Across the Universe (2007)

Director:

Julie Taymor

Writers (WGA):

Dick Clement (screenplay) &
Ian La Frenais (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

12 October 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

All you need is love.

Plot:

The music of the Beatles and the Vietnam War form the backdrop for the romance between an upper-class American girl and a poor Liverpudlian artist.

Plot Keywords:

Syringe | Underwear | Cabbie | Lesbian | Television

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Evan Rachel Wood	...	Lucy
Jim Sturgess	...	Jude
Joe Anderson	...	Max Carrigan
Dana Fuchs	...	Sadie
Martin Luther	...	Jo-Jo (as Martin Luther McCoy)
T.V. Carpio	...	Prudence
Spencer Liff	...	Daniel
Lisa Hogg	...	Jude's Liverpool Girlfriend
Nicholas Lumley	...	Cyril
Michael Ryan	...	Phil
Angela Mounsey	...	Jude's Mother
Erin Elliott	...	Cheer Coach
Robert Clohessy	...	Jude's Father
Christopher Tierney	...	Dorm Buddy / Dancer
Curtis Holbrook	...	Dorm Buddy

Also Known As:

Untitled Julie Taymor Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some drug content, nudity, sexuality, violence and language.

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Brazil:14 | Singapore:NC-16 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Ireland:15A | Argentina:13 | Germany:12 | UK:12 | Canada:14A | Netherlands:12 | Malaysia:U | Sweden:11 | USA:PG-13 | Hong Kong:IIA | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-13

Filming Locations:

Armour-Stiner House, Irvington, New York, USA

Company:

Revolution Studios

Trivia:

Release prints were delivered to some theaters with the fake title "Love and Freedom".

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the song "Do It In The Road" at the Cafe Huh?, JoJo is playing a late 1972 Telecaster Custom. As this is set in the 60's, it’s really unlikely he would have this guitar.

Quotes:

Sadie: [while singing] Oh darling, if you leave me, I'll never make it alone...
JoJo: I doubt that.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Oprah Winfrey Show: High Style on a Budget with Superstar Designer Vera Wang" (2007)

Soundtrack:

It Won't Be Long

I count myself lucky...

... to have been able to see this film in the beautiful Elgin Theatre with Julie Taymor there to answer questions / talk about the film afterwards (at the Toronto International Film Festival).

Wow!!!

I was carried away, I was moved to tears, I stood up and cheered.

For those who commented about the singing - the actors sang all the songs themselves. What's more, though they did record the songs in studio first as part of the rehearsal process, most of the song performances used in the film were recorded live as they played out the scenes. Perhaps that's why - for me - the songs worked so well; it actually felt like the characters were just moved to sing. Amazing performances from - mainly - unknown actors.

And I felt the story had a strong narrative line, aided / supported by the songs. It used the background of history, not just as a painted backdrop, but to add meaning and depth to the characters and the story they were living. Made me wish I'd been there (born in '65, too young to remember the 60's); I'll have to content myself with living vicariously through Jude and Lucy and the others.

Add to everything else Julie Taymor's glorious visuals, and I was truly swept away. I saw 36 films at the festival, but this was head and shoulders my favourite.

I fell in love with this film, and look forward to sharing it with friends and family who didn't have the luck to see it as I did. It's a film that will, I'm sure, reward repeated viewings.