Across the Universe (or I ♥ Jim Sturgess)

Week 10, the inevitable week of "lasts" and good-byes for Fall quarter classes, is finally here and the "Finals are just around the corner, OMFG!" panic is already beginning to sweep the campus.

I thought it was pretty cool that my last political science class meeting was going to be an evening screening of the documentary, The War at Home, but what my roommate, who was taking a music class on the Beatles (I know, how fucking awesome is that??), told me about how her music professor planned to conclude their class totally blew my mind.

A private screening of Across the Universe at the AMC Theater in La Jolla Village Square for six dollars each - how could I say no to that?


I first saw Across the Universe in the most amazing little independent theater on the edge of Westwood back in early October and the awesomeness of the movie had me thinking and talking about it for days afterwards.

The sixties era of social revolution is probably one of my favorite periods of history, the Beatles are a revolution in and of themselves, and I am a HUGE fan of musicals - throw all those elements together and you've got an amazing film that seems to have been catered to my personal tastes.

Toss in a cute British actor who portrays a bohemian, freelance artist and you've got a surefire hit with me.

A common criticism of musicals is that they are usually a whole lot of "fluff" without much substance, but with powerful messages about the turbulent social issues of the sixties highlighted through passionate renditions of many familiar Beatles favorites, Across the Universe is anything but "fluffy."

The scene where Max reports to the induction center and undergoes the cold, systematic, factory-like inspection still sent shivers down my spine the second time around; the mindless drone-like mass of military officers sends a strong message about the nature of the military, but damn, those guys are CREEPY (says the girl who is deathly afraid of mannequins).

I thought the "Strawberry Fields" scene was one of the most moving scenes in the entire film; while I have listened to the Beatles sing that song many times before, simultaneously watching the strawberries bleed in Jude's workspace and Max fighting to survive in the brutal conditions of Vietnam brought a whole new meaning to the song that I never would have seen otherwise.


The cast was absolutely amazing in their acting and singing and together, they really managed to bring the sixties to back to life. The soundtrack for this movie is awesome and it spent quite a few weeks on repeat on my iPod after my trip to the Westwood theater back in October.

I could go on and on forever about how brilliant each scene of the 131 minute movie was because the film was so insightfully written and well executed as a whole.


My favorite character was, of course, Jude, the apolitical artist from Liverpool with the shaggy hair and the hot British accent. (Max, the rebel college drop-out who was drafted into the war, was a close second.) I pretty much fell in love with Jim Sturgess after seeing the film for the first time, and every time I hear his voice on the soundtrack now, an insuppressible grin breaks out on my face. Watching him in action and seeing his face on the big screen again was definitely a treat!

Love Actually has been on the top of my favorite-movies-of-all-time list for quite a few years now, but I think Across the Universe just wheedled its way to the very top.