The Weight of the World

Rating: 7/10 (8 June 2014)

Cloud Atlas is an audacious avalanche of ideas that it took three directors to deliver. Arguably overlong and of uneven tone, perhaps the film's greatest strength is that it begs the question 'Is it not more important to have ideas than to have successful ideas.' Then again, it is too easy to dismiss novel projects in this vein as being over-complicated when they should be lauded for taking the risk to attempt something different. As ever, Tom Hanks hardly puts a foot wrong in what seem to be the most testing of roles, and Halle Berry is equally effective in convincing the viewer to swallow some huge conceits. Jims Sturgess and Broadbent appear comfortable with the tall notions that abound, and there are equally effective turns from Ben Wishaw, James D'Arcy and Hugo Weaving, who always looks like he is having tremendous fun. Hugh Grant, Susan Sarandon, Keith David and David Gyasi also deserve a mention for their significant contribution, but it's hard to argue against Doona Bae being at the film's heart, her performance in the futuristic Neo Seoul capturing fragility while showing strength, and displaying both dignity and determination. Bae and Sturgess deliver as many emotional scenes as Hanks and Berry, and deserve high praise for it. Viewing Cloud Atlas, I would argue that, in cinema, the end is not necessarily to present a coherent outcome, but to generate contemplation of what the outcome might be, or of the path followed to reach it. In the end, Cloud Atlas could be seen as being failing under the weight of too many cinematic genres, with the comic strand in particular tending to jar against the drama and tension around it, but the writers and directors are to be commended for attempting such an ambitious project, that delivers much in the way of thoughtful cinema and compelling performance. Multiple viewings seem bound to reveal more dimensions.