Across the Universe - 2 Disc Deluxe Edition

Drama, Musical, Romance

Evan Rachel Wood	Lucy Carrigan
Bono
Jim Sturgess	Jude
Salma Hayek
Eddie Izzard
Joe Anderson	Max Carrigan
Dana Fuchs	Sadie
Martin Luther	JoJo
T.V. Carpio	Prudence
Spencer Liff	Daniel
Lisa Hogg	Molly
Nicholas Lumley	Cyril
Michael Ryan	Phil
Angela Mounsey	Martha - Jude's Mother
Dylan Baker	Max's Father
Erin Elliott	Cheer Coach
Robert Clohessy	Jude's Father
Curtis Holbrook	Dorm Buddy
John Jeffrey Martin	Dorm Buddy
Matt Caplan	Dorm Buddy
Timothy R. Boyce Jr.	Jock
Aisha De Haas	Tavern Waitress
Ellen Hornberger	Julia - Lucy's Sister
Dana Fuchs Band

Director	Julie Taymor
Producer	Richard Baratta; David Brown; Suzanne Todd; Jennifer Todd
Writer	Dick Clement; Ian La Frenais; Julie Taymor

Something a little different to the norm, Across The Universe is, in its simplest form, a collection of Beatles songs that have been strung together into a musical. But what a musical, and ultimately, what a fascinating film too.

Across The Universe follows Jude, played by Jim Sturgess, who travels from Britain to America in the 1960s, and eventually meets Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood). The film then picks up the story of their romance, with the likes of Vietnam war protests sitting in the background, along with a strong-yet-unknown supporting cast who more than hold their own.

Across The Universe progresses its narrative through a mix of Beatles numbers, and it's a method that sometimes works exceptionally well, and at other times feels a little bit shoehorned. Nonetheless, more of it succeeds than fails, and there's no denying the quality of the musical work, even though it's not the Fab Four whose vocal talents are used.

Sometimes a bit uneven, Across The Universe is nonetheless a brave and bold screen musical, with a striking visual style. Director Julie Taymor--who previously directed the musical of The Lion King on Broadway--has fashioned a gleefully unusual movie, that's a bit risky, sometimes a bit stretched, but very, very watchable. One of the most interesting little gems of 2007. --Jon Foster