- Film Review
- Reviewed By Damon Wise
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3 out of 5
David Mitchell's 2004 source novel was deemed unfilmable because of its elaborate structure - it interweaves six apparently unrelated but obliquely overlapping stories - and historical sweep - it spans over six hundred years, beginning in the mid-19th century. But Andy and Lana Wachowski, the makers of The Matrix, and Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) have done a commendable job of bringing this hugely ambitious book to the screen. The sci-fi elements of the story fare best, notably the story of a rebel leader in the Seoul of the future, but the less visually flashy sections (an ageing publisher is imprisoned in an old folks' home, a gay composer is tricked by his musical hero) have an eccentric appeal, too. Nevertheless, the switchback narrative is more impressive than enjoyable, and the film is not helped by its 171-minute running time. Also problematic is the bold decision to give its cast several parts, meaning that its stars (including Tom Hanks, Halle Berry and Hugh Grant) are frequently unrecognisable under wigs and heavy make-up. But, as an experiment in offbeat blockbuster film-making, this has a certain maverick élan, and its reputation (already) as a grand folly means that cult status almost certainly awaits.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Dr Henry Goose / Hotel manager / Isaac Sachs / Dermot Hoggins / Cavendish lookalike actor / Zachry
- Tom Hanks
- Native woman / Jocasta Ayrs / Luisa Rey / Indian party guest / Ovid / Meronym
- Halle Berry
- Captain Molyneux / Vyvyan Ayrs / Timothy Cavendish / Korean musician / Prescient 2
- Jim Broadbent
- Haskell Moore / Tadeusz Kesselring / Bill Smoke / Nurse Noakes / Boardman Mephi / Old Georgie
- Hugo Weaving
- Tilda / Megan's mom / Mexican woman / Sonmi-451 / Sonmi-351 / Sonmi prostitute
- Doona Bae
- Adam Ewing / Poor hotel guest / Megan's dad / Highlander / Hae-Joo Chang / Zachry's brother-in-law
- Jim Sturgess
- Reverend Giles Horrox / Hotel heavy / Lloyd Hooks / Denholme Cavendish / Seer Rhee / Kona chief
- Hugh Grant
- Young Rufus Sixsmith / Old Rufus Sixsmith / Nurse James / Archivist
- James D'Arcy
- Cabin boy / Robert Frobisher / Store clerk / Georgette / Tribesman
- Ben Whishaw
- Madame Horrox / Older Ursula / Yusouf Suleiman / Abbess
- Susan Sarandon
- Kupaka / Joe Napier / An-Kor-Apis / Prescient
- Keith David
- Talbot / Hotel manager / Yoona-939 / Rose
- Zhou Xun
Crew
- Director
- Tom Tykwer
- Director
- Andy Wachowski
- Director
- Larry Wachowski
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