The Beatles' songs may have provided the soundtrack for the lives of those coming of age in the 1960s, but their extensive catalogue acts as the literal soundtrack in this romantic musical from visionary director Julie Taymor. Newcomer Jim Sturgess stars as Jude, a young man working on the docks in Liverpool. Eager to escape, .. Read more
| Starring | Evan Rachel Wood, Joe Anderson, Jim Sturgess, Salma Hayek |
|---|---|
| Director | Julie Taymor |
| Genres | Drama, Music/Musical |
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The Beatles' songs may have provided the soundtrack for the lives of those coming of age in the 1960s, but their extensive catalogue acts as the literal soundtrack in this romantic musical from visionary director Julie Taymor. Newcomer Jim Sturgess stars as Jude, a young man working on the docks in Liverpool. Eager to escape, he travels to Princeton where he meets Max (Joe Anderson). But it's his meeting with Max's younger sister Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood) that changes him. They quickly fall in love, but their relationship is tested by the chaos of the late 1960s and Max's unwilling tour in Vietnam. Throughout the film, characters burst into classics from The Beatles: students sing 'With a Little Help from My Friends', while Uncle Sam bursts from a recruitment poster with strains of 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)'. U2's Bono makes a cameo as a counterculture leader and croons 'I Am the Walrus', and Eddie Izzard provides a trippy rendition of 'Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite'.
Sturgess puts in a charming and earnest performance as Jude and is certainly capable of carrying the film. Wood capably balances Lucy's naivete and knowledge, easily moving between her love for Jude and her passion for her cause. Though the performances are strong, it's Taymor's gifted direction that makes Across the Universe so fascinating to watch. As in Frida and Broadway's ,The Lion King, she proves herself an artist with creativity few can match. Director of photography Bruno Delbonnel also deserves praise for his contribution to the striking visuals. He has worked with Jean-Pierre Jeunet on Amelie and A Very Long Engagement, and he brings the same sense of romance and whimsy to this unique musical.
| Starring | Evan Rachel Wood, Joe Anderson, Jim Sturgess, Salma Hayek, Eddie Izzard, Bono |
|---|---|
| Director | Julie Taymor |
| Studio | SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 9 mins Blu-ray: 2 hrs 9 mins |
| Certificate |  |
| Genres | Drama, Music/Musical |
| Language | DVD: English Blu-ray: English, English Audio Description |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Released | Production year: 2007 To Rent: DVD: 11 Feb 2008 Blu-ray: 11 Feb 2008 |
Quite a trip this new musical from celebrated Broadway director Julie āThe Lion Kingā Taymor, and of the sort you... read more on Time Out
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Across The Universe
In the late 1960’s young Liverpudlian Jude (Sturgess) travels to the USA to find the father he’s never met. He finds his Dad; a janitor at Princeton ... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
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Beatles brilliance
loved it, loved it, loved it! okay, so when he opens his gob and starts singing the first time it's a bit disconcerting, but get over that, by the end you&#... read more »
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Do Not Watch
The only film I have ordered where I was dying to press the eject button 10 mins in...and this is from a beatles fan
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A Liverpudlian's review
Enjoyed the film although the story was a little weak, and we loved the music. Also found the Special Features very interesting - a unique opportunity to see ... read more »
If Mamma Mia! is a smash hit no one in Europe will be surprised. But in the US it’s far from a foregone conclusion. Yes, the musical was a Broadway sensation, just as it was everywhere else in the world (they say more than 30 million theatergoers have seen the show), and yes, Meryl Streep could conceivably notch up another Oscar nomination for her performance as Donna, mother of the bride… but – and it’s a big but – ABBA never conquered North America. “Dancin Read more
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