Grand doesn’t even begin to describe this ambitious film.  Based on the novel of the same name by David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas explores lives across various eras, both past and future, and shows how our lives are linked and decisions are echoed throughout time.  As Susan Sarrrandon explains,  “our lives are not our owns, we are bound to others, past and present”.   Tom Twyker, Andy Wachowski, and Lana Wachowski (directors) do what I would consider a very commendible job keeping this all together.  The sheer orchestration of cross-cuts, cross-genders, cross-races, and a mosiac of storylines is masterfully brought together.  Intentionally disorienting and detaching to begin with Cloud Atlas weaves its way towards its conclusion wonderfully.  Its stella cast (Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Susan Sarrandon, Hugo Weaving, Hugh Grant among others) play a myriad of roles that cleverly draw and engage, then throw and tease your attention around the cinematic screen.  Cloud Atlas is quite an accomplishment that I feel has slipped under the radar.  Shame.