Review of Across the Universe (2007) by Amanda C — 04 Jul 2011

This is one of the most visually stunning films ever made. Julie Taymor has an impeccable sense of style, line and composition and every single frame of Across the Universe is a work of art. The combination of traditional shots, with photographic brilliance and new age CGI animation can often clash and conflict, but Taymor manages to easily combine the two, giving the best of both worlds.

Constructed around the music of the Beatles the musical numbers are fantastic. Well choreographed, shot and staged with some of the greatest songs ever written, the actors throw themselves into the songs giving them an updated feel, while remaining true to the originals. Here is where the film shines, ranging from gorgeous traditional shots, to psychedelic solarized film, to strange collage compositions and elaborate dance numbers.

The bits between the songs are sometimes a tad contrived and predictable. The plot is nothing to write home about, being pretty standard: boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy gets deported, boy returns to reunite with girl. Taymor leaves some ambiguity at the end, but not nearly enough to merit anything spectacular. Some of the dialogue is also a bit clunky at time, although the slipped in reference to Beatles lyrics from songs not in the film is a nice touch.

What really makes this film is the actors. All are perfectly cast and give everything they have to their roles. You can tell they believe in this film and it makes you believe as well.

Across the Universe is film making in what I believe to be its purest form. It's a focus on the image and the moving picture, concerned first and foremost with the composition and the movement. There is also a great deal of focus on the sound and the function of sound within the film. These are the two basic components of film and while a story is nice, the strength of a film is really in the manipulation of light movement and sound and Across the Universe does all three impeccably.