Most movies play it safe. They focus on just a few characters, stay within a single genre and tell a straightforward story from beginning to end. As much as we all might complain about the lack of originality in theaters, we as the audience are comforted by the familiarity. We know what we like and we know what kinds of films will entertain us.

“Cloud Atlas” can’t really be categorized or measured by the same standards we see other movies. It tells six different stories across six unique time periods simultaneously, using the same actors in each storyline… but not always in obvious ways. Sure, you can recognize Tom Hanks in every segment, but he’s only the protagonist in one of them, and you probably won’t spot the likes of Hugh Grant, Halle Berry and Jim Sturgess in every segment until they’re revealed in the end credits.

The film offers few story connections between the timelines. These aren’t reincarnated souls progressing towards a larger truth. The connections are more thematic – that of revolution, cultural progression (sometimes regression), corruption and love. It’s an epic mood piece, and one that will leave the unwilling shaking their heads in frustrated disbelief. (more…)