16
Feb
Across the Universe
Reviews - Film - Music - Book
Saturday, 16 February 2008 14:04
Across the Universe Poster Across the Universe Poster We get through one war scourge and another one appears. It is the scourge of the Middle East and the suicide bomber. It belongs to a religion that is unknowable. It is ruled by dread and fear. A fear more disarming, more threatening, than anything we have ever yet come to know.

We are told that it is the work of Al-Qaeda. But is it? The assassination of Bhutto was all too shockingly invoked as I watched this film. Across the universe is a poignant timely reminder about the absurdity of war and the war mongers.

It deals directly with the consciousness of the 60s anti-vietnam efforts and those immediately affected by it interweaving the music of the Beatles.

I found the love story somewhat trite, but forgivable given the poignant message of the film. Overly long, I certainly would not like to have been left with making the decision about which sequences should have stayed on the cutting room floor.

The choreography is stunning in its surprising freshness and has succeeded in effectively breaking some of the norms of the big musical yet all the while adhering to the musical format.
Certainly influenced by Moulin Rouge yet never derivative.

The underwater scenes were saved by the psychedelic colouring, yet brought to mind the cinematic masterpiece in 300 (but could not top it) where the oracle at Delphi is consulted by those suppurating old men.

And the conscription scene cleverly evokes Pink Floyds 'We dont need no education' with innovative use of conveyor belts and cloned army sergeants in homo-erotic tangos with fresh conscripts.
But the most shocking indictment of war was done through Strawberry Fields Forever.

Even the smallest cameo in this film is a performance of note.

The film, both cross cultural and cross ageist in its narrative, ever so gently allowed itself to flirt obliquely with lesbianism. Yet given the era of free-love, pot and psychedelia, the film would have us believe that there are no male homosexuals....well none outside of the closeted confines of the barracks!

Does the world constantly need to be reminded that heterosexuality is here to stay?

Has it never dawned on anybody that heterosexuality is the basis of procreation and that the forces of procreation are extremely deviant, and not likely to rest up, ever!

Yet, in 2008, is this glaring omission, given the genre of this film, still acceptable? In this sense, it makes the film a little silly.

In spite of this glaring oversight or short-sightedness, I really enjoyed the film and came away realising what an enormous contribution to music and to lifes insights the Beatles had made.

This group had virtually single-handedly lead the way in popularising introspection. For me, their songs provoked further reading, further research, whet the appetite.

Further, I felt that the underground alternative scene of the 80s raised the bar of consciousness even further. I now wonder to what extent the bubble gum mindlessness of today's endless rave beats are just a direct rejection of anything deep?

I await the backlash with interest.

Anybody dare to tackle the issue of the wars in the Middle East in the same manner?
 

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