Directors: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, Tom Tywer
Starring: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Sturgess, James D’Arcy, Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving
Running Time: 172 minutes
Certificate: 15
Extras: Focus Point: A Film Like No Other
Men dressed as women, Halle Berry as a white woman, Hugo Weaving looking like ‘The Hitcher’ from THE MIGHTY BOOSH. With these elements you could be forgiven for thinking CLOUD ATLAS is a mess lost up its own backside – but how wrong you’d be. Adapted for the screen by the Wachowski’s and Tom Tykwer from David Mitchell’s novel, the trio have accomplished a work of hypnotic beauty spanning continents and timezones.
The magnificence of CLOUD ATLAS is not merely the direction and the performances, both of which are excellent, it is in the near astounding editing by Alexander Berner (criminally overlooked at Oscar time) and the wondrous score. Reinhold Heil, Johnny Klimek and Tom Tykwer have craft a wonderfully atmospheric and epic soundtrack taking us through the drama, comedy, thrills and spectacle.
To try to sum up CLOUD ATLAS’ story is near impossible, but there is guidance to heed when watching – do not try to follow it. The complexity will come from yourself if you try to unravel the ‘mystery’ as it does not exist. The directing trio have accomplished the not insignificant feat of telling six stories concurrently without confusion. Yes it can be difficult to work through the film without thinking, ‘is that Hugo Weaving in drag?’ or ‘Tom Hanks is Irish?’ but this is all part of the CLOUD ATLAS experience.
Whilst there are a succession of great performances special praise must be reserved for Jim Sturgess and Ben Whishaw, the last of whom is the beating heart of the film through his working relationship with an ageing composer and his forbidden love of a fellow man. Tom Hanks, Halle Berry and Hugo Weaving look like they’re having the time of their lives in their combined 18 roles, whilst Doona Bae and James D’Arcy add a steel to the story. If all this sounds a bit serious there’s no need to worry because almost every time Jim Broadbent appears hilarity ensues.
CLOUD ATLAS is an extraordinary piece of work that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled. Wonderfully made, beautifully edited and spectacularly soundtracked it is a complete film which puts barely a foot wrong. The Wachowski’s and Tom Tykwer made history when making the first $100million independent film and whilst it may have bombed at the box office it will find a new, appreciative audience on DVD and Blu-ray. And boy does it deserve to.
CLOUD ATLAS is released on DVD and Blu-ray 1st July via Warner Home Video
