About 2 years ago, I tried to read this book. Couldn't do it. Just wasn't able to get into it. It was disappointing to me because it was a book that Beckie had chosen for her book club. I found out later that she didn't finish reading the book either.
Flash forward 2 years and the trailers for the movie Cloud Atlas were released making the movie look very interesting. Then factor in Tom Hanks (my favorite actor) and I had to see it. We knew going in that it was going to be a long movie (2 hours and 52 minutes) so we settled in to watch it last Friday.
It's very hard to describe this movie. Let me start by telling you that Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, and Susan Sarandon each portray more than one character in this movie. Tom Hanks and Halle Berry each play at least 6 different characters in different time periods. Their versatility is amazing. The movie bounces around to these different time periods so it's important to pay close attention throughout the entire film. The acting is amazing here. Each story line is compelling and serious, but there is some comic relief as well.
The tag line for this film is "Everything is connected." The film demonstrates that the same souls find each together in one lifetime after another. It is an interesting take on karma and reincarnation. So, if you are up to watching a long movie, go see Cloud Atlas. Just be sure to make a pit stop before you sit down in the theater.
