2010s,
Cloud Atlas is a great mind blowingly ripping cinematic genre mash-up
The Wachowski's dream big and and Cloud Atlas is a fitting Magnum opus to those dreams.The official Cloud Atlas blurb reads:
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."
From the creators of The Matrix and Tom Tykwer the guy that made
Run Lola Run comes an epic (and very ambitious) odyssey spanning time,
space and our souls. How could I not love Cloud Atlas? It would appear
to be a handwritten love letter written to my younger self.
Having gone into see the film without any prior knowledge of David Mitchell's best selling novel there was a lot to get my head around quickly - as the story rolls out at a fairly quick pace and doesn't allow you to catch your breathe - but you can't fault the speed as there is an epic amount to cover in the relatively short 172 minute run time. There is much discussion around defining Cloud Atlas and its meaning, my thoughts are below but I would suggest you see Cloud Atlas and define it for yourself as it is a ripping yarn that will entertain, sadden, astonish and exhilarate you in equal measure.
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Cloud Atlas Adam Ewing (Jim Sturgess) & Autua (David Gyasi) - 1849, The South Pacific |
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Cloud Atlas Zachry ( Tom Hanks ) Prescient Meronym ( Halle Berry ) - 2321, Hawaii |
Video: The Establishing Shot: Cloud Atlas Epic 6 Min International
Trailer 1024 HD - 2013
It is worth noting that if you find the clues and connect the dots you will have a rich and rewarding experience - but they are sometimes so well hidden and will possibly only reveal themselves on a second/multiple viewings. I'm pretty sure there are much larger more well hidden clues that can only be revealed by the Wachowskis and Tykwer. I remember with glee the moment I realised one of the characters was actually a well disguised actor suddenly opening the scale of the Cloud Atlas for me.
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Cloud Atlas Rufus Sixsmith (James D'Arcy) & Robert Frobisher (Ben Whishaw) - 1936, Scotland |
Each story is steeped in its own central genre: drama, murder mystery, romance, farce, action futurism and Science Fiction and all if not most will connect and engage you.
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Cloud Atlas Bill Smoke Hugo Weaving - 1973, San Francisco |
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Cloud Atlas Vyvyan Ayrs (Jim Broadbent) & Robert Frobisher (Ben Whishaw) Scotland 1936 |
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Cloud Atlas Doona Bae fabricant clone Sonmi-451 - 2144, Neo Seoul |
Cloud Atlas will be in UK Cinemas this Friday 22 February, 2013
From acclaimed filmmakers Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, and Andy Wachowski comes the powerful and inspiring epic “Cloud Atlas,” based on the best-selling novel by David Mitchell.
Drama, mystery, action and enduring love thread through a single story that unfolds in multiple timelines over the span of 500 years. Characters meet and reunite from one life to the next. Born and reborn.
As the consequences of their actions and choices impact one another through the past, the present and the distant future, one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and a single act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution.
Everything is connected.
CLOUD ATLAS
Starring:
Tom Hanks
Halle Berry
Jim Broadbent
Hugo Weaving
Jim Sturgess
Doona Bae Ben Whishaw
James D’Arcy
Xun Zhou
Keith David
David Gyasi>
with Susan Sarandon
and Hugh Grant
From acclaimed filmmakers Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, and Andy Wachowski comes the powerful and inspiring epic “Cloud Atlas,” based on the best-selling novel by David Mitchell.
Drama, mystery, action and enduring love thread through a single story that unfolds in multiple timelines over the span of 500 years. Characters meet and reunite from one life to the next. Born and reborn.
As the consequences of their actions and choices impact one another through the past, the present and the distant future, one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and a single act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution.
Everything is connected.
CLOUD ATLAS
Starring:
Tom Hanks
Halle Berry
Jim Broadbent
Hugo Weaving
Jim Sturgess
Doona Bae Ben Whishaw
James D’Arcy
Xun Zhou
Keith David
David Gyasi>
with Susan Sarandon
and Hugh Grant
THE ESTABLISHING SHOT: CLOUD ATLAS IS THE GREATEST CINEMATIC GENRE MASH-UP AND A MIND BLOWINGLY RIPPING YARN THAT WILL ENTERTAIN, SADDEN, ASTONISH AND EXHILARATE YOU IN EQUAL MEASURE - REVIEW
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