Cloud Atlas (2012)

3/5

Cloud Atlas is an ambitious project for even the most visionary directors. It tracks six separate storylines that connect and intersect in moods and themes. Directed by three people, the Wachowskis and Tykwer attempt to use the same actors across time and space to link the storylines. That unnecessary dedication to a concept is perhaps the reason for dressing its white actors up in "yellowface" to make them look Asian, which is off-putting and unsettling to say the least. Ignoring that, the movie still has its imperfections and failings.

Although the movie intercuts six stories remarkably well, it feels lopsided and uneven. The stories are given equal weight even though some are far less interesting than others. While the book tells the various fictions sequentially, the movie unifies them into a singular, simultaneous narrative. I'm not sure it was the right decision, as it comes with numerous compromises, but it shows that the directors care about the story enough to attempt to adapt the ideas instead of the words.

As the movie ended, I wasn't sure what I got out of it. Its self-importance was lost on me. I felt like the movie is engaging and compelling for its storytelling, but not its story; its filmmaking, but not its content. It's appealing but empty, exciting but unsatisfying. It was made to be bold, not to be felt. I can't imagine anyone going into the theater will go out feeling anything but disappointed.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/

Skyfall (2012)

3/5

Skyfall, the 23rd Bond film since its creation 50 years ago, is certainly the most beautiful Bond film I've ever seen. And it's a prototypical Bond movie in many ways--filled with dry wit, exotic locales, and evil villains--but it's set in the new "hero as human" era of superhero movies that started with The Dark Knight. I'm certainly not an expert in the franchise, but my experience has always been of James Bond as a suave, debonair, practically invincible spy. Ever since the refresh with Casino Royale, we've seen him tortured and shot and just about beaten to death. This new bastardization of Bond is of an action hero who relies on brute force instead of gadgets, luck instead of planning. The 007 franchise has turned into a predictable summer blockbuster with a little star power and name recognition thrown in, but it's lost what made it special.

On top of all that, the movie itself is pretty mediocre, even with Sam Mendes at the helm. I will give it credit for having phenomenal cinematography (thanks to the incomparable Roger Deakins) and set pieces. But Mendes did not do enough to make it special again. Q and his gadgets came back, but in the most piddling, imbecilic way possible. The pacing suffered from an extra 30 minutes of explosions tacked on at the end. The plot is absolutely laughable. Granted, the plots have always been laughable, but that was part of their charm. Now they're preposterous in a realistic world instead of a dream world, which makes the inconsistencies and plot holes all the more embarrassing.

This is a plea to the producers: Stop this nonsense. Bond is not an action series; it's a spy series. Stop turning it into every other movie and bring it back to its roots. Update it without destroying it. Bond is more than what we're seeing here.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1074638/

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)

4/5

Tom Tykwer's Perfume: The Story of a Murderer follows the 18th century story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a man with uncanny and unsurpassed olfactory capabilities, on his quest to concoct the perfect perfume. He can identify any smell and track it across miles of countryside. At the age of 17, in a horrifying and heartbreaking moment, he first experiences the ephemeral nature of smell; then and there he makes a commitment to uncover the secrets of capturing smell. Even human smells, regardless of the cost. The movie climaxes in a spellbinding, unforgettable, unexpected finale that may turn many viewers off, but will also entrance and excite just as many viewers. On display here is bold, unique filmmaking. And it is, without a doubt, worth watching.

While Tykwer utilizes a narrator, he never uses it to cheat. He lets scenes play out through restrained acting and subtle pacing; he creates moods with lighting and compositions; he forces us to care for the characters--not by telling us to, but by exposing us to their human side. Technically, the movie works on nearly every level. Yes, the cinematography and editing were crisp and pristine. Yes, the script and performances were right on key. But the movie is more than the sum of its parts. You feel like you can smell what he smells--and feel what he feels--just by watching the screen. That is movie magic.

The movie is not without a few flaws. At 2.5 hours, it's a bit too long, with some unnecessary scenes included and some ambiguous motifs repeteated. Much of the movie is simply uncomfortable to sit through, and the mood of the piece is more reminiscent of David Fincher (Fight Club, Zodiac) than Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run, The International). Still, as I said before, this movie is worth watching. You will not see another movie quite like this one for a long, long time.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0396171/