Across the Universe (2007) is a musical that uses Beatles songs to tell a love story in 1960s America as Vietnam and counterculture heat up.

I was introduced to the music of the film first on Oprah, so my impression was Jim Sturgess is a cutie-pie and the Beatles are best left to oldies radio stations.

See, like anything one hears all the freakin’ time, I had been blocking out the Beatles and hadn’t considered their songwriting ingenuity in a long time (not since watching Backbeat). I did enjoy the Beatles Night on American Idol cuz I could sing my heart out with Brooke White. But I never listen to my copy of Beatles: One and never felt it necessary to purchase a real album.

The film itself is very similar in style to Moulin Rouge (2001), even their British love struck leading men and provocative choreography (see the dance scenes of “I Want You/She’s so Heavy” in AU and “Roxanne” in MR).

The movie won me over for its inventive use of 1960s iconography and pop culture. Lennon and McCartney created songs that were both timely and timeless, which makes them the perfect match for this project.

The bottom line is Across the Universe is a solid musical set in the 1960s for a crowd watching forty years later.

I heard that on February 4th the song Across the Universe by the Beatles was being beamed into space on its 40th anniversary. The next day the movie came out on DVD and it was a long awaited release by my husband who is a huge Beatles fan. I have to confess that I never really appreciated the Beatles until I fell in love with the I Am Sam soundtrack (I love “Two of Us” with Aimee Mann, “Across the Universe” with Rufus Wainright, and “Black Bird” with Sarah McLachlan–all gorgeous) Anyway, I’ve already mentioned before that I have a weakness for musicals that ties back to growing up without a television, rented movie reels from the library, and hours spent with a record player. Combine all this with an obsession geared at the Vietnam war and the fate of POWs during junior high and highschool which resulted in a scrapbook full of war poetry–and it all balls up together and makes me a perfect target for the Across the Universe movie.

I’ve watched it twice and I think it is gorgeous and sad and, yes, a bit corny–most importantly, I love the music. I know it recieved mixed reviews coming out and I guess I understand that, Beatles or not, a musical is a musical is a musical. But did I mention the music? The whole soundtrack is great (there are two [technically three] one with only 16 songs, I think the deluxe is well worth the download) but a couple favorites:

• Let it Be with Carol Woods, Timothy T. Mitchum and church choir, sung in context of Vietnam and the Detroit riots, absolutely beautifully rendered (youtube version with no video clip spoiler)
  • “And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
    there will be an answer, let it be.
    For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
    there will be an answer. let it be.”
• If I Fell with Evan Rachel Wood, lovely
• While My Guitar Gently Weeps with Martin Luther McCoy, simply gorgeous–I’ve never heard the original
• Hey Jude with Joe Anderson, simple and real, love it
• All You Need is Love with Jim Sturgess, really, I liked everything he sang, he was very believable

There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done.
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It’s easy.
There’s nothing you can make that can’t be made.
No one you can save that can’t be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be in time
It’s easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
There’s nothing you can know that isn’t known.
Nothing you can see that isn’t shown.
Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.
It’s easy.
All you need is love, all you need is love,
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.
All you need is love (all together now)
All you need is love (everybody)
All you need is love, love, love is all you need.

by John Lennon