I got the DVD of "Across The Universe" today as it was nice and cheap.... just £5. I figured I would enjoy it because I love "Moulin Rouge" and I knew that this film was like that - a surreal musical with lots of humour and a human story behind the glitz.
I wasn't disappointed. The love story running through this film is moving and poignant. It's the story of a young Liverpudlian lad who goes to America to find his father, a man who left home before he was born. Having a university address for the man, he expects him to be an educated man, a professor, but he turns out to be the janitor.
While in the school, he is befriended by a student and falls in love with his sister - who has lost her boyfriend in the Vietnam war.
Against a backdrop of war and love lost and found, this film is wonderful, with lots of Beatles songs sung very well by the cast!
I love the lead actor who plays Jude (a guy named Jim sturgess) and he has a lovely voice.
Bono's part in this is not bad at all. You think that he would be struck with the curse of the "singer turned actor" that historically never works out well. Most musicians who take this path turn out to give a wooden performance, but Bono's is funny and his comic timing excellent. Love the bit near the end of his scene where he gets all petulant about someone not being there to meet him.... his expressions are priceless. His accent is great too, but then Bono has always been a good mimic and is great with different voices and accents.
I was really excited when I knew his scene was coming up, and despite the fact that he is made up to look like some ageing, hairy hippie (nothing attractive about that moustache at all), I felt really proud of him. It sounds funny, but I think of Bono sometimes as you would a close family member! You know, when you feel that pang of pride when they do something, and you support them no matter what and feel fiercely protective!
His rendition of "I am the Walrus" is brilliant. His star quality shines out in the film and his status as a class act amongst the other performers is apparent. Well... it's Bono isn't it? :-)
I think some of the meaning went over my head initially.... when Bono's character, Dr Robert says "You're either on the bus or you're off the bus", I thought he just meant that literally. He had a psychedelic bus and had people travelling with him.
But apparently, it's beat generation lingo for "creative tripping".... so I guess this film had lots of that kind of thing that might not be initially apparent. At least to me.
Despite this though, and all the dancing and singing amid "trippy" colours... the theme running through it is one most people can identify with or at least understand. A "normal" love story with all its angst, and the difficulties facing young men drafted into the Vietnam war.
There is a fantastic sequence near the beginning when one of the characters is drafted, and goes to sign up. Just so cleverly done. I won't spoil it in case anyone decides to watch it.
And one of my favourite people, Eddie Izzard, is in this, and his scene and song is hilarious!
Oh... and the highlight for me, Bono-wise? Hearing him sing the words: "You let your knickers down" during his rendition of "I Am The Walrus"!!! Something a bit naughty about Bono saying "knickers"!!!! LOL
2 comments:
Glad you enjoyed it, reviews I saw were good too, albeit they said, like you, that it also was a bit "wayout" at times. Bono's acting skills must be improving which is good to hear - because some of the previous efforts have been rather cringe-worthy to say the least!
Hi, I drifted over to your site via Sue's blog ... I bought the DVD when it came out - a must-have for my wife because of a certain singer ;-) - and tried to watch it once but the first 20 minutes failed to grab me and so I gave up. Now I have to give it another chance after reading your post. I really like Julie Taymor, she's a terrific director; both "Titus" and "Frida" are great films. And I like "Moulin Rouge" as well. So there must be some way into this one. :-)
Cheers!
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