Across the Universe (2007)

The music of the Beatles and the Vietnam War form the backdrop for the romance between an upper-class American girl and a poor Liverpudlian artist.

Director:

Julie Taymor

Writers:

Dick Clement (screenplay), Ian La Frenais (screenplay),

Stars:

Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Evan Rachel Wood	...	Lucy Carrigan
Jim Sturgess	...	Jude
Joe Anderson	...	Max Carrigan
Dana Fuchs	...	Sadie
Martin Luther	...	Jo-Jo (as Martin Luther McCoy)
T.V. Carpio	...	Prudence
Spencer Liff	...	Daniel
Lisa Hogg	...	Jude's Liverpool Girlfriend
Nicholas Lumley	...	Cyril
Michael Ryan	...	Phil
Angela Mounsey	...	Martha Feeny - Jude's Mother
Erin Elliott	...	Cheer Coach
Robert Clohessy	...	Wesley 'Wes' Huber - Jude's Father
Christopher Tierney	...	Dorm Buddy / Dancer
Curtis Holbrook	...	Dorm Buddy

Storyline

Across The Universe is a fictional love story set in the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, the struggle for free speech and civil rights, mind exploration and rock and roll. At once gritty, whimsical and highly theatrical, the story moves from high schools and universities in Massachusetts, Princeton and Ohio to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the Detroit riots, Vietnam and the dockyards of Liverpool. A combination of live action and animation, the film is paired with many songs by The Beatles that defined the time.

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Plot Keywords:

the beatles | protest | anti war | song | love | 

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Taglines:

From director Julie Taymor comes the most original, exhilarating, spectacular, groundbreaking motion picture of the year.

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some drug content, nudity, sexuality, violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [jp] Sony Pictures [de]

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 October 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

All You Need Is Love

Filming Locations:

ABC No Rio, 156 Rivington Street, New York, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$73,105,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$667,784 (USA) (14 September 2007)

Gross:

$24,343,673 (USA) (7 December 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Revolution Studios, Gross Entertainment, Team Todd

Technical Specs

Runtime:

133 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Jude returns to find that Lucy has gone, and sinks down to the floor in grief, a trumpet - very similar to the one Ringo Starr holds on the cover of' Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band' - is leaning against the wall under the window.

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Goofs

When Lucy is trying to make it to the roof at the end of the movie the police officers go from having night sticks in their hands to having their hands facing palms out to stop the crowds.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jude: [singing] Is there anybody going to listen to my story all about the girl who came to stay? She's the kind of girl you want so much, it makes you sorry. Still, you don't regret a single day. Aw, girl. Girl...

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Connections

Referenced in The Oprah Winfrey Show: High Style on a Budget with Superstar Designer Vera Wang (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Come Together"
Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Performed by Joe Cocker, Martin Luther (uncredited)
Back up vocals were performed in the film and on soundtrack by 'Orfeh' 'Antonique Smith' 'Tracy Nicole Chapman' 'Yassmin Alers' 'Deidre Goodwin'
Joe Cocker appears courtesy of Universal Music Enterprises, a division of UMG Recordings,
Inc. and EMI Records Limited

User Reviews

An incredible experience

Pure emotion. No one can mix theater with film like Julie Taymor. From beginning to end the film takes you on a psychedelic beatle ride that grips you by the ears, the heart and the soul and never lets go. Even now. Hours after the projector was shut off. Every song adaptation interpretation and setting is spot on, fans of the Beatles will recognize that every detail in Taymor's images recall an instance, a photograph, a line or a quote from the band. Even the girl that comes in through the bathroom window. Nothing is left to chance, everything is on purpose. Amazing. Easily the best film of the year. And in regards to people saying it's a two hour music video.. well... yeah, what the heck were you expecting???