Across The universe

“Words are flowing out like a restless rain inside a letter box”, aptly describes this surreal koleidoscope of a film. Directed by Julie Taymor, this musical film invites you to get lost and free in the 70’s as you are serenaded by songs of the biggest band in history- The Beatles. The film follows a group of people that seemingly, “Come Together” starring Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson and T.V. Carpio. Also in this film are Dana Fuchs and  Martin Luther McCoy .
“Isn’t anybody going to listen to my story, all about the girl who came to stay,” sings Jim Strugess. Jude(Jim Strugess)  opens up the film on the cool brisk overcast beach of Liverpool reminiscing of the days past, and the friends of the past. Waves on the beach crash and fall tumbling within them a collage of events from the past that is in a way overlapped over the crashing sea. The film covers Jude’s initial plan to go to America to meet his dad and to see the USA. His father works at Princeton and so Jude ultimately believes that his father is a college professor. So Jude picks up his life, leaving his mother in Liverpool to meet his estranged father.
 On arrival he collides with a student named Max(Joe Anderson) and he asks about his father the professor. He soon learns from Max that his father works in physical plant and is no professor at all. Upon meeting his father he learns that his father has another family in America and that he had no knowledge that his son-Jude, existed. Jude becomes a close comrade of Max and the two hit it off at once, leading into the awesomely performed song, “With a Little Help From My Friends”. Latter on Max invites Jude to his house for thanksgiving and it is here that he gets to know Lucy(Evan Rachel Wood). In the interim strife is engulfing Detroit with the race riots that took place during the 70’s. We are pulled in to the scene by a young boy who seeks shelter from the raucous surrounding him as he sings, “Let it Be”. It is in all this sorrow that we are introduced to JoJo(Martin Luther McCoy) who seems to be Jimi Hendrix. He leaves all of the sorrows of Detroit behind and embarks on his own road that leads him to New York. Back  in Princeton, Max has an unpleasant altercation with his father during thanksgiving that moves him to tell his father he plans on dropping out of college. He takes Jude and Lucy bowling, and spontaneously says that he and Jude should go to New York. So the two embark on their Journey to the Big Apple. Prudence(T.V Carpio) is another person that out of dissatisfaction with her life and her long to, “Hold the Hand”, of another girl leaves to see the eclectic Big Apple. Here all these people convulude  and somehow end up in the same apt. building presided upon by the landlord/singer, Sadie(Dana Fuchs). JoJo, Jude, Max and Sadie hit it off at once and all of a sudden our, “Dear Prudence,” comes, or shall we say, “Came in Through the Bathroom Window”. Back in Princeton Lucy learns that her boyfriend has been killed in the war and goes to New York for the summer to divert her mind and be with her brother Max.
It’s under this roof that this thespian drama takes place, covering Max’s having to go to war and the relationship that forms between Jude and Lucy. At the same time we have another relationship being fostered between JoJo and Sadie, this is observed by Prudence who has taken a liking for Sadie.
I am the Walrus, is performed with swagger that only the Irish rockstar Bono can strut. We see this take place at a psychedelic party in which Sadie is invited to, by a producer that wants her  to sing with his label. The thing that makes all of these performances memorable is that you can see that each performer is really making the songs there own instead of trying to be Beatles cover performances. Check out the vivacity and rawness that Max(Joe Anderson) brings to this film with songs such as “Happiness is a Warm Gun” in which we get a glimpse at the  sumptuous nurse(Salma Hayek). If you’re gonna have a shot, as you’ll see, You will want her to be your nurse.
“I Want You”, s one of the songs in this movie that is given some of the most  opulent sets. The production is very artistic in its interpretation of this song as meaning that Uncle Sam want’s Max to join the army. As Max enters the government building to be drafted a poster of Uncle Sam literally comes to life in a digital way as if trying to grasp Max in its Joker like face paint. 
For The Benefit of Mr.Kite, is a truly bountiful ballet of visual fun. We get to see the song happen after the group of friends is dropped of in a field seemingly in the middle of no where…….only to find preparation being made for a grand production, “Second to none”.
“When I get to the bottom……..”
“The long and winding road,” that leads us to the end of this beautiful “production second to none,” should be watched no questions asked. On this movie you will see actors that seem to embody certain stars like Jude who in my opinion looks a little and sounds a little like one of the Beatles, as well as JoJo, who really resembles the late Jimi Hendrix. But don’t look for comparisons between those figures and the actors in this movie; rather sit back and enjoy a movie that is truly a work of art.