Saturday, June 6, 2009

across the universe redux

ok, i said i needed to see this film again and i did (thank you sky), after all its a rare film that earworms me for days on end.)
i was more alert this time and it turns out, i really really like it

its a story about the 1960s, more or less and concerns six people; jude, lucy, maxwell, prudence, sadie and jojo ( i can hear you groaning from here). there is a plot of sorts, but its more an impression of the times, rather than a history.

the essential problem with these kinds of films is that they are trying to write a story around a group of already exisiting songs, but this fil does it much better than, say mama mia. in that film, the moviemakers pretty much stuck to abba's arrangements, in across the universe, musical director elliott rosenthal has often rearranged the songs, sped some up (falling) slowed some down ( i want to hold your hand) which has given a new perspective on the songs. take it won't be long, sung here by the female lead and very well done too.

joe cocker's version of come together is so good you wonder why he hadn't done it before.

other highlights are i want you (she's so heavy) and happiness is a warm gun

as i said before, it's visually stunning, and the choreography isn't bad either. my one quibble is that tv carpio, who has a great voice, as well as being heartbreakingly gorgeous, doesn't get enough screen time (and only one solo)

i will definatly be picking up the dvd once it hits the cheapie bins (that will be in a couple of months, i reckon)

i also need to get a new copy of the white album as i seem to have misplaced mine

2 comments:

  1. Okay, this sounds like a strong recommendation. Like the song remake. May work better than the Love albumn.

    Watched Scanner Darkly last night but kept dozing off. Made it all seemed very fragmented and trippy. Probably appropriate. Ruth tells me it was a good film.

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  2. it is fragmented and trippy even when you're awake

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