Cloud Atlas Reviews Are In; Divides Critics at Toronto Film Festival

Last night the long awaited premiere of the Wachowski siblings and Tom Tyker's film "Cloud Atlas" premiered at the Toronto International Film festival.

The film is an exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future, as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero, and an act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution.

The film boasts an all-star cast that includes Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Susan Sarandan and Hugh Grant. After its premiere the movie received a lengthy standing ovation.

However like many films who have received ovations at the festival, this was subject to mixed reviews by the critics. Some have hailed it while others have disliked it vigorously.

 Entertainment Weekly hailed it for being "a dense, trippy, funny, fierce visual ride through 500 years," an adaptation that as a whole was "utterly, wonderfully epic."

On the other hand the Hollywood Reporter was more measured, finding it to be a "mind-blowing film" that to its credit was successful with its performances, art direction and editing, but could give a viewer a headache with its maze of a plot.

The Guardian was mixed about the film stating that the co-directors' decision to rearrange the six stories presented in Mitchell's novel by theme was a smart move. However they were not in favor of their concept of casting actors to play a variety of roles without regard to race or age was a good idea.

Sean O'Connell of CinemaBlend, also leaned toward the middle, saying that he isn't "whole-heartedly in love with 'Atlas,'" but he is "in love with the creative effort and bravura film-making that infuses every single scene."

The Telegraph stated that "Cloud Atlas" "is going to be far and away the most divisive film of 2012."

The film was already subject to Oscar buzz but Hollywood Reporter stated in an article entitled "Cloud Atlas' Earns Lengthy Standing Ovation, but Are Oscars in the Cards?" that the film may do well in the technical departments but that voters will most likely be confused by the plots.

The film opens October 26 Nationwide.