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Soundcheck / September 12, 2007 / Julie Taymor & Elliot Goldenthal

Julie Taymor & Elliot Goldenthal

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Tony-winning director Julie Taymor and Oscar-winning composer Elliot Goldenthal talk about the challenges of narrowing down the 200-plus songs in the Beatles catalogue for their movie musical, "Across the Universe." The film opens this Friday in New York.

Across the Universe Web site


Comments

  • [1] Susan Gempler from Bergen County NJ September 12, 2007 - 02:58PM

    That live piece was BEAUTIFUL. Thank you.
  • [2] Manuel T. Ortega from Bergen County, New Jersey September 12, 2007 - 03:23PM

    Excellent introduction to the film and score. I was blown away by the arrangements! Women singing lead to Beatle songs so strongly associated with either Paul or John! Ms. Traymor's points about The Beatles being in-tune with their inner '15 year old (girl)); and that today we are not likely to hear male performers caught dead singing (or writing)lyrics (and music)such as those written and composed by Paul and John.

    PS - I am a boomer - 58 yrs. young!
  • [3] Joe Bendik from NYC -East Village September 12, 2007 - 03:32PM

    I can't believe Paul liked this. It's horrible. Bad idea, even worse arrangements & performances (with the possible exception of Joe Cocker). What a cringe-worthy, lame idea. I don't know about this new trend of having women trade roles with men (Todd Haynes "I'm Not There" comes to mind). "I Want To Hold Your Hand" as a lesbian ballad made me want to throw down my radio. The director really should have checked out that Pepper movie first. And yes, they did take out the 'rock'.

    http://www.myspace.com/joebendik
  • [4] Greg Victor September 13, 2007 - 11:10PM

    Thanks for this.. now i don't have to waste my time or money at the theatre. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

    How lame can these baby-boomer nostalgia trips get? Maybe the high holy priestess should have actually viewed "Sgt. Peppers" to see what NOT to do. Sounds like a repeat fiasco.
  • [5] sebastian zee from New York October 01, 2007 - 06:16PM

    There have been literally thousands of Beatles covers done since they were literally still together. Doing a play or a movie with covers inside is only a larger kind of attempt. One may not like the actual result, but don't blast someone for trying.

    Subsequent generations cannot be kept from re-imagining and re-applying the music of the Beatles, flexible and ingenius as it is. (The soundtrack to Cirque du Soleil's "Love" is an example.) Great art will always be updated. I haven't seen this movie yet, but I can't believe it is only "by," let alone "for" baby boomers. Younger people will be appreciating it, too.


This thread is closed.


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