peeker
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE – ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE
November 1st 2007 21:03
Across the Universe is set during the 1960s in the middle of the anti-war protest with The Beatles music as a backdrop. Its tagline is: All you need is love.
It is not just a coincidence that the tagline is a Beatles song, as this is a musical based on The Beatles’ songs, set in the England, America, and Vietnam. It might sound as though this is a Beatles tribute or biography similar to film Backbeat from 1994 that focuses on the band in their early days set in Hamburg, Germany but it isn’t. With Across the Universe, the Beatles’ music sets the scene for a strong yet complicated love story between Jude and Lucy, along with their close group of friends and musicians.
Jude (Jim Sturgess) is a dock worker from England who travels to America to find his estranged father where he meets and falls in love with sheltered American teenager Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood). Lucy’s brother, Max (Joe Anderson) is soon is drafted to fight in the Vietnam War, which sets the point at which they become involved in peace activism, opposing the war and any involvement while vying for free speech and civil rights.
Taymor, Clement and La Frenais wrote the original story. The film features thirty-four compositions written by various members of The Beatles, including Help! (1965), A Hard Day's Night (1964), Yellow Submarine (1968) and Let It Be (1970). Thirty of the thirty-four featured songs are officially credited to the Lennon-McCartney partnership.
The films has several cameo appearances, by Bono as Dr. Robert, a counter-culture shaman, Eddie Izzard as Mr. Kite a circus ringmaster, Joe Cocker plays three street characters (gosh) and Salma Hayek who via digital special effects is seen as five nurses.
To me, this is a unique blend of music, love and war issues melted into one film.
| 77 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Go to Craig Hill's home page by clicking here
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
all we need to be set free,
all we need to dance and sing
all without that mobile ring,
would that we could live on air,
and just forget our dignity,
oh all these things we must be fair,
will come to us as all we need
is love, my dear, and thou.
OK for a quickie.
katyzzz to Tracy Mark 1. great heart and souls
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Yep - investors look set to reap their returns 10-fold to me.
MNG
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I like the feeling of freedom throughout it, it's contagious. I feel like could dance to it and sing it loudly
Tracy
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Good to see you. Yes, I read a few good reviews about it today as it was just released here in Aust this week.
I like the sound of the 'hefty dose of Lennon and McCartney' as you said.
Byeee