Across the Universe (2007)
Drama, Fantasy, History |.
Across the Universe is a jukebox musical romantic drama film directed by Julie Taymor, centered on songs by the English rock band the Beatles. The script is based on an original story credited to Taymor, Dick Clement, and Ian La Frenais. It incorporates 34 compositions originally written by members of the Beatles. The film stars Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson and T.V. Carpio, and introduces Dana Fuchs and Martin Luther McCoy as actors. Cameo appearances are made by Bono, Eddie Izzard, Joe Cocker, and Salma Hayek, among others.
Across the Universe premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, 2007, and was theatrically released in the United States on October 12 by Columbia Pictures. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with many praising the visuals, cast and singing performances, though criticized the plot and direction.
The film begins in an unspecified year of the 1960s with Jude, a young shipyard worker in Liverpool, reminiscing about a girl he once knew and loved. Some time prior, Jude enlisted in the Merchant Navy and then jumped ship in New Jersey, hoping to find his American G.I. father, whom he has never met. He promises to write to his girlfriend while Lucy Carrigan worries about her boyfriend, Daniel, who is headed for service in the Vietnam War. In Dayton, Ohio, cheerleader Prudence pines for a fellow female cheerleader, and then drops out of school in shame. Jude meets his father, who is a janitor at Princeton University, and befriends Lucy’s brother, the privileged and rebellious Max. Lucy receives a letter from Daniel, but Max introduces her to Jude, who he brings home for Thanksgiving. Dinner with Max’s family turns into an argument where Max announces that he’s dropping out of college, after which Max takes Jude and Lucy bowling, and Jude becomes attracted to Lucy.
Director: Julie Taymor
Writers: Dick Clement (screenplay & story), Ian La Frenais (screenplay & story), Julie Taymor (story)
Stars: Evan Rachel Wood, Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs, Martin Luther, T.V. Carpio, Spencer Liff
Cast:
| 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 Dwyer Hogg | … | Molly (Jude’s Liverpool Girlfriend) (as Lisa Hogg) |
| 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 |
| John Jeffrey Martin | … | Dorm Buddy |
| Matt Caplan | … | Dorm Buddy |
| Timothy R. Boyce Jr. | … | Jock (as T.R. Boyce Jr.) |
| Aisha De Haas | … | Tavern Waitress |
| Leah Hocking | … | Tavern Waitress |
| Bill Buell | … | Old Guy at Tavern |
| Ellen Hornberger | … | Julia Carrigan – Lucy’s Sister |
| Amanda Cole | … | Emily |
| Danya Taymor | … | High School Girlfriend |
| Dylan Baker | … | Mr. Carrigan – Lucy’s Father |
| Linda Emond | … | Mrs. Carrigan – Lucy’s Mother |
| Lynn Cohen | … | Grandmother Carrigan |
| Bill Irwin | … | Uncle Teddy |
| Jennifer Van Dyck | … | Daniel’s Mother |
| Timmy Mitchum | … | Jo-Jo’s Brother (as Timothy T. Mitchum) |
| Carol Woods | … | Gospel Singer |
| Elain R. Graham | … | Jo-Jo’s Mother (as Elain Graham) |
| Orfeh | … | Hooker |
| Antonique Smith | … | Hooker |
| Tracy Nicole Chapman | … | Hooker |
| Yassmin Alers | … | Hooker |
| Deidre Goodwin | … | Hooker |
| Joe Cocker | … | Bum / Pimp / Mad Hippie |
| Jacob Pitts | … | Rap Magazine Employee |
| Staceyann Chin | … | Rap Magazine Employee (as Staceyanne Chin) |
| Jeanine Serralles | … | Dani |
| Leonard Tucker | … | Katz’s Waiter |
| Daniel Stewart Sherman | … | Cop at Wharf Warehouse |
| Harry Lennix | … | Army Sergeant |
| Logan Marshall-Green | … | Paco |
| James Urbaniak | … | Sadie’s Manager |
| Kathleen Early | … | SDR Worker |
| Ching Valdes-Aran | … | Luna Park |
| Bono | … | Dr. Robert |
| Daniel Ezralow | … | Mother Superior |
| Kiva Dawson | … | Max’s Girl |
| Halley Wegryn Gross | … | Max’s Girl |
| Luther Creek | … | Prankster |
| Jerzy Gwiazdowski | … | Prankster |
| Arabella Holzbog | … | Prankster |
| Ambrose Martos | … | Prankster |
| Peter Mui | … | Prankster |
| Karine Plantadit | … | Prankster |
| Dan Weltner | … | Prankster |
| Christopher Youngsman | … | Prankster |
| Eddie Izzard | … | Mr. Kite |
| Ekaterina Sknarina | … | Rita |
| Tracy Westmoreland | … | Fillmore Manager |
| Ron Cephas Jones | … | Black Panther |
| William W. Wilson | … | Precinct House Sergeant (as W. W. Wilson III) |
| Salma Hayek | … | Singing Nurse |
| Luke Cresswell | … | Tramp Drumming on Bin Lids |
| Jarlath Conroy | … | Bartender at Max’s Bar |
| Mandy Gonzalez | … | Sadie’s Singer |
| Destan Owens | … | Sadie’s Singer |
| Cicily Daniels | … | Sadie’s Singer |
| Saycon Sengbloh | … | Sadie’s Singer |
| Sam Kitchin | … | Sergeant on Rooftop |
| Chris McGarry | … | Sergeant on Rooftop |
| Frank Hopf | … | Door Officer at Strawberry Records |
| ‘Cousin Brucie’ Morrow | … | Self (voice) (as Cousin Brucie Morrow) |
| Navarra Novy-Williams | … | High School Girlfriend |
| Sarah Jayne Jensen | … | High School Girlfriend |
| Michelle Loucadoux | … | High School Girlfriend (as Michelle Lookadoo) |
| Geoffrey Countryman | … | High School Dance Band |
| Julien Joy | … | High School Dance Band |
| Conrad Korsch | … | High School Dance Band |
| Brian Mckenna | … | High School Dance Band (as Brian McKenna) |
| Jack Petruzzelli | … | High School Dance Band (as Jack Petricelli) |
| Timothy Keiper | … | Sadie’s Band |
| Arthur Lewis | … | Sadie’s Band |
| Mark Lewis | … | Sadie’s Band |
| Bryan Noll | … | Sadie’s Band |
| Michael Arenella | … | Circus Band |
| Cyro Baptista | … | Circus Band |
| Frank Fighera | … | Circus Band |
| Ritt Henn | … | Circus Band |
| Mark Stewart | … | Circus Band |
| Bruce Williamson | … | Circus Band |
| Charles Drayton | … | Sadie’s Rooftop Band |
| Thomas Grasso | … | Sadie’s Rooftop Band |
| Joey Sykes | … | Sadie’s Rooftop Band (as Joey Sykes) |
| Paul Wallfisch | … | Sadie’s Rooftop Band |
| Caryn Allen | … | Gospel Choir |
| Ronald Blackman | … | Gospel Choir |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia