- Across The Universe - Charlie Wilson's War - Hairspray - Juno - Sweeney Todd

Across The Universe
Directed by Julie Taymor Across The Univers is a very ambitious musical that tells the story of the sixties by using Beatles music.Jude grew up in Liverpool without a father. In a bid to escape his life he joins a ship's crew and sials to America.Here he meets Max, a Princeton student, and his sister Lucy. They are soon sharing a flat with Sadie, Jojo and Prudence in Manhatten enjoying their hippie lifestyle.But soon Vietnam brings reality home and Lucy and Jude's love is put to the test.

Across The Universe will definitely draw comparisons with Moulin Rouge as they both conatin a sense of anything is possible.

But it's an experimental lead of faith type of movie that may be a little far fetched for many cinema goers and musical fans.

But Evan Rachel Wood and Jim Sturgess are good in their lead roles and recieve some great support, then of course there is that toe tapping soundtrack.

While this film is an outsider when it comes to awards it's great to see it at least get recognition for it's bravery.

Charlie Wilson's War

Closer director Mike Nichols returns with one of the award season's most compelling movies Charlie Wilson's War.

When big names and lots of talent come together in a picture it's usually a disappointment as naturally so much is expected.

Hanks, Roberts and Seymour Hoffman are all Oscar recipiants, twice in the case of Hanks, as is Nichols, winning one from five nominations.

His "Good Time Charlie" exterior, however, masked an extraordinary mind, a deep sense of patriotism and a passion for the underdog, and in the early 1980s the underdog was Afghanistan--which had just been brutally invaded by the Russians.

Charlie's longtime friend and patron and sometime lover was Joanne Herring (Roberts), one of the wealthiest women in Texas and a virulent anti-communist.

Believing the American response to the Russian invasion was anemic at best, she prods Charlie into doing more for the Mujahideen (Afghan freedom fighters).

Charlie's partner in this uphill endeavor is CIA Agent Gust Avrakotos (Hoffman), a blue-collar operative in a company of Ivy League blue bloods.

Together, the three of them--Charlie, Joanne and Gust--travel the world to form unlikely alliances among the Pakistanis, Israelis, Egyptians, arms dealers, law makers and a belly dancer.

Their success was remarkable. Funding for covert operations against the Soviets went from $5 million to $1 billion annually.

The Red Army retreated out of Afghanistan. When asked how a group of peasants was able to deliver such a decisive blow to the army of a superpower, Pakistani President Mohammad Zia ul-Haq responded simply, "Charlie did it."

Zipping along in a trim ninety four minutes Charlie Wilson's War is a smart and sophisticated drama aimed at adults.

Hairspray

Hairspray was the surprise of the summer holding its own against the monster blockbusters proving that movies released at this time of year don't need to be witless or souless.

Tracy Turnblad has one dream to dance on the Corny Collins Show. But Tracy's mother Edna doesn't share her daughter's dream.

Edna hasn't left the house in years, because she is embarrassed by her size, and she fears that Tracy will be ridiculed and left disappointed due to her weight.

Soon Tracy is fighting Amber for the Miss Hairspray title and calling for intergration as well as trying to win the heart of Link, the most popular boy in school.

Everything about his film is terrific from the vivid costumes to the musical numbers and witty and funny dialogue.

There are also some great breakthrough performances from Nikki Blonsky and Zac Efron, but the more established members of the cast Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer and John Travolta all steal the show.

Juno

It's very rare that a new rom-com is original but Juno, in the capable hands of Thank You For Not Smoking director Jason Reitman, has managed to achieve this.

Juno MacGuff is a brainy sixteen year old student who discovers she is pregnant after her first sexual encounter.

She decides to give the baby up for adoption and finds a childless couple Mark and Vaness who are onging for a child.

Ellen Page is terrific in the lead role delivering one of the best breakthrough performances of the year.

Juno is an hilarious teenage comedy but manages to address the whole teenage pregnancy and adoption issue in a surprisingly mature manner.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Hollywood's most successful marriage of direcor Tim Burton and leading man Johnny Depp re-unite for the sixth time in this musical - yes you read correctly musical.

We are going to be treated to the vocal talent of Depp and the rest of this great cast which includes Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Edward Saunders and Sacha Baron Cohen.

It's visually stunning the monochrome pallett of white, brown and gray is a trademark of Burton who has produced a true work of art.

The off the wall character of Sweeney Todd is right up Johnny Depp's street, who is famous for taking roles most other actord wouldn't touch with a barge pole, and a bit like Captain Jack Sparrow it's hard to imagine anyone else in the role.

Depp stars as Benjamin Barker, a man unjustly imprisoned for 15 years on the other side of the world, who escapes back to London with a vow of revenge, opposite Helena Bonham Carter as his obsessively devoted accomplice, Mrs. Nellie Lovett.

Adopting the guise of Sweeney Todd, Barker returns to his old barber shop above Mrs. Lovett’s pie-making premises, and sets his sights on Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman) who, with help from his nefarious henchman Beadle Bamford (Timothy Spall), shipped him off on a trumped-up charge in order to steal his wife, Lucy (Laura Michelle Kelly), and his baby daughter from him.

Sweeney discovers that the Judge has turned his amorous affections towards Johanna (Jayne Wisener), Sweeney’s now teenaged daughter, who has become Turpin’s ward.

It's a dark, haunting movie that is of Oscar callibre long may this partnership continue and it's about time that Depp got his hands on an Oscar!

Tip to win the award for Motion Picture Musical/Comedy: Sweeney Todd.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw