Featuring Ryan Gosling as a motorcycle stuntman turned bank robber, Derek Cianfrance’s The Place Beyond the Pines immediately conjures comparisons to Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive. And, for the first five minutes, Beyond the Pines does seem to be in the same vein as Refn’s thriller. However, what follows is something so unexpected that it will completely defy your expectations. The trailer for Beyond the Pines sells the film as a high speed thriller. However, it is much more focused on the actions that shape peoples’ lives than any high speed chase.

For some strange reason, reviews of Cloud Atlas have been tentative to say the least. Slow. Boring. Over the top. Too much. Over done. Contrite. Confusing. These negative force fields almost swayed me not to even bother giving the film a chance. Perhaps you, dear reader, have been privy to the same writing on the wall? Well, I am here to tell you that nothing could be farther from the truth. Cloud Atlas is a post-modern cinematic masterpiece, epic in scope and execution and you would be doing a great diservice not to see this wonderful film on the big screen.