Brief Summary
In this episode, the hosts discuss the 2007 film "Across the Universe," a musical that uses Beatles songs to tell a story set in the 1960s. They share their personal connections to the movie, provide a detailed summary, and discuss its historical context, visual style, and political themes. The hosts also review the critical reception of the film and propose alternative Beatles songs that could have been included.
- Personal experiences and initial impressions of the movie.
- Detailed summary of the plot, characters, and musical numbers.
- Discussion of the film's visual style, historical context, and political themes.
Opening Banter and Personal Connections
The hosts begin by discussing their initial experiences and feelings about "Across the Universe." Adam expresses his dislike for the movie, while Molly shares a positive memory of watching it with friends. The conversation shifts to Adam's apartment search and his realization that he had been using the wrong budget. Molly is moving to San Diego to be closer to her brother's family. They also touch on future filming schedules with time differences due to Molly's move and potential international travel for the podcast.
Summarizing "Across the Universe"
RJ provides a one-minute summary of "Across the Universe," detailing the plot involving Jude, a young man from Liverpool, his relationship with Max and Lucy, and their involvement in the hippie lifestyle and anti-war movement. The summary covers key plot points such as Max's draft into Vietnam, Lucy's activism, and the eventual reunion of Jude and Lucy. Molly shares her positive experience watching the movie with friends and a specific memory related to the "I Want to Hold Your Hand" scene.
Julie Taymor and Her Visual Style
The hosts discuss Julie Taymor, the director of "Across the Universe," highlighting her background in theater and her distinctive visual style, which includes puppetry, masks, and movement. They reference her work on "The Lion King" on Broadway and "Frida," noting her strong artistic vision and its impact on her projects. They also touch on her conflicted portrayal in the book about the Spider-Man musical, where she is depicted as both talented and difficult to work with.
Adam's Initial Reaction and Critique
Adam shares his negative initial reaction to "Across the Universe," citing his lack of interest in Beatles stories and Vietnam War narratives. He expresses fatigue with the common portrayal of the Vietnam War era and finds the movie lacking in depth. While acknowledging the Beatles' songwriting talent, he notes that the film doesn't offer any new perspectives on the war. The hosts acknowledge that their opinions may not represent those of Beatles fans.
The Beatles: Cultural Ubiquity and Pop Culture References
The hosts discuss the cultural ubiquity of The Beatles, with Molly reading the first paragraph of their Wikipedia page. They share personal anecdotes about their first connections to The Beatles through pop culture references like "The Nanny" and "The Powerpuff Girls." The conversation touches on Yoko Ono's unfairly maligned reputation and Julie Taymor's ability to rethink well-known texts, such as The Lion King and Shakespeare.
Production Details and Trivia
The hosts provide production details for "Across the Universe," including the screenplay writers, producers, and cast members. They mention that Jake Gyllenhaal was originally considered for the lead role. They also discuss the trivia surrounding the film, such as the absence of a visible joint in the smoking scene and the intended representations of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin in the characters of JoJo and Sadie.
Controversies and Editing
The hosts discuss the controversy surrounding the film's editing, revealing that an executive at Sony recut the film to make it shorter and more audience-friendly, angering Julie Taymor. They mention that Taymor's version was eventually released after positive test audience feedback. The film received one Academy Award nomination for best costume design and a Golden Globe nomination for best motion picture musical or comedy.
Initial Impressions and Character Introductions
Molly expresses her initial reservations about the movie's opening, finding the white male perspective unappealing. The hosts discuss the introduction of the characters, with RJ appreciating the way they were presented through song. RJ connects most with Max's journey, while Molly appreciates Evan Rachel Wood's portrayal of Lucy. Adam finds the introduction of JoJo problematic.
Character Development and Political Themes
Adam critiques the movie for trying to fit too many Beatles songs into the film, which detracts from character development. He finds the chemistry between Jude and Lucy unconvincing. Molly disagrees, finding their love story compelling. The hosts discuss the age difference between Jude and Lucy and the film's portrayal of Lucy's activism. They also critique the film's use of a black child's death to contextualize Lucy's grief.
Prudence's Introduction and the "I Want to Hold Your Hand" Scene
The hosts discuss Prudence's introduction and the "I Want to Hold Your Hand" scene, praising its visual representation of a high school crush and its significance for LGBTQ+ representation in 2007. They note that Prudence's character is not fully developed throughout the rest of the movie. The conversation shifts to Max's journey and the "I Want You" scene, which they consider a visually exciting and artistic highlight of the film.
The Vietnam War and Psychedelic Detour
The hosts discuss the film's portrayal of the Vietnam War and the 30-minute psychedelic detour. Adam expresses fatigue with the trope of people from the 60s and 70s claiming wisdom and insight from drug use. They critique the drug sequence for not contributing to the plot and for its length. The hosts also touch on the Bread and Puppet Theater sequence and its homage to Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Strawberry Fields and Apoliticality of Jude
The hosts discuss the "Strawberry Fields" sequence and the apolitical nature of Jude. They question the significance of strawberries as an emblem of the film and critique the script's dialogue. The hosts also discuss the film's use of visual nods to bodies in Vietnam and the lack of real people. They debate whether the film is trying to say that artists are also doing something important.
Historical Context and Cognitive Dissonance
The hosts discuss the historical context of the film and the cognitive dissonance of using ubiquitous pop culture in an actual historical setting. They note that the visuals make the film feel important, but the perspective is lacking. The hosts also touch on the parallels between the Vietnam War and the Iraq War.
Ending and Sadie and JoJo
The hosts wrap up the discussion, noting that the ending is a return to optimism. They mention that the Sadie and JoJo storyline is about fame, which they find boring. The hosts also discuss the "Hey Jude" scene and the "All You Need Is Love" ending.
Critics
The hosts discuss what the critics are saying about the movie. The critics' reviews were mixed.
Reverse Pick A Beatles Song
The hosts pick a Beatles song that's not in this movie that they think should have been included and pitch their visual concept.
