Across the Universe October 4, 2007
Posted by goldblatt in Film School.trackback
This was a pure psychadelic experience in every sense of the word. I loved this movie. I mean truly loved it. Laughed, cried, blissed out, and was sad when it was over. Lots of people had mixed feelings about it. I didn’t go into it thinking about it as any sort of standard Hollywood movie. I didn’t go into it thinking about it as a “jukebox musical” or as “moulin rougesque” or whatever. it was a beautiful piece of art that created some of the most stunning moving pictures i have ever seen on celluloid. and that’s all that i want in a movie. Julie Taymor has shamed her peers with this incredibly thoughtful triumph of film directing. Seriously, if I was a major motion picture director, I would be embarassed right now. This movie kicks ass. The plot is sparse but the movie is not really about the plot. It’s not about the script. It’s about the music and the pictures. Actually I think of the film as an extended meditation and at times even an enticing riddle or puzzle that Taymor is putting together. It’s a beautiful game that she is playing with music, characterization, setting, history, politics, lyrics, visual art and film. She puts old songs in new situations and contexts that bring out incredibly deep, profound meanings intrinsic to the original time the songs were written. That’s what makes it unique–it’s playful. It’s brilliant. And you get to see Bono sing I am The Walrus in one of the most perfect acid trip scenes ever put on film.
Terrific performances from ALL of the leads. Just go see the movie!
I couldn’t agree more with you. I like you did not have any high expectations going in other than knowing it was going to be brilliant because Taymore directed it. The movie was a smashing piece of art. I loved that the actors actually sang the songs and were not there just to look pretty. (and Jim Sturgess does look dashing)
The movie was fun and actually felt innocent meaning I didn’t feel like a statement was trying to be made or an agenda being pushed on me. It was like a snapshot of the time and we had the unique opportunity to peer inside and experience what was going on.
It was brilliant!
well said!
[...] This is another one of those times when I am the only person I know who loved this movie. (See Across the Universe for a more drastic example). I expected the very worst from this movie. Something in my head just [...]