Cloud Atlas

Epic films are typically presented in grandiose ways with sweeping photography, amazing costumes and sets, usually a star-studded cast, and seamless visual effects. Well, as in the past we've seen this, with "Cloud Atlas", we certainly get this approach in spades.

Everything is connected: An 1849 diary of an ocean voyage across the Pacific; letters from a composer to his friend; a thriller about a murder at a nuclear power plant; a farce in present day about a publisher in a nursing home; a rebellious clone in futuristic Korea; and the tale of a tribe living in post- apocalyptic Hawaii far in the future. These stories and a few others are presented in a way that is to show not only how connected things are, but even to the point of how we are or could be connected as well.

The cast, and especially the characters they portray are too numerous to insert into the plot, so here goes:
Tom Hanks (Dr. Henry Goose/ a Hotel Manager/ Isaac Sachs/ Dermot Hoggins/ Cavendish look-a-like actor/ Zachry)
Halle Berry (Native Woman/ Jocasta Ayers/ Luisa Rey/ Indian party guest/ Ovid/ Meronym)
Jim Broadbent (Captain Molyneux/ Vyvyan Ayers/ Timothy Cavendish/ Korean Musician/ Prescient 2)
Hugo Weaving (Haskell Moore/ Tadeusz Kesselring/ Bill Smoke/ Nurse Noakes/ Boardman Nephi/ Old Georgie)
Jim Sturgess (Adam Ewing/ Poor Hotel guest/ Megan's Dad/ Highlander/ Hae-Joo Chang/ Zachry's Brother-in-Law
Doona Bae (Tilda/ Megan's Mom/ Mexican Woman/ Sonmi-451/ Sonmi Prostitute)
Ben Whishaw (Cabin Boy/ Robert Frobisher/ Store Clerk/ Georgette/ Tribesman)
Keith David (Kufaka/ Joe Napier/ An-Kor Apis/ Prescient)
James D'Arcy (Young Rufus Sixsmith/ Old Rufus Sixsmith/ Nurse James/ Archivist)
Xun Zhou (Talbot/ a Hotel Manager/ Yoona-939/ Rose)
David Gyasi (Autua/ Lester Rey/ Duophsyte)
Susan Sarandon (Madame Horrox/ Older Ursula/ Yusouf Suleiman/ Abbess)
Hugh Grant (Rev. Giles Horrox/ Hotel Heavy/ Lloyd Hooks/ Denholme Cavendish/ Seer Rhee/ Kona Chief)
Robert Fyfe (Old Salty Dog/ Mr. Meeks/ Prescient 1)
Martin Wuttke (Mr. Boerhaane/ Guard/ Leary the Healer)
Robin Morrissey (Young Cavendish)

When and if you see this film, you can fill in the gaps to where the characters are used. It's such a multi-faceted character portrayal with each actor, this is the best I can do to relay the characters.

This was directed by Andy Wachowski (The Matrix series), Lana Wachowski, and Tom Tykwer. I truly can see why there were multiple directors given the multiple charater portrayals and the different times or eras and places that were being depicted was needed. It was a major undertaking, to say the least.
It's not really surpring that this was executed by one of the Wachowski Brothers in that "The Matrix" dealt with a philosophical topic as does this. Even though this was based on David Mitchell's novel of the same name, the Wachowski's just couldn't resist the temptation of the philosophical reaches of reincarnation in Atlas. A question to both Mitchell and the Wachowskis is: Do we really relive lives, or do we live once, and someone else, totally different from us, picks up from where we left off when we die? I guess one has to wrap their heads around that question.
If you're like me and really wanted to see this film more for the production values and fine acting by Hanks, Berry, Broadbent and Sturgess, then you will revel. It is a feast for the eyes in its photography, costumes, production design, and special effects makeup. I guess what I'm trying to say is you don't have to be 'searching' philosophically and really get into this. And if you are 'searching', this film will leave you as many questions than answers by film end. You be the judge.

Out of 4 stars: 3                      Rated: R                        172mins.