It seems like the perfect combination: a motion picture compiled entirely of Beatles music serving as the definitive soundtrack and muse for a generation. Director Julie Taymor (Frida), with the help of screenwriters Dick Clement and Ian Le Frenais (Flushed Away), took this stellar idea and created Across the Universe.
The story seems ideal. A young boy from England named Jude comes to The States during a time of Vietnam-induced chaos and finds his serenity in love. The Beatles' music provides the perfect soundtrack for this timely tale.
Unfortunately, there are numerous shortcomings that mar Universe, making it mediocre at best.
Even with a strong influence of artistic expression going, the creators of the film definitely exceeded expectations and completely overdid the artistic influence.
Scenes of Asian women painted white and dancing on water, possibly meant to represent deaths in Vietnam, made some watchers question the images' relevance to the film. American boys carrying a Statue of Liberty through the jungle, possibly to represent the struggle of American soldiers, again seemed to be ironically taking away from the meaning the for which the film strives.
The film has innumerable references to events and people throughout history, some accurate, some just there.
For example, Bono plays an acid-distributing freethinker who is a definite representation of Ken Kesey (he even has the bus and says, "you're either on the bus or not"). But then Bono's "Kesey" visits a professor that is said to be another radical thinker and acid enthusiast; something of a Timothy Leary. Instead of portraying Dr. Leary as an intellectual, the character is a freak with a circus that is just creepy.
At points, it seems as if the writers are really trying too hard to make their favorite songs fit into the film.
For example, when the character Prudence decides that she is so upset with the misfortunes of her love life that she decides to lock herself in a closet, the film stretches to make use of the song "Dear Prudence."
There is also no question that most of the time the storyline carelessly gives away what song is about to be sung long before the first chords are even played.
Joe Cocker gives a great performance of "Come Together," Bono's version of " I am the Walrus" is pretty entertaining and the main characters all perform the songs very well.
Despite its considerable flaws, the film does an excellent job portraying the violence and the heartbreak that was caused by racism during the '60s (during a riot scene in Detroit, "Let it Be" is played in the background).
Across the Universe is compelling, albeit somewhat disappointing. Because of the cool way the film portrays very defining part of American history. Despite the imperfections, it is still worth checking out if one is a Beatles fan who finds value in the '60s experience.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
