When we think of Tom Hankswe spontaneously quote Forrest Gump, Alone in the world Or The Green Line. However, in the middle of this filmography lies an ambitious science fiction project, which many fans today consider one of the finest of the genre.
Released in 2012, Cloud Atlasdirected by Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski And Tom Tykwerwas a failure in theaters before becoming a cult object. The feature film, which intertwines six intrigues over five centuries, nevertheless amazed critics with its visual beauty and its philosophical scope. Why this bet carried by Tom Hanks does it continue to fascinate spectators, 14 years after its release?
Why does Cloud Atlas with Tom Hanks fascinate science fiction fans?
Cloud Atlas adapts the novel by David Mitchell in a fresco where six stories respond to each other over five centuries. From the Pacific Islands in the 19th century to a post-apocalyptic future, the same faces reappear from one era to another, as if the characters were constantly born and reborn. For AlloCiné, it is a feature film of “surprising visual beauty” which “deserves a serious re-evaluation”, supported by elaborate photography and impressive effects.
At the heart of the film, a simple but dizzying idea: each decision shapes the past, the present and the future. The synopsis discusses “how a single soul transforms from killer to hero, and one act of kindness reverberates through the centuries to inspire a revolution.” “I was hypnotized by this film,” says Movie Freak, while Time Out speaks of a “film that accumulates action, romance, philosophical questions and ridiculous accents until it leaves the viewer completely stunned. Honestly, how can you not love it?”. On IMDb, the average of 7.3 out of 10 confirms this status as an underrated marvel.
How does Cloud Atlas continue to fascinate viewers?
The assembly of Cloud Atlaswhich constantly alternates between the six intrigues, can be disorienting. Purebreak warns that “you clearly have to be in good shape to assimilate everything”. But this density also nourishes a lasting attachment: the more we rewatch the film, the more we spot details, echoes and rhymes between the eras.
For Tom Hanksthis project even remains one of his favorite shoots. In 2021, in the Bill Simmons Podcast cited by Purebreak, he summed up the experience as follows: “We shot it with a hope, a dream and nothing but a circle of love. It was the first time I had shot this much in Germany and I was immersed in the heart of the story.” When we know that he is talking about a film shot “with a circle of love”, the intensity that emerges from Cloud Atlas takes on another dimension.
Why review Cloud Atlas today?
Upon its release, Cloud Atlas was a flop, however, with only $130.4 million in revenue worldwide, or around 120 million euros. Fourteen years later, the film is re-evaluated and more and more moviegoers consider it one of the most beautiful science fiction films carried by Tom Hanks.