All you need is love.

All I can say is WOW. If you have not yet seen Across The Universe you are missing out on something truly extraordinary. This movie was amazing in ways that I can not even describe.

It is a musical based on The Beatles songbook and set in the 60s in England, America, and Vietnam. The love story of Lucy and Jude is intertwined with the anti-war movement and social protests of the 60s. Over 30 Beatles' songs are woven into the plot together with visual allusions to films Help! (1965), A Hard Day's Night (1964), Magical Mystery Tour (1967) {TV}, Yellow Submarine (1968) and Let It Be (1970). Amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, the struggle for free speech and civil rights, mind exploration and rock and roll- the at once gritty, whimsical and highly theatrical story moves from high schools and universities in Massachusetts, Princeton and Ohio to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the Detroit riots, Vietnam and the dockyards of Liverpool. {IMDB}

Roger Ebert gave Across The Universe four stars raving that it 'sounds like a concept that might be behind its time, but I believe in yesterday.'

{Sadie: Where'd she come from? Jude: She came in through the bathroom window.}

I have been a Beatles fan my entire life. I began watching this movie not sure if I would love the renditions or if they wouldn't even live up to the legend that is the Beatles. I was so pleasantly surprised at the talent of the cast and everyone involved with this movie. The songs were done so well and integrated with the movie beautifully- that I was able to appreciate their same quality, but in a new way. Ebert says 'the beauty is in the execution. The experience of the movie is joyous. I don't even want to know about anybody who complains they aren't hearing 'the real Beatles.' [...] These songs are now more than 40 years old, some of them, and are timeless, and hearing these unexpected talents singing them (yes, and Bono, Izzard and Cocker, too) only underlines their astonishing quality.'
I just can't say enough of this soundtrack. I am going out on my lunch break today to buy the deluxe version- you can hear it here. I had no idea that Evan Rachel Wood was even a singer, but you could tell during the movie that she was no lip-syncer. She was truly incredible and deserves many props for her performance. As well as of course Joe Anderson, Dana Fuchs, Martin Luther, Jim Sturgess and of course the likes of Bono and Eddie Izzard.

And now back to my personal favorite- Jim Sturgess! Who the heck does he think he is stealing my heart like that? I am sad to say that this was the first I have seen or heard of Sturgess and was shocked to see his wide array of tv movies and lately a lot of big-time movies, such as The Other Boleyn Girl and landing another lead role in 21. {both of which I will now see for sure.} Between his accent, his hair, his voice, and just his overall presence- he is definitely someone that I will follow from now on. :)

{JoJo: Music's the only thing that makes sense anymore, man. Play it loud enough, it keeps the demons away.}

I'm begging you to see this movie if you haven't already done so. I promise that you will not be disappointed.

Currently listening to:: {my favorite Beatles song} Blackbird.