“Cloud Atlas” is remarkably ambitious in its scope. Some have complained (including me) that Hollywood has no ambition or creativity; that it’s all about the money and not about the art. Cloud Atlas is the exception to that rule.
I just wish that it were a successful exception.
Six different tales are being told at the same time in Cloud Atlas. Stretching as far back as 1849 and pushing forward to a post-apocalyptic future, Cloud Atlas pushes the boundaries of storytelling.
But therein lies its major flaw.
At just about three hours, there’s only so much time devoted to any one story, so you may be left feeling disconnected to the characters.
The 1930s-era gay composer and his love affair is the exception to that problem with the film. It is heartfelt stuff, and you’re really rooting for this guy through the whole film, even if he is a bit of a scoundrel.
However, the characters are not the main focus of the film — the theme is. The themes are courage and good deeds resonating through time, with a deeper subtheme of spiritual ascension after deciding to forgo the “same old mistakes” that humankind falls prey to, historically speaking.
You could say that the film’s “eyes are bigger than its mouth.” The theme is so heady and complex — not to mention interlaced with other smaller themes — that it tends to lose focus.
That being said, the makeup artistry in the film is phenomenal. Some people still don’t look “right,” but you couldn’t do any better. This is the apex of latex prosthesis.
Visually the film is beautiful; the art direction is top-notch. Be it a Hawaiian plantation in the mid-19th century, or a dystopian Korean far future, everything fits.
Performance-wise, the actors really dial it in. And going into characters, nobody does anything that seems unlikely or strange to their situation. Unfortunately, likeable or hateable, they’re rarely connectable.
If you are going to see it, see it in the theaters. It’s worth it on the big screen. Will it translate well with a home release? If they add in deleted scenes, I’m sure it will. I wouldn’t mind seeing it again, even if it was longer. I just wish it were the triumph the theme needed to carry the rest of the film.
Final Grade: C+