Johann and I bought a copy of Julie Taymor's Across the Universe this morning -- for very different reasons. He saw a trailer and really loved the imagery. I really loved Julie Taymor's Titus.
It's an interesting project -- making a rock musical using Beatles songs.
War is the theme of the movie -- how it changes people and how it changes the world. The main character, Jude, travels from Liverpool to the United States to meet his biological father who was stationed in Liverpool during World War II.
In America, he is faced with the reality of the Vietnam War. His friend, Max, an Ivy League dropout was being drafted and Max's sister lost her boyfriend in that same war. Within the country, there was also a conflict between the pro-war movement/the Government and the anti-war/radical groups.
It was interesting to see how war and peace are born from the same actions and ideas: we want the world to be better -- but, despite our best intentions, there are people who get hurt.
One of my favorite parts in the movie was towards the end when Jude meets with Max after the war -- Jude tells Max that he looks okay and Max answers that "everything below the neck works fine."
Julie Taymor also tackles the idea of "action" -- Max's father keeps pushing him to "do something" and reminds Max that he is defined by the things that he does and doesn't do. Jude, on the other hand, has a different view -- he believes that it is the way one does things that matters.
At one point, Max's sister, Lucy confronts Jude about his lack of involvement. "We're in the middle of a revolution Jude. And what are you doing? Doodles and cartoons?"
What do you do with your life? The question takes on a different kind of urgency in the midst of the Vietnam War --
What kind of action are we supposed to take?
The answer is simple and the Beatles said it best -- all you need is love.
It's an amazing and incredibly memorable movie --
As I was watching it, I came to one curious conclusion -- there seems to be a Beatles song for every kind of human experience.
... now to find the soundtrack. ^_^
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