Never knock the way another cat swings, man.

Across the Universe

(2007)

The story may be derivative (of Hair amongst other psychedelic stylings) but Julie Taymor's musical based on Beatles songs (with a screenplay by Dick Clement and Ian Le Frenais) and set against the backdrop of 1960s America is visually stunning, while many of the track choices yield original twists on the lyrics.

There's the odd bummer; a gospel version of Let it Be is tediously obvious, but particularly enjoyable was Eddie Izzard's whacked out rendition of Mr Kite. It succeeds in almost every area that Baz Luhrmann's frenetic and empty Moulin Rouge fails; genuine visual flair and romantic leads you are invested in. A surprising and touching treat.

****

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He’s probably paranoid, high-strung, doesn’t like daylight. You know, has a lot of crumbs in his beard, if he has a beard.

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Roswell was a smokescreen, we've had a half a dozen better salvage operations.

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By heaven, I’d thrash the life out of you… if I didn’t have to read the Nine O’Clock News.

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UFO IN MOSSINGHAM?

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Farewell, dear shithead, farewell.

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A subterranean Loch Ness Monster?

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Now In Full Color, with a Happier Ending

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