Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:22 pm
Normally I'm the same way about musicals. I see no reason for people to suddenly burst into song, especially since it doesn't seem to add anything to the story line, the only exception I can think of being Sweeny Todd (and while the movie was good, I preferred the play. not even sure I'd have liked the movie if I hadn't seen the play first). There it seemed like the music was their way of reaching into the minds of the characters.
In Across the Universe, the music is half the story (but 3/4 of the impact). In fact, I'd say there's almost three movies running simultaneously - the narrative, the music, and the imagery, the imagery being the bridge between the two. When the story is in the forefront, it's all real. There aren't any of the surreal images like flashbacks, viewpoint juxtapositions, psychadelic flourishes, or choreography (flying football players, yay!). But when the music comes in, it's like it's saying 'Ok, don't take this literally.' I really enjoyed that about the film, but probably wouldn't have approached it that way if I hadn't been baked to the nines. Normally seeing someone playing the air drums to the soundtrack would take me right out of it, but it worked in the context.
I would like to add, though, that while Lucy sings quite well, she can't act. Not sure about Max, but Jude was pretty good in Fifty Dead Men Walking (about the IRA, with Ben Kingsley to boot).
In Across the Universe, the music is half the story (but 3/4 of the impact). In fact, I'd say there's almost three movies running simultaneously - the narrative, the music, and the imagery, the imagery being the bridge between the two. When the story is in the forefront, it's all real. There aren't any of the surreal images like flashbacks, viewpoint juxtapositions, psychadelic flourishes, or choreography (flying football players, yay!). But when the music comes in, it's like it's saying 'Ok, don't take this literally.' I really enjoyed that about the film, but probably wouldn't have approached it that way if I hadn't been baked to the nines. Normally seeing someone playing the air drums to the soundtrack would take me right out of it, but it worked in the context.
I would like to add, though, that while Lucy sings quite well, she can't act. Not sure about Max, but Jude was pretty good in Fifty Dead Men Walking (about the IRA, with Ben Kingsley to boot).
