Rev Stan's film blog

The Cloud Atlas story connections

Been thinking about Cloud Atlas a lot since yesterday - it's one of those films. One of the things I've been going through in my mind is the physical (sort of) connections between each story rather than the thematic. Here's what I've got, have I missed anything? (I'm sure I have)

1800s Adam Ewing's journal turns up as a book 1930's Robert Frobisher is reading, with a quick shot of the 'lost' half propping up a table leg which I thought was a really nice touch.

Frobisher's composition, the Cloud Atlas Sextet is mentioned in the Sixsmith letters that Luisa Rey is reading in the 1970s and she later buys a copy (from Ben Whishaw playing a record store cashier). Of course the older Sixsmith also features in the Luisa Rey storyline.

Timothy Cavendish in 2012 is seen reading a manuscript written by Luisa Rey's young friend Javier called the Luisa Rey Adventures (or something like that).

Cavendish's novel about his escape from the old people's home gets made into a film which is what Sonmi 451 is watching in the futuristic Korea and Sonmi's revolutionary speeches become the basis for a doctrine by which the tribes of 'The Big Island" after "The Fall"  live by.

 

Review: Did the long awaited Cloud Atlas live up to expectation?

Synopsis: Six separate stories spanning from the 1800s to the 22nd Century linked thematically by ideas of reincarnation, love, freedom, destiny and redemption.

Stan's thoughts: Life of Pi proved that what was thought to be an unfilmable book could translate to the big screen and Cloud Atlas has similarly broken the mould, although I do wonder how much those who haven't read it actually get out of the film. The screen adaptation is far less subtle, I suppose for this very reason. Having your key actors pop up in medium and minor roles in all the story lines is something that only works on the screen and makes for quite a fun game of 'spot the actor behind the make up'.

Plots have been tinkered with upping the drama and I tried hard not to draw comparisons with the book as that inevitably disappoints but I couldn't help it with the Frobisher storyline - my favourite in the book and on screen featuring my fav Ben Whishaw. I remember being completely charmed by Frobisher and moved as it built up to the tragic suicide (not a plot spoiler as it happens very early in the film) but this, despite magnificent performances from Mr W, James D'Arcy and Jim Broadbent, was somehow diminished in the film.

Each of Mitchell's stories could make a film in its own right and in condensing down the book to two hours and 40 minutes you do lose a lot of the characterisation and some of the plot but where the film works is in the visualisation of his worlds. It is truly breathtaking in its scope and imagination and held my attention throughout.

Without breaking it up and concentrating on fewer plotlines I'm not sure how they could have made this better. Oh and if nothing else it is worth watching just to see Hugh Grant released from the rom-com shackles and having a thoroughly good time.

Definitely one to watch again on DVD and I'm hoping for a good commentary as I imagine there are plenty of tales to tell about its making. (My Cloud Atlas claim to fame is that I've walked down the street in Glasgow that doubled for the Louisa Rey/San Francisco shoot out).

Ratings

• Stan's: 78%
• IMDB: 78%
• Metascore: 55%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 66%

Recently seen:

For Ellen

Beautiful Creatures

I Give It A Year

No

Review: Indie expertise in For Ellen

Synopsis: Struggling musician Joby (Paul Dano) faces a tough life decision when his estranged wife files for divorce and wants him to sign away any rights he has over their daughter.

Stan's thoughts: For Ellen is one of those beautifully balanced, subtle and well observed low-budget independent films that, had the Hollywood machine got hold of it would have chewed it up into something mawkish and cringe-worthy. Joby is a rounded character. He isn't presented as some sort of great dad about to have his child ripped from his life but young, naive, selfish but good-hearted and conflicted and you warm to him, imperfections and all.

There are no grandstanding, dramatic scenes just humanity quietly seen through a lens. The scenes with Joby and the daughter he hardly knows are beautifully pitched - no precocious child acting here from Shaylena Mandigo just a well-observed painful awkwardness.

A subtle film that is quietly moving.

Ratings

• Stan's: 73%
• IMDB: 521%
• Metascore: 61%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 66%

 

 

Review: Beautiful Creatures fails to dazzle

Synopsis: Lena (Alice Englert) comes from a long line of witches or 'casters' as they prefer to be called. On her 16th birthday which is fast approaching she has decide to go to the light or dark side of magic but an old family curse dictates she'll be claimed by the dark. Adding to Lena's woes is a growing (forbidden) relationship with mortal Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich).

Stan's thoughts: Obviously an attempt to fill the big hole left by the Twilight franchise but it falls short failing to give either of the two-star crossed lovers any real depth of character to get hold of. Twilight's plot was predictable and so is this but I never felt any real sense of danger about the relationship. Having a spell put on your boyfriend so he can't speak vs one of your family draining him of blood just isn't quite as compelling.

Jeremy Irons and Emma Thompson are joyfully hamming it up as Lena's good and bad relatives which was mildly entertaining but overall it just felt a little bit 'meh'. Warm Bodies, another Twilight filler, had its tongue in its cheek and was playing for laughs rather than merely going for the doomed lovers angst so go and see that instead if you have the choice.

Ratings

• Stan's: 43%
• IMDB: 61%
• Metascore: 53%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 45%

Recently seen and liked:

I Give It A Year

No

Warm Bodies

 

Review: I Give It a Year

Synopsis: Nat (Rose Byrne) and Josh (Rafe Spall) meet and marry after knowing each other less than a year, Nat's sister (Minnie Driver) predicts it won't last a year. Nat has a hunky new client that has the hots for her and husband Josh has unresolved issues with an ex.

Stan's thoughts: There were times when I laughed so hard I thought I was going to rupture something while at others it was cringe-worthy. So it's fair to say this doesn't wholly work but it definitely passed the Mark Kermode 'five laughs' comedy test. Some great little vignettes, love the bitterness of Drivers character and Olivia Colman plays a fantastic relationship counsellor who is equally bitter about relationships. It's the sort of film I'd stick on for background amusement while doing the ironing or some other mundane chore.

Ratings

• Stan's 62%
• IMDB 64%
• Metascore - not rated yet
• Rotten Tomatoes 70%

Recently seen and liked:

No

Warm Bodies

Hyde Park on the Hudson

Review: Stan says yes to 'No'

Synopsis: A Chilean ad man, more known for cheerful jingles is roped into producing a TV campaign help to defeat Pinochet in a referendum.

Stan's thoughts: Gael Garcia Bernal puts in a great performance as a man trying to make a political cause appeal to the masses while simultaneously trying to persuade those he is working for it is a winning campaign and avoid the increasing threat of Pinochet's supporters.

It has a nicely growing tension as the campaign gains momentum and it's opponents get more desperate and is an interesting and unusual take on a political drama. Stylishly shot its documentary style - as if being made at the time of the story - does take a little bit of getting used to. Oh and it has some of the fastest subtitles I've seen in a while.

Ratings

• Stan's 73%
• IMDB 70%
• Metascore 80%
• Rotten Tomatoes 80%

Review: The antidote to Oscar-worthiness - Warm Bodies

Synopsis: A plague has infected the human race, turning them into brain-eating zombies. The remaining un-infected humans live in a walled-enclave venturing out only to try and grab supplies which is where human Julie (Teresa Palmer) meets zombie R (Nicholas Hoult) and love blossoms with transformational consequences.

Stan's thoughts: After several weeks of watching long, Oscar-worthy films I needed something low-brow and just plain fun and Warm Bodies fits the bill perfectly. It's got a predictable plot but it is funny - well I like zombie humour anyway - and is suitably tongue in cheek to make for a light, frothy, entertaining film. Well done and definitely something I'd watch on a Sunday night if it's on the telly.

Ratings:

• Stan's: 70%
• IMDB: 74%
• Metascore: 66%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 75%

Review: Hyde Park on the Hudson

Synopsis: A shy, retiring distant cousin of  US President Franklin Roosevelt is invited to keep him company at his country house where he is about to host a visit from the British King and Queen who wish to garner American support as Europe moves close to the break out of World War II.

Stan's thoughts: Managed to enjoy this despite irritating people in the audience - the bonkers old man who likes to shout comments at the screen again - recognised him from A Royal Affair. There was also a middle-aged couple who couldn't resist telling each other their thoughts throughout.

Anyway that aside, this was quite good fun and a nice antidote to the worthy stream of Oscar contenders I've been watching in recent weeks, particularly as it's only 90 mins long.

For me its strength was in clash of social etiquette not only between the Americans and Brits but also within the ranks of the Americans who had quite different ideas of how the Royal's should be treated.

The story of the affair felt a little incidental to the colour of the Royal visit and I'm not sure whether the film wanted to be about the affair or the Royals.  Nonetheless at times a funny and warm film and I'd probably watch it again when it comes on the telly.

Ratings:

• Stan's: 58%
• IMDB: 57%
• Metascore: 55%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 38%

Review: The disappointing Flight

Synopsis: Airline pilot (Denzel Washington), against all the odds, manages to land a plane with a technical fault saving most of the passengers but it turns out he had been drinking

Stan verdict: Feel like there was a better film trying to get out of this one. The trailer implies, or at least it did to me, that it would focus on the manslaughter case against him because he was drunk vs the fact that he did what no other pilot could. Instead the central tension seems to be about whether he is going to have another drink or not. Even if you factor in whether he will tell the truth or not at the enquiry, I don't think it was quite as interest a film as it could have been.

There is also a love interest storyline with a junkie, who injects, who seems to get clean without any struggle. Don't think losing that would have been a great loss.

Denzel Washington does put in a great performance but overall I thought it was disappointing.

Ratings:

• Stan's: 50%
• IMDB: 74%
• Metascore: 76%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 73%

Review: Lincoln

Synopsis: President Abraham Lincoln tries to secure the 13th amendment which will abolish slavery in the US while trying to bring about an end to the civil war.

Stan's thoughts: The cast is stunningly good. Lincoln was an incredible man of words and orator and put his speeches into the performance of Daniel Day Lewis and you have something quite stunning happening on screen.

The downside of Lincoln is that it is essentially two and a half hours about a man trying to secure votes. You only get occasional brief insights into the man, the relationships aren't fully explored and the politics isn't quite enough to sustain the drama. When Lincoln is on screen you sit up in your seat and pay attention but otherwise it feels like it plods along and I'm not sure I understand that much more about what was going on at the time than before I watched the film.

I'd happily watch a compilation of clips of Daniel Day Lewis but otherwise it feels good to have ticked off my Oscar contender list and move on.

Ratings:

• Stan's: 70%
• IMDB: 79%
• Metascore: 86%
• Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

Recently reviewed:

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