Despite being a part of innumerable critical and commercial successes, Tom Hanks also delivered one of the most unsuccessful movies. When the actor collaborated with the Matrix creators, the 2012 movie turned out to be an absolute disaster. The Wachowskis couldn’t deliver another sci-fiction hit after the Keanu Reeves classic. But the audiences were quite surprised when Hanks praised his Cloud Atlas as one of his most memorable ventures.
Cloud Atlas, directed by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer had an ensemble cast including Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, and Hugh Grant. Even after flaunting such a stellar cast, the movie heavily polarized the critics. Despite such a reception, the Forrest Gump star doesn’t regret signing for the film.
What does Tom Hanks think about Cloud Atlas?
Tom Hanks rose to prominence from roles in movies like Forrest Gump, Castaway, Big, Philadelphia, and numerous other comedy and drama roles. When the Oscar winner was asked about his failures during an interview with The Guardian, the actor didn’t hesitate to admit that he has made a lot of, “an awful lot of” projects that failed. But those projects were never a subject of regret to the 67-year-old icon.
Hanks admitted that he had no regrets about the decision he made. Even though the Wachowskis failed to mimic the success Keanu Reeves got with Matrix, Cloud Atlas baffled him and had a deep impact on Tom Hanks.
“Like, I made a movie that altered my entire consciousness – Cloud Atlas – I thought, jeez, this thing is so fab; it’s the only movie I’ve been in that I’ve seen more than twice. And it didn’t do any business. And there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Made on a budget of around $150 Million, Cloud Atlas is one of the most expensive independent movies ever. But the box office figures were outright disappointing as the domestic total couldn’t rise above $27 Million while the movie ended with a worldwide total of around $130 Million. The movie was grand and the experience of making it was unforgettable for Tom Hanks.
The Sleepless in Seattle star was so unaffected by the polarizing reviews that he even went on to include the 2012 sci-fi in his list of Top 3.
Cloud Atlas holds a special place in Tom Hanks’ heart
Some movies don’t hold a middle ground and are either considered best or worst. Cloud Atlas is such a movie that is seen in both the lists of most hated projects but is also considered by many as an underrated masterpiece.
Appearing in the Bill Simmons Podcast, when the actor was said to name his best 3 movies, he placed it in the third position. According to Tom Hanks, the movie holds a very special place in his heart as he places it among the list of his best movies. The Robert Langdon fame admitted that he enjoyed the experience thoroughly while filming with such great faces. He added that it felt magical working on the film.
“We shot [‘Cloud Atlas’] on a hope and a dream and nothing but a circle of love. That was the first time I’d ever shot extensively in Germany and I was surrounded by history. But the work itself, we were part of this big, massive ensemble of fantastic people who were just trying to do the hardest, best work on a deep throw…that whole movie was such a deep throw that making it was magical.”
Above Cloud Atlas, he kept Castaway and A League of Their Own. Renowned critic Roger Ebert also praised the movie naming it as one of 2012’s best and one of the most ambitious films. He also supported Hanks’ statement as he admitted that he could watch it numerous times without getting bored.
Cloud Atlas can be rented on Apple TV+.
Source: The Guardian / Bill Simmons
