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[trinityvixen]

I watched Across the Universe yesterday. It was decent. The story was a non-issue; it was merely a vehicle to excuse people singing Beatles tunes. I found myself bored when they weren't singing, but the singing was pretty good. I still think they cheated by getting Bono to do a couple of songs, but the actors/actresses were otherwise pleasant to listen to. A tad studied, perhaps, but all crystal in their own way.

The entire movie had about as much coherence as an acid trip. Or so I thought until there actually was an acid trip sequence and then I discovered how creepy that could get. (Thanks, Eddie Izzard, I may never sleep again.) I was telling feiran and darkling1 that it was a shame the writers had the entire Beatles catalogue at their disposal and they couldn't come up with a coherent story. I immediately retracted the statement when I recalled that a movie that felt like one long drug high is probably exactly what the Fab Four's music was meant to narrate.

I texted my sister after watching since I remembered she'd loved it, shared the same feelings with her, to which she replied that she has it on good authority (aka her pot-head roommate) that the movie does improve when one is watching it high. Something to consider, I suppose, for those of you so inclined. (Me, not so much.)

Funnily enough, I dreamt about using pot last night. True to form, I then immediately spent the rest of the dream freaking out about how drug tests at jobs that I might want six months down the road could detect that I'd used. Also, all my friends were totally shocked that I was such a pothead. Especially a smoker, since I make the most terrible fuss whenever I'm around smokers. I'm sure the Partnership for a Drug-Free America would be pleased to know that I've completely internalized the paranoia about using drugs and how they'll mess me up to the point that my dreams read like a pamphlet of prevention.

Comments

[droidguy1119.livejournal.com]

I felt pretty much the same. Dazzling, but dramatically inert. Also Jim Sturgess seems to be half the star he's meant to be. He seems a reasonably fine actor and he's certainly handsome but he registers as charisma-free whenever I see him in a movie.

Speaking of which, avoid 21 at all costs. It doesn't look like much, and it's actually even less.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Oh, was that him in it, too? Well, no that didn't look remotely interesting (which is a shame since the real story is terribly interesting).

"Dramatically inert" is about perfect. The director's Broadway background is showing--she can stage really impact-filled scenes, but they have almost no need to go any deeper than the icons she uses. She hits all the buzzwords/images of the 1960-70s, and makes them visually popping and that's it. When the cast aren't singing mournfully at one another, they're just set pieces.

[viridian.livejournal.com]

I thought 21 was decent! Kevin Spacey is always awesome, and Jim Sturgess is okay. I thought the story was interesting, even though they simplified it a lot for the movie.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Aww, well, now see I don't know what to think!

[viridian.livejournal.com]

I saw it in the theater and didn't feel like it was a waste of my time. Ben seemed to like it okay, too. I'm picky about what I'll watch but not overly critical once I'm watching, so I dunno.

But my opinion of Across the Universe was roughly the same as yours - pretty music, nice visuals, NO STORY WHATSOEVER.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there were "things" not story. Things like the protestors, the artists, the druggies, and the vets. Big honking deal.

[moonlightalice.livejournal.com]

Gah! No fair! I just got that on Netflix yesterday. Perfectly timed!

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

Have you watched it yet? I definitely think it merits a view, though it left me mostly with an intense desire to listen to the entire Beatles catalogue. (Not surprising, I suppose.)

[anarchicsquirrl.livejournal.com]

I saw 21, and the whole premise of the movie (not the book) was flawed - it was that if he didn't get all this money, he wouldn't be able to afford to go to Harvard Medical School. HELLO?!?! YOU TAKE OUT LOANS?!?! Almost NO ONE can afford medical school, that's why people are $200,000 in debt after med school. GAH. I don't like when you have to suspend that much disbelief for the entire idea the movie is based on. Also, the movie wasn't that good, though it was fun to see Boston/Cambridge land marks I recognized jumbled up in incorrect manners.