310. Cloud Atlas

310. (14 Dec) Cloud Atlas (2012, Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski & Lana Wachowski) 33



Ambitious, to be sure, but fundamentally obvious in its themes and hackish in execution. From painfully inconsistent make-up effects to the flat, run-of-the-mill visual effects, even the supposedly stunning look of Cloud Atlas is a letdown. (Jim Sturgess in Asianface is the most obvious mistake, but little of the make-up genuinely works.) There are still human moments that are quite moving in this sprawling, choppy drama. Ben Whishaw's quite good as a tortured gay pianist, but his screentime is limited compared to Tom Hanks, who seems to be attempting to win a different Razzie for each new character he tries on. Hanks' futuristic scenes with Halle Berry (with faux-English involving nonsensical phrases like "true true") are the worst. Were this an appropriate length, it might have made a good Mystery Science Theater 3000.

272. Skyfall

272. (11 Nov) Skyfall (2012, Sam Mendes)* 52



There's been enough written about Skyfall's nonsensical plot that my concerns need not be enumerated. However fun Javier Bardem's villainous turn may be, he could scarcely have had a more preposterous revenge plot concocted. Fortunately, that opens things up for the enjoyable opening chase and a colorful, brilliantly photographed sequence in Shanghai. They're high points in a film that's mostly frivolous and amusing, even if this franchise gets all the more self-serious. We're three films into the Daniel Craig era of Bond and still debating the relevancy of secret agents?

496. The Hour

496. (20 Oct) The Hour (2011, Harry Bradbeer, Coky Giedroyc & Jamie Payne) 67



Nicely mixing period elements with that or a thriller and newsroom drama, The Hour benefits mostly from its brief timeline and brisk pacing. Never plodding, the only time the miniseries gets bogged down is when it ventures too much into a mystery subplot that takes too long to unravel. There's otherwise an emphasis on the incredibly chemistry between the three leads. Ben Whishaw handily steals the show, but Romola Garai and the dashing Dominic West hold their own. Garai and West's romantic plot is often close to irresistible.