "Drugs, Sex and Rock & Roll" and took the theatre world by storm. When Milos Forman made it into a film 11 years later, the impact was gone and the movie seemed dated and without relevance.

In Across The Universe, Julie Taymor is telling almost the same story by weaving the songs of The Beatles into the narrative, and as a first generation Hippie I must say, It's Brilliant! The difference here is that Taymor is not trying for relevance, she has made a visual time-capsule not of The Beatles, but of a generation told through the music of the band that defined that generation, and what a visual treat it is.

Using all covers of the Beatles catalog, some work better than others, but with those songs, they all start at good! The actors are all very good, especially Jim Sturgess as Jude (who must be a McCartney Clone) and Eddie Izzard as Mr.

Kite. And despite what critics have found corny, I loved naming the characters after songs(Lucy, Sadie, Penelope etc) and characters clearly designed to be Janis, Jimi and Timothy Leary. Ms. Taymor again uses her signature animation and puppet design with extraordinary results.

Across The Universe is, without a doubt, an old hippies dream and one of the best movie musicals ever! I've read that the studio cut the film to their liking and if that's the case, I can't wait for the director's cut on dvd! Bravo Ms.