MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 172 minutes
Rating:
Synopsis: From acclaimed filmmakers Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, and Andy Wachowski, the powerful and inspiring epic drama “Cloud Atlas” explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future.
Action, mystery and romance weave dramatically through the story as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and a single act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution in the distant future.
Everything is connected.
Although this is a major blockbuster production, Cloud Atlas has more of an indie feel to it. Warner Bros., I salute you for producing one of the most beautiful and thought provoking films this year—possibly even ever. With a $100,000,000 budget, I expected perfection and that’s exactly what I got. This is a can’t miss film featuring Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Susan Sarandon, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae among others. Each actor portrays a different character in a different time period, stretching from the past to the distant future.
This movie is absolutely amazing. Epic does not begin to cover the concept of this film. I was enthralled from beginning to end. From the soundtrack to the makeup and special effects, Cloud Atlas grips viewers with ease. There is something for everyone—romance, action, mystery, and comedy. I can’t say I’ve ever watched a movie with so many different points of view without getting confused. Time and faces may change, but the central theme of love resides throughout although there are other factors linking the players in this well-orchestrated production.
One of the things that blew me away was the makeup. You know how in most films you can tell when someone’s wearing a wig, a fake nose or something? I had a difficult time finding the telltale marks of the prosthetics (and I was diligent). The makeup blends seamlessly, transforming the characters’ nationality, gender and age with little effort. You’ll be amazed at some of the transformations. I couldn’t identify a few actors upon first glance, because that’s how well done the makeup is.
Enough about that—the story is what pulls you in. There’s no defined plotline to follow as the movies hops between time periods ranging from the 1800s to so far in the future, time is noted as “160 Winters after The Fall.” What helps viewers slip into the various eras is the ambiance. The wardrobe is outstanding; the dialects of the differing time periods and locales are incorporated; and the soundtrack sets the mood for suspense, romance, and/or action.
Hanks and Berry took my breath away. I expected nothing less from the Academy Award-winning actors, but Hanks underwent such a dramatic transformation in some scenes, I almost forgot who he was. He’s so good at what he does, I hated him as the bad guy, and rooted for him as the underdog. Berry also showcased her acting chops by stepping into each character flawlessly. I sometimes felt her characters didn’t differ much in personality, but that could have been the point. Each character is different, yet the same. One of Berry’s characters, Luisa Rey, wonders about people repeating the same mistakes. If you take that notion and apply it to the various characters, you’ll see how they might differ in each time period. Someone may be rich in one lifetime, then poor in another. Or someone may be famous in one lifetime, and an unknown in another. No matter where they end up in their different places in time, they retain their most defining quality. Weaving’s characters are a great example of this. Every time we see him, he’s what you might call the villain. I wondered why his character was the only one who didn’t try to do things differently and change who he was.
The one thing that transcends time is love. If you meet and fall in love with one person, you just might meet them again in another lifetime. (This is true for at least two sets of characters.) The love experienced in one reality doesn’t fade when it’s the stuff authors write about. It makes itself known when true soul mates are reunited. It’s an intriguing concept and one effectively illustrated throughout the film.
Berry and Bae are just two of the actors who change nationalities. What really threw me was the attention to detail for each new life—eye color, nose shape, hair. The one thing that remains the same for the characters we follow throughout the movie is a peculiar birthmark. I won’t ruin it for you, so I’ll only say everyone has one in a different location on their bodies, but it’s the same shape for each person.
Quite a few philosophical subjects are touched on during the film—karma, reincarnation, love at first sight, morals, conscience and love as an ever enduring thing. My mind was churning with all the ideas being thrown at me. I know Cloud Atlas is based on the novel by David Mitchell (which I am dying to read), but I wonder where the idea to essentially showcase the wanderings of one’s soul throughout time came from. The souls of these characters remains the same, even if their appearance differs a bit. The other interesting bit occurs when the characters lives intersect. Only a few of the major players meet one another, yet when they do, they don’t have that pull that says “I know you.” This is when their personalities come into play. It’s deep concept and I’m not even sure I can explain it and do it justice.
Cloud Atlas was so fantastic I can’t wait to see it again. I will purchase the DVD as soon as it’s available because this is a must-own movie. For now, I will pacify myself with reading the novel and possibly going back to the theatre a few more times. I highly recommend this movie for anyone who hasn’t had that out-of-this-world film experience yet.
For more information on Cloud Atlas, visit http://cloudatlas.warnerbros.com/.
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