Cloud Atlas (2012)
David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas is a novel that’s unfilmable in theory. The structure and style of the book make it a nightmare to weave into a movie that can be consumed (and enjoyed) in one sitting. In fact, even Mitchell himself hoped the filmmakers wouldn’t stick to the spirit of the book.
It’s no surprise then that when the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer’s Cloud Atlas film was released, it received a mixed reception from critics and moviegoers. Look, it’s not the first DVD/Blu-ray you’d reach for if you wanted to watch something relaxing on a Friday evening, but it’s a damn mighty fine piece of art.
Audaciously ambitious and gargantuan in size, Cloud Atlas the movie is an experience that’ll make you seek out the book if you haven’t read it yet. It’s out there – way out there – but it’s something that becomes even better after repeated viewings.