Confident and authentic

Rating: 10/10 (12 November 2012)

You remember that feeling you got the first time you saw 'The Empire Strikes Back?' That feeling that you were watching something bold, important and epic? That feeling will return with 'Cloud Atlas.'
Often times films can have trailers that supersede them. 'Cloud Atlas' seems to have such a trailer, but it turns out to be a film that is everything its trailer suggests it's only pretending to be. It's a film that is ostensibly imperfect in almost every way, but, at the same time, believes in itself to such an extent that it triumphs over the bullies. It's the weird, ugly one that everybody is secretly friends with and confides in. It's comfortable with who and what it is, and that shows. It speaks its mind without preaching its messages. To this end the film chooses, rather, to open up its heart to the audience and invite them along for the ride. It's out of shape, a bit awkward, and always audacious just for audacity's sake, and it embraces all of this. Probably the most secure movie to come out in years. I was thrilled, scared, tickled, touched, and, most of all, satisfied. Entertaining to its very core.
The various makeup/wardrobe gimmicks may distract some and, to that degree, bother others. Did they distract me? Not necessarily. Maybe at first. But I kinda went into this expecting it, thanks to all of the other reviews of the film circulating around the web that go to unnecessary lengths when complaining about 'who's playing who?' and 'what's that?' and 'that's HER?' Overall, you will notice the fake- Asians and the big, prosthetic noses, but you should not let that get in the way of one of the year's best theater experiences.