Julie Taymor’s ‘Across the Universe’ returns
Fifty years after young people rose in revolt in an attempt to reimagine their future, Julie Taymor’s “Across the Universe” will return to movie theaters.
A look at the revolutionary year of 1968, Taymor’s 2007 film will be in presented in 450 theaters nationwide today, Tuesday and Wednesday. The movie, which stars Evan Rachel Wood and Jim Sturgess, uses 33 songs by the Beatles as a cinematic jukebox musical depicting the counterculture movement of the era.
Taymor, a director of film, opera and theater, is best known for directing Disney’s Broadway musical “The Lion King.” She became the first woman to win a Tony award for best director of a musical after the story of Simba became a theatrical smash.
She also made headlines when she was fired as director of the beleaguered Broadway spectacle “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” over artistic differences. She later sued the producers, and an undisclosed settlement was reached.
Legendary critic Roger Ebert hailed “Across the Universe” as “an audacious marriage of cutting-edge visual techniques, heartwarming performances (and) 1960s history.” The New York Times’ Stephen Holden wrote, “‘Across the Universe’ captured my heart,” and that the film “feels emotionally true … to the decade it remembers.”
The film quickly became a cult favorite.
“‘Across the Universe’ has developed an extraordinary following since its release in 2007,” said Tom Lucas, Fathom Events’ vice president of studio relations. “This theatrical re-release presents an amazing opportunity for those fans to see, hear and feel this revolutionary film in a very unique way on the big screen.”
Showtimes are at 2 and 7 p.m. today; and 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Local participating theaters include: Regal Winter Park Village 20; AMC Universal Cineplex; AMC Altamonte Mall; Regal Waterford Lakes; Regal Oviedo Mall; Regal The Loop in Kissimmee; and AMC Disney Springs.
Tickets, approximately $13, are available at Fathom Events.com.