Review of Across the Universe (2007) by Travis P — 03 Jul 2012

I'm not the world's biggest fan of musicals, but I do dip into that well on occasion. After seeing 'Across the Universe,' I would have to say that it is quite possibly my favourite musical yet.

This film is what I like to call a 'reverse musical.' Regular musicals take a story and then put songs to it. However, this one takes 30 Beatles songs and creates a story out of them. A very innovative idea that is very well-translated.

The film itself is one of the most stunningly beautiful pieces of art I've ever seen. Using montage, colour, music, and crazy psychedelic effects, this movie is an art form in itself. One sequence in particular (Strawberry Fields Forever) is to film as a Warhol work is to painting. A couple sequences are actually quite irrelevant to the story, but they're so damn pretty that I just didn't care.

This story is wonderfully done. A love story spanning across the Vietnam War, we see things from multiple points-of-view.

However, if you are one who shies away from musicals because of their rediculous tendencies, this movie is no exception. From characters randomly breaking out into song to androgynous men dancing around. This film certainly does seem to strip a few Beatles songs of their masculinity.

All-in-all, I loved this film. Visually stunning, wonderfully executed, and a great story to mix...what's not to love. It is a very rare occasion for me to hear a cinema full of people applaud a film once the credits begin. This was one of them...and it deserved it.