Across the Universe

Starring: Jim Sturgess, Evan Rachel Wood, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs, T.V. Carpio, Salma Hayek, Dylan Baker, Bono, Eddie Izzard
Directed by: Julie Taymor
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Musical, Romance
Box Office: $
2007

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Jude (Jim Sturgess) and Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood) fall in love during the 1960s, but get caught up in the political turmoil of the day.

Review:

Tim: This is a very unique movie. It is a romantic drama set during the Vietnam War, but it is also a musical based on the songs of The Beatles, includes bizarre dream/hallucinogenic moments. It all adds up to a surreal movie that has some powerful moments, but also some baffling ones. It definitely scores points for its uniqueness, but loses points because this movie is far, far too long. It comes in at 133 minutes, which is about 25 minutes too long. So many scenes are just far too long and incredibly boring. This film set out to be artistic, but just pounds the audience with too much. With half an hour left, I was completely ready for the movie to be over. By the end of the film, I was praying for its conclusion.

For many of the film's scenes, the mix between the action on screen and the Beatles songs are a perfect fit. I loved the Hey Jude, With a Little Help From My Friends, and Let it Be scenes. Many of the others were either too long or just boring. This really hurts the movie.

The cast is fairly strong. Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood are excellent in the lead roles. They are believable in their relationship and definitely have chemistry. I liked them in their dramatic scenes, and thought they worked very well in the musical numbers. The rest of the supporting cast is good as well, and the movie has a number of smaller parts for some pretty big names- i.e., Salma Hayek, Bono. The cast as a whole works well.

Across the Universe is a movie that I could have really liked. It is so different from most movies, it could have been a refreshing delight. Instead, it is far too long, too drawn out, with too many very boring scenes. It almost took on an arrogant quality. It is bloated instead of artistic.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 6.5



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