Bringing back the times of war, free love, hippies and Rock and Roll, Across The Universe is an incredible musical to watch on the big screen.

The story is set against the 60’s, moving between the grungy dockyards of Liverpool, rioting America and the jungles of Vietnam, and unfolds through the music of The Beatles.

The Plot

It opens with the main character Jude (Jim Sturgess), a lone figure sitting on the shores of England, singing “Girl” and looking sadly into the distant horizon. The scene seems melancholically overdone and reminds painfully of James Blunt. From there, we go on to discover that the shipyard hand is on his way to the land of opportunities, America, to seek his birth father out. After jumping ship and hitching a ride in the States, he finally makes it to Princeton University, where he believes his father works as a Professor.

Here, he becomes fast friends with bad boy Max (Joe Anderson) after saving Max from the fury of the subjects of his mischief. For awhile, the film takes on a light-hearted tone, showing the good fun Jude and Max have just being boys while Max drops out of school and brings Jude along with him to the Big Apple, New York City.

Soon, Max’s goody two-shoes of a teenage sister Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), who grew up in a privileged and sheltered environment, bunks in along with the boys at their rented pad. This is where the movie really starts as Lucy and Jude fall madly and deeply in love. The film remains cheery and upbeat as the trio indulge in drugs, romance and music, which director Julie Taymor creatively illustrates with a mix of animation and real live action.

However it all then takes a 180-degree turn when the subject of the Vietnam War comes up and Max is drafted into the Army. War scenes are done with interesting dance moves while still maintaining the solemn significance of the War.

As the war was also the reason Lucy’s ex-boyfriend lost his life, she feverishly participates in anti-war demonstrations along with the peace-loving hippies in a bid to do her part in stopping the loss of lives. Driving Jude deeper into secluding himself in the world of art, the couple eventually split when Jude was caught by the American police in one of the riots and sent back to Liverpool for illegal immigration.

We are then taken back to the opening scene, where Jude cuts a solitary figure against the empty beach. Suddenly, the scene doesn’t seem so meaningless anymore. He tries to go back to some semblance of normalcy with his life at the shipyard while missing Lucy. Keeping in contact with Max, he encourages Jude to get Lucy back with the song “Hey Jude”, singing “you have found her, now go and get her”. Inspired, Jude rushes back to the States (with a visa this time), and wins Lucy back with a touching impromptu roof-top performance of “All You Need Is Love”.

With brilliant effects and colours that leap out of the screen at you and stirring underwater ballet love scenes, the show will manage to keep you riveted throughout the 2 hours. Kudos to director Taymor for not letting the film stand alone musically but strengthening it with her bold techniques and strong visuals.

The Music

No other band but The Beatles could have the songs to perfectly portray the era of the sixties.

Using superb editing and mixing skills, the transitions between songs and accompaniment scenes are seamless and moving. Acting and singing alongside the 3 main characters are singer Dana Fuchs, who plays lead vocalist Sadie, Martin Luther McCoy, as Sadie’s lover and guitarist JoJo, and T.V Carpio, as lesbian cheerleader Prudence. They play a big part in bringing musical enjoyment to the show as they were cast more so for their vocals than anything else.

The character names were also cleverly chosen to suit the tunes of The Beatles, like “Hey Jude”, “Dear Prudence” and “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”. However if you were expecting original Beatle songs, you’ll be disappointed for the songs in the motion picture are re-sung by the actors and actresses themselves. That isn’t too bad a thing though because they bring new interpretations to the words of the tunes. After the movie, “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” will never seem like the teeny ditty it was again, as how “Let It Be” will tug at my heartstrings now.

Featuring many other great tracks like “Hold Me Tight”, “Helter Skelter”, “Strawberry Fields Forever”, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, “Blackbird” and “Don’t Let Me Down”, the show will sweep you off along with the beats before letting you off the ride gently with “Across the Universe”.

Across The Universe is ultimately a love story which manages to capture the essence of the confusion and sadness of war through great music. But more so, it shows how The Beatles, music and love can transcend all across the universe.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Movie Details

Opens: Dec 27

Running time: 133 mins

Language: English

Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Dana Fuchs

Director: Julie Taymor