Screenhead

Now here’s an interesting recipe: take one of Europe’s most promising directors in the 90’s, Tom Tykwer (who made Winter Sleepers, the slightly vacuous Run Lola Run, Perfume, and the upcoming thriller The International), add acting producers Wachowski brothers (The Matrix trilogy, V for Vendetta), and leave them in a room to simmer over the era-spanning David Mitchell novel ‘Cloud Atlas’.

The novel deals with six stories across six eras, as early as the seafarers of the 1850s, to mid 70’s California, to a post-apocalyptic future, all linked under the theme of, according to the author, “predacity”.

Natalie Portman is rumoured to be involved, which isn’t surprising considering her relationship with both the Wachowskis (V for Vendetta) and Tykwer (his segment of Paris Je T’Aime). Yet… will this be the best relationship. Tykwer has talent, but he often opts for pace over character. And the Wachowskis are responsible for the most over-rated (in my humble opinion) popcorn blockbusters over the last few years. It will be an intriguing challange for both to grasp the book’s seeming complexity, especially when the story involves a number of different genres as well as eras.

Popularity: 1% [?]