A Most Silly Movie

Rating: 4/10 (31 October 2012)

Scratch beneath the thin pretentious surface of this film and there is absolutely nothing but routine psychobabble about how "we are all connected", "we all serve a purpose", "overcome your fears", yadda-yadda-yadda... Shave off an hour or so of CLOUD ATLAS and it's pure glitz and style are entertaining enough. Add the extra minutes and the film becomes groan inducing (I actually heard a few groans from my cinema seat). One might think that with so much time that CLOUD ATLAS could convey its message subtly, with events and indirect dialog. No chance. We get many instances in which characters "preach" the message of the film as if to say, "Hey, let's take a time out so we can explain what this film is about." My bad. I should have known better. The guys who made this movie made the MATRIX nonsense. People (meaning 14 year old geeks) who liked the MATRIX don't go see THE KING'S SPEECH or THE MASTER. I've no one to blame but myself.
PS/ Tom Hanks? Let me say this differently: Tom Hanks?