"Across the Universe" integrates the major events of the late 1960s, the music of the Beatles and endearing characters, into a veritable black-light poster of a movie. The movie takes viewers through the tumult of young adulthood in the period of the Vietnam War and successfully incorporates the music of the Beatles into its plot.
The film, which opens at the AMC Loews Georgetown and Landmark Bethesda Row tomorrow, follows main characters Jude (Jim Sturgess), Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood) and their friends as they grow up and face life - or try not to. They live a bohemian lifestyle in New York City as artists, activists and outcasts. The action of the movie occurs when their avant-garde lifestyle is interrupted by the outside world, whether it be in the form of the draft, a protest or the police.
Much in the way that "Moulin Rogue!" incorporates popular music and manipulates the songs for its own purposes, "Across the Universe" is built around the plots of various Beatles songs. As in "Moulin Rouge!," the characters, not the original artists, sing the songs.
The songs are incorporated almost seamlessly into the movie. "With a Little Help from My Friends" sets the perfect mood for a raucous night of drinking and debauchery in the dorms of Princeton at the beginning of the movie. At times, like in the case of "Dear Prudence," lyrics are taken literally, and the room around the characters becomes the sky. Songs are also spliced together to create the perfect mood when just one won't suffice. Overall, the sound track fits the movie perfectly, and the movie fits its sound track.
The movie is able to create its own reality where breaking out into song and executing impeccable, complicated choreography does not seem out of place. Time moves alternately quickly and slowly, bridging gaps with musical numbers and seemingly drug-induced visions.
The world of the movie has its own versions of famous '60s figures. Sadie (Dana Fuchs) is Janis Joplin, JoJo (Martin Luther McCoy) is Jimi Hendrix and Dr. Robert (Bono) is Dr. Timothy Leary. Bono's cameo as Dr. Robert is a highlight of the movie. Like Leary, Dr. Robert's reality is based in LSD, and as such, he sings "I Am The Walrus."
Another notable cameo comes from Eddie Izzard as Mr. Kite, proprietor of a bizarre circus. Salma Hayek, star of director Julie Taymor's film "Frida," also appears briefly.
The movie occasionally falls flat when it tries to wrap its campy, trippy fingers around serious issues. Its treatment of action in Vietnam is often undermined by a lack of substance. Its knowledge of the war seems secondhand, and it feels as if it draws on an ideal. At its worst, "Across the Universe" becomes somewhat unbelievable. Every possible thing that could go wrong does.
At its best, the movie draws viewers into the emotions of its characters. Situations may be unbelievable, but the sentiment on the screen is definitely real. "Across the Universe" does not lack passion.
Still, "Across the Universe" is a thoroughly enjoyable movie that explores human relationships and the turbulence of the '60s. Its effective incorporation of Beatles music adds meaning and fun to the movie.
