Intertextuality Within Across The Universe

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE (2007) - Genre: Film

FOUR HORIZONTAL INTERTEXTUAL CONNECTIONS:

Forest Gump (1994) - Genre: Film
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109830/
Set in the 1960s, Forest Gump and Across The Universe cover some of the same - extremely moving - historical events happening at that time. The Vietnam War as well as the protests surrounding it are two main part in both movies.

Rent (2005) - Genre: Film
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0294870/
In both Rent and Across The Universe, the cast members begin from separate lives and through a series of events, their story lines become one. Diversity of personal, sexual, economical and social statuses play a large role in the eclectic atmosphere each director has set their cast.

Burlesque (2010) - Genre: Film
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1126591/
From a more theatrical perspective, Burlesque shows great resemblance to the numbers in Across The Universe. Further than that, the songs chosen for each film complements the storyline well.

Pink Floyd The Wall (1982) - Genre: Film
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084503/
The Wall and Across The Universe's soundtrack stem from one single musical talent. Completed well before Across The Universe, the director of Pink Floyd The Wall, Alan Parker, began the concept of high production value, musical substance and a pride for art of all kinds.

FOUR VERTICAL INTERTEXTUAL CONNECTIONS:

The Beatles - Genre: Music

Considering the entire soundtrack is composed of reinterpreted covers of their original work, The Beatles are an obvious vertical text of Across The Universe. Using 33 perfectly chosen songs, Director Julie Taymor created the entire film based on the director their songs would take her story. Every song from "Revolution" to "I've Just Seen A Face" (my favorite piece) has a specific reason for their placement and message.

Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix - Genre: Music

Each song and each scene in Across The Universe has meaning to it, just as the characters. In this instance, the characters of Jo-Jo and Sadie are actually a representation of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Their relationship of Jo -Jo and Sadie in this movie is reflective of the actual relationship Hendrix and Joplin at the time this is set. They have their ups and downs and fallings outs, then they rise to the top, together. On top of that, they brought their diverse group of misfits and dropouts along with them as stand in parental figures.

Acid Trip - Genre: Hallucinogenic Drug

A tip to watching Across The Universe is to watch for the loopy, colorful, swirled around parts of their journey. Every time you see this, the characters are indulging in LSD, Acid or other kinds of hallucinogenic drug use. Drugs are a big part of this movie as it determines their choices and carries their stories. As a form of relaxation or to think differently, the characters see the world in an acid trip of technicolor. 

The Ringling Brothers - Genre: Theater

In another scene begun with drug use, the characters find themselves across the universe at a circus with the resemblance of The Ringling Brothers' shows. Just as The Ringling Brothers marketed their show to be the "world's greatest," the ringmaster medics that same announcement. Just a little preview of the show and you are wishing you could go back in time to experience the Ringling Circus. 

TWO PUBLIC TERTIARY TEXTS:

Peter Travers - Film Critic, Rolling Stones

http://m.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/across-the-universe-20071018

"Somehow Taymor blends this story with puppets, 3-D animation, the Columbia student riots, Eddie Izzard as Mr. Kite and Bono finding the LSD beat in "I Am the Walrus." To call it trippy would be an understatement. Your head might explode. Just don't accuse Taymor of playing it safe."

Roger Ebert - Film Critic, RogerEbert.com

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/across-the-universe-2007

"Here is a bold, beautiful, visually enchanting musical where we walk into the theater humming the songs. Julie Taymor's "Across the Universe" is an audacious marriage of cutting-edge visual techniques, heart-warming performances, 1960s history and the Beatles songbook. Sounds like a concept that might be behind its time, but I believe in yesterday."

ONE PERSONAL TERTIARY TEXTS:

BriGuy7783 via IMDb User Reviews

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0445922/reviews