CLOUD ATLAS (Theatrical Release USA 2012)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.3|5.0 Stars ìììì

Cloud Atlas—an incredibly complex piece of art—defies description. There is a spirit, even call it a spirituality, that moves and flows through this work that captivates wonder and intellectualizes the concept of infinity while simultaneously disallowing traditional definitions of intertwining, symbiotic relationships. The film is over-capped with heavy tones of systems of action-reaction, justice, and choice-consequence without common references to time and place. It is an R-rated film that deserves its rating, especially for the first half of the film. The second half of the film works itself into a PG-13 rating. This artwork absorbingly moves through six stories that span place and time from the Pacific Islands to England to San Francisco to London to Neo Seoul to Hawaii from 1849 to 2321. Like The Matrix series, the film turns another piece of fantastic entertainment via the talents of Andy and Lana Wachowski.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Several personal relationships move through time and life/death cycles to attempt equilibrium.

Additional Thanks

Terrific work for Directors Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski, and Lana Wachowski. Thank you to Executive Producer Phillip Lee, John Chong, Caroline Kwauk, Uwe Schott, Pearry Reginald Teo, Ricky Tse, and Wilson Qiu for making the film possible. Characters and cast include: Dr. Henry Goose/Hotel Manager/Isaac Sachs/Dermott Hoggins/Cavendish Look-a-Like actor/Zackry (Tom Hanks), Native Woman/Jocasta Ayres/Luisa Rey/Indian Party Guest/Ovid/Meronym (Halle Berry), Captain Molyneux/Vyvyan Ayers/Timothy Cavendish/Korean Musician/Prescient 2 (Jim Broadbent), Haskell Moore/Tadeusz Kesselring/Bill Smoke/Nurse Noakes/Boardman Mephi/Old Georgie (Hugo Weaving), Adam Ewing/Poor Hotel Guest/Megan’s Dad/Highlander/Hae-Joo Chang/Adam (Jim Sturgess), Tilda/Megan’s Mom/Mexican Woman/Sonmi-451/Sonmi-351/Sonmi Prostitute (Doona Bae), and Cabin Boy/Robert Frobisher/Store Clerk/Georgette/Tribesman (Ben Whishaw).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. This movie especially works for those who love intellectual movies. It completely engages the mind and requires full attention...this is not an "I'm going to get some popcorn while the movie runs' type of film. A very good watch.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers