Tom Hanks on Why Cloud Atlas Was Misunderstood

Back in 1984, Tom Hanks won over local punters with his lead role alongside Daryl Hannah in Splash. The film, which picked up an Academy Award nomination, was a hit, and Hanks quickly became a familiar face on the big screen. Through the late '80s, he kept landing roles, with Big in 1988 really cementing his status as a top bloke in Hollywood. By the time the '90s rolled around, Hanks was everywhere, popping up in A League of Their Own, Sleepless in Seattle, Toy Story, and Saving Private Ryan. He picked up his first Oscar for Philadelphia in 1993, then backed it up the next year with Forrest Gump. Even now, he’s still front and centre, with recent credits in Elvis, Pinocchio, and Asteroid City. Thanks to his easy-going nature and that unmistakable voice, Hanks has even been dubbed ‘America’s Dad’ by some, a nod to his place in many childhoods.

Despite all the love, Hanks has copped a bit of flak for choosing roles that paint a certain picture of mid-20th century America. In a chat with the New York Times, he was asked about the “nostalgia” that seems to run through a lot of his work, especially since, for some, that nostalgia has soured into old-fashioned politics. Hanks brought up Cloud Atlas, the 2012 sci-fi epic that split critics right down the middle. He reckoned the film’s message just didn’t land, saying it went “right over everybody’s heads”.

Cloud Atlas: Ambition and Reception

Directed by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer, Cloud Atlas featured Hanks alongside a stacked cast including Hugh Grant, Halle Berry, Ben Whishaw, Susan Sarandon, Jim Broadbent, and Jim Sturgess. The story jumps across different eras, making it a bold piece of filmmaking, but plenty of critics thought it missed the mark.

Hanks explained,

I was in a movie called Cloud Atlas that went right over everybody’s heads. It said, ‘What is the point of trying to do the right thing when it’s just a drop in the ocean?’ But what is an ocean but a multitude of drops? Things get better when a multitude of drops form an ocean and sweep things away.

He went on,

World War II: The Nazis were defeated, as was the Japanese empire, because enough good people said no. Civil rights came about because of, I think, an American belief that our responsibility as citizens is to work toward making a more perfect union.

Hanks’ Perspective on Progress

Defending his choices, Hanks said he’s always been interested in the small steps that make up progress in America. He reckons there’s a certain sense of right and wrong that’s uniquely American, and that’s what draws him to these stories.

Halle Berry, who also starred in Cloud Atlas, was just as keen on the film. Leading the promo, she called it a “once in a lifetime filmmaking experience,” and didn’t hold back on the praise, even though it didn’t exactly set the box office alight. She told Flicks and Bits,

Cloud Atlas will always be incredibly special. I’m going to always remember the experience and everything I got from it. I love its originality, the originality of everything. There are so many barriers being broken here, so many exciting concepts and, hopefully, it will leave people thinking about how they perceive the world and their own lives.

Legacy and Lasting Impact

Despite the enthusiasm from Berry and Hanks, Cloud Atlas hasn’t quite reached cult classic status. Still, there’s always a chance it could find its audience down the track.