"Cloud Atlas" Movie Review

"Cloud Atlas" movie poster.

"Everything is connected: an 1849 diary of an ocean voyage across the Pacific; letters from a composer to his friend; a thriller about a murder at a nuclear power plant; a farce about a publisher in a nursing home; a rebellious clone in futuristic Korea; and the tale of a tribe living in post-apocalyptic Hawaii, far in the future." Written by Anonymous (Sources below.)

Tom Hanks (L) and Halle Barry.

Based upon the novel by David Mitchell, and written for the screen as well as directed by Tom Tykwer ("Run Lola Run", "Perfume: The Story of A Murderer"), Lana Wachowski ("Speed Racer", "V for Vendetta", "The Matrix Trilogy"), and Andy Wachowski ("Bound", "Assassins"), this movie is a visual feast for the eyes. Also starring some of my favorite actors, Tom Hanks, Halle Barry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Keith David, James D'Arcy, Susan Sarandon, Hugh Grant, David Gyasi, Ben Whishaw, and Xun Zhou. The producers were real slick for this movie: they convinced ten actors to play all of the parts in this film. "Oh, yes, this will make you look great and the budget for this movie won't be too much, but mostly it'll make you look great, Ms. Barry." 

I wasn't sure about this movie at first, but this review from SourceFed helped inspire me to see the film:

Jim Sturgess (L - playing the most badass
boyfriend EVER!) and Doona Bae.

I'm still not sure if I completely understood all that was going on in the movie, but I have the book and a review will be forthcoming. 

I feel bad for the film having to go against the Superstorm Sandy when it came out. I think most people in the Northeast of the states couldn't make it out to the theatre, what with worrying about drowning and the electricity going out. 

If this movie doesn't garner some kind of makeup or special effects awards, or possibly costume design awards, that proves the Oscars are rigged. Now that's a big statement and there are other awards out there, too, but Oscars are big and they make some stupid decisions sometimes. And this was probably one of the more visually enticing films out this year. And possibly one of the best story-wise as well.

Hugo Weaving.

I found it really funny that some of the men played a few of the women and I didn't even realize it. Except for Hugo Weaving, who makes one of the ugliest and tallest women I've ever seen, but he certainly rocked it. I could always tell when it was Tom Hanks, his nose really gives him away. But otherwise the actors were really hidden in their roles, so makeup was amazing.

I really enjoyed this movie. It was beautiful and tragic and awesome. Also, very graphic, I wouldn't recommend this film for anyone under the age of fifteen. "Our lives are not our own."

I give this movie 5 typewriters.

Screenplay is available here: http://www.downloadprovider.me/search/cloud-atlas-screenplay-pdf.html?aff.id=1627.

An example of what the makeup was like in "Cloud Atlas",
featuring Halle Barry in the top row and Tom Hanks in the bottom row.
Found picture here.

Sources: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/plotsummary and http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/.

"The Iron Lady" Movie Review

"The Iron Lady" movie poster.

"Biopic of Margaret Thatcher (Meryl Streep, with a younger version played by Alexandra Roach), the United Kingdoms first female Prime Minister. Now elderly and senile, Thatcher spends much of her time in conversation with her husband Denis (Jim Broadbent, with younger version played by Harry Lloyd), who is dead. Interspersed with her everyday life are snippets of her life and political career. The middle class daughter of a grocer (Iain Glen), she obtained a good degree and developed an interest in politics. She was first elected in 1959 and quickly developed a reputation for dealing with difficult issues and showing herself more than capable of taking on her male counterparts in the House of Commons. As Prime Minister, she takes on the very powerful unions seeing her popularity plummet until her patriotic response to Argentina's invasion of the Falkland islands leads to her re-election. In the longer term, her rigid approach with her colleagues leads to her downfall and the Conservative party ousts her from the leadership." Written by garykmcd (Link below.)

Meryl Streep running the House of Commons.

Meryl Streep (with help from her makeup and hair artist, J. Roy Helland), was amazing. And I don't think anyone would ever know that she wasn't as British as all of the other cast members, weren't she not so famous. Although I don't think I would've agreed with her character's policies, it was inspiring to see someone so strong in such adversity. What ups and downs, Thatcher was incredible and I can't help but compare it to the way people view President Obama. It's like people forget it's a very difficult job running a country. I mean the IRA must've been a bitch to deal with, let alone all of the other regular law-making.

And I must thank the people involved with making this film for making Alexander Haig (Matthew Marsh) look like an ass, because he was. (Even though I'm an American, that part about Hawaii made me laugh.) When President Reagan was shot, instead of concerning himself about whether the President was alive or not, Mr. Haig proceeded to say that he was in charge and he was very much wrong in that regard. Though at the time he held the position of United States Secretary of State, which is very high in power, there were still four other people that would've had to die or resign from their positions before he could even suggest he was in charge. And while he was White House Chief of Staff, he suggested to President Nixon to seize control of the army rather than be impeached or resign from office following the Watergate scandal. He's a peach; good old Al.

Jim Broadbent (L) and Meryl Streep.

The only problem I could have with this film, is that they didn't show enough of her rising to the top. But I imagine that could've gotten tedious.

The clothing was marvelous. The director, Phyllida Lloyd (what a pretty name!), did an excellent job. The flashbacks weren't too much to handle. It's a long and interesting life to put in one movie and I feel as though they have done a great job.

Script can be accessed here: http://www.simplyscripts.com/2012/01/05/the-iron-lady-for-your-consideration/.

Favorite Lines:

Margaret Thatcher: It used to be about trying to do something. Now it's about trying to be someone.

Margaret Thatcher: Watch your thoughts for they become words. Watch your words for they become actions. Watch your actions for they become... habits. Watch your habits, for they become your character. And watch your character, for it becomes your destiny! What we think we become.

Alexander Haig: So you are proposing to go to war over these islands. They're thousands of miles away, a handful of citizens, politically and economically insignificant, if you'll excuse me.
Margaret Thatcher: Just like Hawaii... I imagine.

Margaret Thatcher: Where did you go?
Denis Thatcher: South Africa.
Margaret Thatcher: Ah, yes.
Denis Thatcher: How many days passed before you realized I'd gone? Probably had to ask the cleaning woman where I was.

Sources: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1007029/plotsummary and http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1007029/quotes.