Tom Hanks on Cloud Atlas: The Film Audiences Never Quite Got

Back in 1984, Tom Hanks made quite the impression starring opposite Daryl Hannah in Splash. The film, which earned an Academy Award nomination, was met with widespread acclaim and set Hanks on a path to stardom. The late 1980s saw him take on a string of roles, with Big in 1988 standing out as a particular highlight, cementing his reputation as a reliable box office draw. By the time the 1990s arrived, Hanks had become a household name, appearing in the likes of 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 followed it up with another for Forrest Gump the very next year. Even now, Hanks remains a fixture in the industry, with recent credits including Elvis, Pinocchio, and Asteroid City. His affable nature and instantly recognisable voice have led many to dub him ‘America’s Dad’, a moniker that speaks to his enduring popularity.

Yet, not all of Hanks’ choices have been met with universal praise. Some have criticised his tendency to appear in films that present a particular vision of mid-20th-century America. During a conversation with the New York Times, Hanks was asked about the sense of nostalgia that seems to run through much of his work, especially given that, for some, nostalgia for that era has soured into something less palatable. In response, Hanks brought up Cloud Atlas, the 2012 science fiction epic that left critics sharply divided. He argued that the film’s message simply sailed “right over everybody’s heads”.

Cloud Atlas: Ambition and Misunderstanding

Directed by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer, Cloud Atlas boasted a formidable cast, with Hanks joined by Hugh Grant, Halle Berry, Ben Whishaw, Susan Sarandon, Jim Broadbent, and Jim Sturgess. The film’s narrative spanned multiple time periods, weaving together stories from different eras in a bold, if somewhat bewildering, fashion. While the ambition was undeniable, many critics felt the execution left something to be desired.

Hanks reflected on the film’s reception, saying,

“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 to elaborate,

“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.”

Defending His Choices

Hanks has often found himself defending the roles he’s chosen, particularly those that seem to dwell on America’s past. He explained that he’s long been fascinated by the incremental progress the country has made, remarking that this reflects a distinctly American sense of right and wrong. It’s a perspective that’s shaped much of his career, even if it hasn’t always endeared him to every critic.

Halle Berry, who also starred in Cloud Atlas, was equally enthusiastic about the project. She described it as a “once in a lifetime filmmaking experience,” and despite the film’s rocky start at the box office, she remained effusive in her praise. Speaking to Flicks and Bits, Berry said,

“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 Cult Status

Despite the passion of its cast and the scale of its ambition, Cloud Atlas has yet to achieve cult classic status. For both Berry and Hanks, the film remains a unique and memorable chapter in their careers, even if its full impact has yet to be recognised by a wider audience.