Tom Hanks Reveals Why Cloud Atlas Was Misunderstood by Critics
Tom Hanks opens up about the misunderstood message behind Cloud Atlas, reflecting on its ambitious narrative and the critical response it received despite its all-star cast.
Back in 1984, Tom Hanks won over moviegoers with his breakout role opposite Daryl Hannah in Splash. The film, which earned an Academy Award nomination, helped launch Hanks into the Hollywood spotlight. Throughout the rest of the '80s, he continued to land major roles, with Big in 1988 cementing his reputation as a leading man. By the time the '90s rolled around, Hanks was a household name, starring in hits like 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 took home another the following year for Forrest Gump. Decades later, Hanks remains a beloved figure in the industry, recently appearing in films like Elvis, Pinocchio, and Asteroid City. His warm persona and familiar voice have even earned him the nickname 'America’s Dad.'
Despite his popularity, Hanks has faced criticism for choosing roles that often reflect a certain vision of mid-20th-century America. In a conversation with the New York Times, he was asked about the sense of nostalgia that runs through much of his work, especially since, for some, that nostalgia has taken on a more complicated meaning. Hanks responded by bringing up Cloud Atlas, the 2012 science fiction epic that split critics down the middle. He argued that the film’s message was missed by many, saying it went “right over everybody’s heads.”
Cloud Atlas: Ambition and Misunderstanding
Directed by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer, Cloud Atlas featured Hanks alongside a star-studded cast including Hugh Grant, Halle Berry, Ben Whishaw, Susan Sarandon, Jim Broadbent, and Jim Sturgess. The film’s story spanned multiple eras, weaving together different timelines in a bold narrative experiment. While the ambition was clear, many reviewers felt the movie didn’t quite land.
Reflecting on the film, 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 to say,
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 and the Film’s Legacy
Hanks defended his filmography by sharing his fascination with the gradual progress America has made through small, meaningful moments. He described this as a uniquely American sense of right and wrong, which has shaped his approach to choosing roles over the years.
Halle Berry, who also starred in Cloud Atlas, was equally passionate about the project. She described it as a “once in a lifetime filmmaking experience,” and despite its rocky start at the box office, she continued to praise its originality and the boundaries it pushed. Berry 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.
Although Cloud Atlas hasn’t yet achieved cult status, both Hanks and Berry remain proud of the film’s ambition and the conversations it continues to spark.