Across the Universe

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The Beatles, of course, have been repackaged, reconfigured, re-imagined and parodied by scores of artists – musicians, filmmakers, choreographers – for years. Last year, Cirque du Soleil launched a 90-minute production called "Love" in Las Vegas at the Mirage. It's the Beatles employed in the service of a dance-gymnastics-musical production, one done in conjunction with Apple Corp., Ltd., and blessed by Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison. With its use of mimes and actors, ornate costuming and elaborate props it has attracted mixed reviews and audience responses.

There are countless Beatles tribute bands, some who try the dress-alike/play-alike thing and others that just do the songs without the costuming or moptop hairstyles. One of the best of the latter bunch was – and may still be – Beatlejuice, a Boston-based group that had been fronted by Boston (the band) singer Brad Delp. Sadly, Delp committed suicide earlier this year. The band has carried on with up to four singers taking Delp's part and they remain a potent force, still selling out New England clubs, and making you think: "What if the Beatles were a club band?" Wow.

Films? There was "Sgt. Pepper," but most everyone tries to forget Peter Frampton, the BeeGees and that whole indulgent mess. There was the inspired and hilarious pseudo documentary, "The Rutles," in which ex-Monty Pythoner Eric Idle played both a Rutle and an intrepid interviewer trying to capture the band's essence. Mick Jagger appeared, as did George Harrison. The Rutles music hit just the right tone of send-up and homage.

Now, there's Julie Taymor's attempt at putting Beatles songs into a narrative context, "Across the Universe." On the movie's official website, it reads, "Within the lyrics of the world's most famous songs lives a story that's never been told. Until now." That's a bit of a stretch ... as is the movie, which attempts to create a longform narrative out of songs never intended to be visualized at all. (Well, most of them – the Beatles' did do their "Magical Mystery Tour" film and their animated "Yellow Submarine.") The idea of "Across then Universe" nags at you – how audacious! - but damned if it doesn't suck you in – once you accept the conceit.

Taymor – who staged "The Lion King" on Broadway – imagined a Liverpool dockworker lad, Jude, who's escaping his dreary upbringing by hopping a ship to America. He seems to be a John/Paul cross – cute, droll, and artistic. It's set – when else? – in the turbulent '60s. In America, Jude meets a best friend Max (who does not employ a silver hammer to kill anyone, surprisingly enough), falls in love with Lucy, gets deported, and comes back to get the girl, realizing at the end, "All you need is love." And singing it from a rooftop, no less! (Yes, the Beatles did something like that with "Get Back.") The backdrop to this all is Vietnam (with scenes of battle in Southeast Asia) and the concurrent protest in American streets and at universities. There's racial strife, sexual awakening, the joy felt of being able to create yourself anew – even if what you create isn't the greatest thing of all.

It's a pretty phantasmagoric film, strangely poignant and comical at the same time, a '60s nostalgia trip with resonance to the Iraq war today. Some of the military scenes echo the best bits of "Pink Floyd's The Wall." Particularly riveting is "I Want You (She's So Heavy)," set an Army induction center. The "I" who wants you is Uncle Sam, and he will not take no for answer.

As to the Beatles songs ... they seem to find the strangest tie-ins to the plot! But, heck, it's a trip, and even the most wrongheaded attempts (Eddie Izzard's "For the Benefit of Mr. Kite," Bono's "I Am the Walrus") have a perverse fascination about them. And, there are a couple of surprises. You know after you hear a girl introduced as Prudence that you will hear "Dear Prudence" - and, after locking herself in the bathroom, she will come out to play. But did you think Lucy might not have a sequence in the sky (the song plays over the credits)? And that Sadie, the attractive landlady who rents Jude and Max space in her flat, never gets to hear a song about how sexy she is? (Cutting room floor, perhaps?) She actually has another life, as an aspiring blues-rock singer – very Janis Joplin. "Strawberry Fields Forever" is the musical/visual pinnacle, as bleeding strawberries painted by artist Jude mutate into bombs falling in Vietnam. Very LSD. There are 33 Beatles songs here, all sung by the actors, and you're going to be thinking "hit," "miss" "maybe" when you hear them, as also you try to stay with the plotting and hallucinogenic side trips. It's worth the effort. When all is said and done, you remember the demand (plea?) from the song "Across the Universe" – "Nothing's gonna change my world" – and realize how futile that thought is. Everything changes your world. Maybe love isn't all you need, but it certainly helps make the rocky road smoother.