Amanda Bynes has flipped the script on her career, trading in potential movie roles for melodies.

The former actress, 40, dropped a new single called “Girlfriend” on Friday, April 10, a track that “blends melodic rap with EDM-inspired production, creating a catchy, high-replay record with a smooth West Coast bounce,” her label, Create Music Group, told Us Weekly.

“Built around a strong hook and confident, flirt-heavy energy, [the song is] designed for repeat listens and wide playlist appeal,” her label shared in a statement to Us. “Featuring [hip-hop artist] Fenix Flexin, it taps into a familiar L.A. sound while staying fresh and accessible.”

Bynes, whose label has worked with various chart-topping performers including Jason Derulo, Keri Hilson and Deadmau5, also told Us, “My inspo was a lot of EDM [electronic dance music] as well as rap.”

In February, Bynes teased her collaboration with Flexin, 30, hinting the song would be “straight fire” while showing off the sparkling bling on his wrist in a clip captured in a music studio.

The child star, who notably rose to fame on Nickelodeon’s All That before starring on The Amanda Show, previously released a song called “Diamonds” alongside her now-ex fiancé Paul Michael back in 2021.

“Diamonds, diamonds, diamonds on my neck, on my wrist,” she rapped in one verse.

Related: Amanda Bynes’ Ups and Downs Through the Years

Advertisement

Amanda Bynes has changed a lot since she first rose to fame as a cast member on Nickelodeon’s All That. In honor of her 28th birthday, look back at her evolution from child actress to troubled starlet to fashion school student

Bynes also released “Fairfax” with her former flame in 2022, prior to the couple’s split that year after an on-and-off relationship.

Before venturing into the music world, Bynes spoke about leaving behind her acting career in November 2018, revealing watching her role in Easy A was the catalyst.

“I literally couldn’t stand my appearance in that movie and I didn’t like my performance,” she told Paper Magazine. “I was absolutely convinced I needed to stop acting after seeing it. I was high on marijuana when I saw that but for some reason it really started to affect me.”

She added, “I have no fear of the future. I’ve been through the worst and came out the other end and survived it so I just feel like it’s only up from here.”

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

The following year, Bynes graduated from Los Angeles’ Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.

Related: Stars of Nickelodeon’s ‘All That’: Where Are They Now?

From the Repair Man (man man man) to Lester Oakes Construction Worker and everyone in between, the characters of All That are etched into the minds of ’90s kids everywhere. Nickelodeon’s half-hour sketch comedy show originally ran from 1994 to 2000, spawning spinoffs like Kenan & Kel and The Amanda Show and becoming the signature […]

She pursued her next venture with the launch of “Amanda Bynes & Paul Sieminski: The Podcast” in 2023, which she paused soon after its debut. Bynes also featured multiple pieces of her original artwork during a pop-up event in December 2024 before joining OnlyFans in April 2025.

“I’m on onlyfans now!” Bynes wrote via Instagram Stories at the time, setting her subscription fee to $50 a month. “Disclaimer: I’m doing onlyfans to chat with my fans through dm’s. I won’t be posting any sleazy content. Excited to join.”

“Summer House” star Amanda Batula is finally breaking her silence after confirming her romantic involvement with West Wilson, who had previously been involved with their friend and co-star, Ciara Miller. This comes after many in the Bravo universe have weighed in, including Andy Cohen and “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” alum Garcelle Beauvais.

Amanda Batula Opens Up

Batula took to her Instagram Stories on April 10 to break her silence amid the scandal involving her relationship with Wilson. The 34-year-old did so by posting a picture of a sleeping puppy with a lengthy text overlay.

She began, “Hi guys, I’ll keep this short and sweet. I’ve obviously been MIA, but I wanted to come back on and say that I’m truly sorry to everyone I’ve disappointed and hurt.”

The “Summer House” star continued, “Especially those I know personally who I’ve reached out to individually.”

Amanda Also Mentioned Her Mental Health

Batula went on to discuss her life moving forward as well as her mental health. She said in the post, “For the sake of my mental health, I’m going to try to start living life with some sense of normalcy. If you see me out or posting online, please know that this still weighs very heavily on me.”

She continued, seemingly trying to take some accountability, “I’m not ignoring what’s happened or what’s unfolded.” After that, Batula confirmed that she will be at the “Summer House” season 10 reunion. According to her, “[I] will be addressing any and all questions honestly and directly there.”

Fans Aren’t Buying What Amanda Batula Said

Following Batula’s social media post, many fans have shared their reactions. Overall, many found her statement to be vague, and some called her out for not taking accountability for the harm that Miller has faced due to the affair with Wilson.

One person wrote, “She should mention Ciara and stop being vague.” Another “Summer House” fan said, “Translation: I did a sh-tty thing because I wanted to. Don’t at me because my mental health is fragile and I shouldn’t be held accountable for how my actions hurt others.”

Another person said, “Bad people will always use the dog to shoulder part of the burden of responsibility they don’t want to hold.”

There Have Been Many Reactions To Amanda & West

Batula and Wilson released a joint statement on Instagram on March 31, saying they had been romantically involved after several weeks of speculation. Following that, there have been many reactions, especially given the fact that Batula is friends with Miller.

Per Bravo, Cohen reacted on “Radio Andy.” He said, “I will say that I saw a lot of conspiracy theories online yesterday that I somehow knew about this. I did not. I have so many questions, and the reunion is coming up. And, boy, do I have a lot of questions.”

He added, “I do think it’s worth reminding everybody, all the passionate fans of the show, that these are real people involved. Just know these are real people who are dealing with a lot.”

Additionally, Beauvais recently spoke to E! News and gave her reaction. She stated that while she doesn’t watch “Summer House,” she was aware of the scandal.

Regarding her take, Beauvais said, “Girl code, girl code, girl code. Period.” She also said she’s on Miller’s side, stating, “I don’t know her…but just being a girl, and having girl code, yeah. And [Ciara’s] beautiful, she’s going to be just fine. I just want her to get the treatment as you know who.”

Beauvais seemed to be referring to Ariana Madix, who two Bravo co-stars also wronged. She went on to host “Love Island USA” and to star on Broadway in “Chicago.”

Ciara Miller Reportedly Learned About The Relationship Earlier

According to TMZ, Miller gained knowledge of the affair between Wilson and Batula after obtaining a video showing them being intimate in his apartment. According to the report, neither of the two was aware they were being filmed.

An insider also told the outlet that Batula sent Miller a text at some point in March, claiming that she never intended to cause harm with the affair. Additionally, she told her friend that she wanted to sort things out with Wilson before discussing their romance.

It’s unclear who sent Miller the alleged video footage of Batula and Wilson, or whether she informed anyone else about it. The “Summer House” season 10 reunion will be filmed in April 2026.

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published 17 seconds ago

What do you get when you pair Angelina Jolie with one of the sexiest leading men in Hollywood? Mr. and Mrs. Smith with Brad Pitt, but that’s not her sexiest movie. Gone in 60 Seconds with Nicolas Cage is another good guess. The answer is 2001’s Original Sin with Antonio Banderas. A historical romance that would fit right in with today’s new wave of bodice rippers, this 19th-century bodice-ripper is currently streaming for free on Tubi. 

Original Sin Is A Romance Novel Come To Life

Set in Cuba, Original Sin starts off as most historical romances do: Luis (Banderas), a rich landowner, wants a wife, and no one in Cuba will do. He’s been writing letters to Julia (Jolie), a young woman living in Delaware, who’s on her way to Cuba for their first face-to-face meeting. Julia looks nothing like the photos she sent, and Luis has also been lying about being a poor clerk. From the get-go, the two are madly in love with each other, even as they agree neither one is to be trusted. Luis thinks it’s a bit of a jest, not knowing that “Julia” is an imposter. 

They get married that day, consummate the marriage that night, and the next morning. “Julia” soon gets access to all of Luis wealth as a sign of his trust as her plan comes to fruition. Until Detective Downs (Thomas Jane) arrives on the island, and now the early scene of “Julia” narrating the story to a priest from inside a prison cell starts to make sense. Thankfully, that’s only the start of Original Sin’s twisted love story. 

The Best Historical Romance Of The 2000’s

There’s a reason romance is the most popular genre in every bookstore. Original Sin is 25 years old but the story it tells is timeless. Attractive people doing bad things to each other is the bedrock of Hollywood. Erotic thrillers, historical romance, those films have mainly migrated to streamers with most of the sex scenes stripped out. Original Sin is from long before that trend started, and yet, both Banderas and Jolie look stunning in their period garb both in and out of the bedroom. Unlike other thrillers, this book adaptation, based on the 1947 Cornell Woolrich novel, Waltz into Darkness, remembered to make the story and characters as appealing as the stars themselves. 

The problem with Original Sin is that everyone is playing their roles with all the subtly of a soap opera, which led critics and viewers at the time to rip it apart with negative reviews. Critics went after the dialogue and the plot for being unbelievable, likely because they hadn’t opened up a romance novel in decades. A bodice ripper, an erotic thriller, a historical romance, Original Sin is all three of them, and fans of all of those want the type of wild fantasy romance that lets them get swept up and carried away. 

Original Sin isn’t the best movie for either Antonio Banderas or Angelina Jolie. Those are Mask of Zorro and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, respectively, but among their thrillers, it’s untouched. Every single campy trope you’d want is found in its under two-hour runtime. There’s nothing wrong with turning off your brain and enjoying gorgeous stars acting out a telenovela against the beautiful backdrop of 19th-century Cuba, and thanks to Tubi, it’s a free experience. 

By Jennifer Asencio
| Published 32 seconds ago

It should go without saying that a show called The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin might just be about the famous wizard, but the show is not about the wizened old man we all know from King Arthur stories. Rise of the Merlin tells a different origin story: the story of the young man who will someday become Camelot’s advisor. Featuring all the drama, romance, and action of Arthurian legend, the show centers around Merlin’s efforts to help the Pendragon brothers, Aurellius and Uther, gather the forces of Britain against invasion by the Saxons in the 6^th century.

Newcomer Tom Sharp plays the title role, and I got to ask this incredible actor some questions about the show for GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT. I’ve previously reviewed and commented about the show and its themes, and have interviewed other actors from the show.

Tom Sharp’s Early Career

The first thing I wanted to know about was Tom’s experience leading up to his casting as Merlin. What got him into acting? Like most actors, he admits, “I grew up obsessively watching films. As a boy, I’d happily burn through a load of VHS tapes on repeat, and a trip to the cinema was special.” But it was more than just watching movies for the Merlin lead. “My family introduced me to a wide variety of genres & classics at a young age, which sparked my imagination… I consider it my ‘unofficial training.’”

Hope and determination were important elements in Tom’s career, too. “Acting was considered a pipe dream where I grew up,” he explained, “and with no industry connections, it wasn’t until my 20’s that I considered taking the leap. Independently, I began leading short films and on stage in small indie theatre, whilst trying to get my foot in the door for years… a lot of ‘trial & error,’ taking risks and relying on my instincts.”

Becoming Merlin

For Tom, the role of Merlin was a big leap, since he was a relative unknown. “I applied independently to the series without an agent via a self-tape,” he told me.

And the suspense went on. “After a few weeks of sending off endless Merlin tapes, production flew me to Budapest last-minute for a final audition in person. I had a pleasant dinner afterwards with the producers and directors, but they didn’t give me any answer when I was there, so I assumed the worst, expecting a NO after I flew back. However, when I returned home, I received a call from producer Dallas Sonnier (Bone Tomahawk and Dragged Across Concrete) telling me I got the job and am needed back in Budapest ASAP for what he described will be my ‘Most challenging five months EVER!’… and he wasn’t wrong.”

Naturally, the actor was thrilled to land not just his first lead role, but the lead on an ambitious, well-produced project. “Landing a production of this size for the first time, let alone the lead, was wild,” he told me. “When I applied online to the opening casting call, I didn’t know the scale of it and the script was kept under wraps, obviously. Once I knew it was Merlin, and it dawned on me what this was, I dove in. An opportunity of this size for a lot of actors I know is RARE, and my mantra has always been when something like this finally comes along, that I’d go all out and not leave saying ‘if only.’”

Since movies were such a family affair, there was plenty of joy to go around for the budding actor. “My parents’ reaction to when I landed the role was the best and meant the world. I gave a thumbs up to my Mum & Dad, who both broke down with joy – my favorite memory!”

Tom Sharp’s Approach To Playing Merlin

Once he got on set, he had to get to know the character. What did he think of the venerable magician in his younger years? “I really like how young Merlin grows from a naive, rebellious, and curious lad to a more wild and deeply rooted figure after living with the hill folk,” he said of Merlin’s history. “They taught him to ‘see and heal,’ appreciate the world around him, and [that] ‘the rhythm of life flows through him.’”

He continued, “Merlin’s a deeply flawed character, but has so many admirable qualities. For instance, he could easily rule as High King himself unopposed in a tyrannical position with his power and immortality, yet he doesn’t want it and fears losing control and hurting the ones he cares for. Constantly doubting his destiny, he humbly says ‘perhaps they saw through me to another,’ obviously foreshadowing Arthurian Legend. I really admire him.”

The young Merlin wasn’t all wisdom and counsel. He had a lot of extremes, from stoic to furious to deeply in love to deeply grieving. What was it like for Tom to be playing all of those emotions? “Episode 6, ‘Gaineda’ was my most important episode and has a special place in my heart,” he said of the emotional story of Merlin’s romance with his bride.

“It’s the full hero’s journey, Merlin’s core story, as he goes through every event and emotion. It’s beautifully tragic. When reading the script, I knew this was the ‘tent pole’ of the series, it was vital I land this episode else the character and show would fall apart. Playing opposite Brett Cooper (Gaineda), Steve Varnom (Custennin), and Lynn Hunter (Gern-Y-Fhain) was an absolute joy, which made the job a lot easier. I kept an eye peeled in the film schedule every time a scene from 6 would pop up. It was very challenging, very rewarding, and I was very relieved how it all turned out.”

The Mystery Of Merlin’s Yellow Eyes

I often wondered about Merlin’s distinctive yellow eyes. In some scenes, they were very prominent, and in others, they were very natural. I asked Tom about the use of colored contact lenses, and found out there were none.

“I didn’t wear contact lenses,” he revealed. “They changed the color of my eyes to gold digitally, which I’m very thankful for. You connect to actors on screen through their eyes. The problem with colored contact lenses is the pupil is fixed and won’t dilate when emotional or in different lighting, which is very disconnecting to the audience. We tested it before filming and it looked very wrong. Digitally changing the eye color only was the best decision the producers made, allowing my eyes to dilate naturally and connect with the audience.”

Conveying The Burden Of Immortality

Every good actor puts something of themselves into their part, and Tom Sharp is no exception. I asked him about his own contribution to the character, and he told me, “I’d constantly look for clues in the script and ask questions. For example, in Episode 3, ‘A Fatherless Child,’ Merlin narrates, ‘They say Merlin is Mad’ and ‘the future and past are known to him.’ I didn’t want to simply play him crazy, I wanted to know ‘how mad?’  After all the events and tragedies he has lived through – being abducted as a child, the murder of his loved ones, killing 500 men, his constant visions and how he stares into the fire zoned out like a soldier returning from war… to me his ‘madness’ is PTSD. That was the biggest puzzle piece and gave me a foundation to build upon and make this mysterious figure relatable to the audience.”

Tom explains, “Plus, he’s burdened with immortality, an incredible loneliness as he will outlive everyone, including loved ones, so he keeps everyone at a safe distance. I let the filmmakers deal with the magical elements whilst I focused purely on his humanity. He’s not ‘happy go lucky,’ he’s stoic, but when you threaten the ones he cares for, he snaps, and when he’s around loved ones, he softens. Again, for his voice, his immortality and power come into play, he has all the time in the world so his voice glides, he doesn’t need to bark.”

Living Out Every Boy’s Sword And Sorcery Dream

Some of acting is hard work, and some of it is really fun. With all the conditions the actors had to endure, contrasted with getting to do cool stuff like sword fighting and simulate medieval battles, I asked about what he enjoyed and what was hard to do.

“I grew up watching epics like Braveheart, Gladiator, Last of the Mohicans, Lord of the Rings, and to get to play this genre is every boy’s dream,” he explains. “Charging into battle or running with a wolf or giving a speech to an army with exploding sets and practical effects, whilst on location was a blast.”

Not everything was paradise, he admitted. “Filming was either brutally hot or bitterly cold, yet it was all worth it.” Fans of Rise of the Merlin appreciate both his endurance for these conditions and the powerful optimism that drove him through.

With this in mind, I asked him what scenes he enjoyed from the show, both on set and off. “There were many scenes I loved, especially the second half of Episode 6; however, the very final scene of Episode 7, ‘The Last True Bard,’ is easily my favorite. Without spoiling anyone who hasn’t watched it yet, it was a very surreal out-of-body moment for me because it’s so iconic. We shot that in the middle of the night in freezing, snowy conditions, but I was so euphoric afterward. When it happened, all I could think of was my journey here and my family, which was very rewarding watching it back with them. I’ll never forget it. Whatever the future may hold, I can look back and say, ‘I did that!’”

As the main character of the show, Merlin got to be in every setting the series offered, from the otherworldly Ynis Avallach to the mysterious hills of the Fain Hawk, the spectacular Goddeu set, and the epic final battle. I wondered where he liked filming best. “Budapest is gorgeous and I encourage everyone to visit,” he suggested. “But I have to say the many locations in Italy were breathtaking. One of my favorite shots is riding through Gran Sasso, Italy with Alex Laurence Philips, where Pelleas looks back and sees Merlin riding alone talking to himself just as the sunlight rolls in. That, paired with Kyle McCuiston’s stunning soundtrack, is beautiful.”

The looming mountain vista and lonely green plains provided an ethereal setting for Merlin to be talking to a ghost that Pelleas couldn’t see.

The Brotherhood Of Merlin

Cast and crew who post on social media have spoken proudly of the camaraderie on set and even after production was over. I asked Tom about the “Brotherhood of Merlin” and if he made any new bonds on the set.

“Absolutely,” he confirmed, adding, “We pretty much all stay in contact on a daily basis. It was an incredibly challenging shoot, and we were all in the thick of it together. The cast had a rigorous boot camp before filming, involving horse riding and fight training in the intense Hungarian sun. It was tough, but we all bonded and supported each other from Day One.”

Tom Sharp’s Bright And Shining Future

Now that filming is over, I asked Tom what was next. “It’s very early days, but I’m open to anything,” he told me. But he’s in it for love of the game: “Whether it be Merlin again or something completely fresh, whether it’s another big production or an indie arthouse production, I’m good.”

While I was getting this interview together, I decided to finally replace my lost copies of the Stephen Lawhead novels The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of the Merlin. The second novel is called Merlin, and familiar golden eyes gazed back at me from its cover. I asked Tom how it felt to be the new face of the book as well as the show, and this was big news.

“I didn’t know about the books; they were purely a surprise,” he confessed. “Having my face on a book cover was never on my bucket list, but it is certainly welcome and an honor. It’s a great addition on the family shelf.”

Malcolm in the Middle fans have watched the beloved cast change on and off screen for years ahead of the show’s revival

The sitcom, which ran from 2000 to 2006, followed a dysfunctional working-class family. It starred Frankie Muniz in the lead role as child prodigy Malcolm. In addition to Muniz, Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Christopher Masterson and Justin Berfield will Malcolm in the Middle usweekly. In addition to the main cast, Kiana Madeira, Anthony Timpano, Vaughan Murrae and Keeley Karsten have been cast in key roles as well.

“25 years since we premiered Malcolm in the Middle. I’m so excited… that I may have peed just a little bit,” Cranston and Kaczmarek said in a December 2024 announcement post. “What a delight that I get to yell at that kid again! We’re very, very excited about coming back together and seeing what this family has been up to.”

The revival was written by Linwood Boomer, who created the original series. It will chronicle Malcolm (Muniz) and his daughter as they are “drawn into the family’s chaos when Hal (Cranston) and Lois (Kaczmarek) demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party,” according to a press release.

Before the series premiere in April 2026, Muniz recalled past efforts to bring the show back.

“I think I had put a tweet out in 2015, [saying], ‘It would be so cool to see where Malcolm and his family are.’ I couldn’t believe the response and how [many people] went crazy for that,” Muniz exclusively told Us Weekly in September 2025. “I called Linwood Boomer, and he was like, ‘No, I like how it ended.’ Bryan and I talked about it, and he took the lead in making it happen. It took 10 years.”

Muniz had no hesitation about signing onto the project.

Thank You!

You have successfully subscribed.

Advertisement

“People go, ‘You don’t want to get pigeonholed [as] one character.’ But I’m like, ‘Wherever I go in the world, people know Malcolm, and they love the show and that family,’” he added. “I was in Mexico two months ago, and literally, people were crying to me [over] how it changed their family dynamic. The timing wasn’t perfect because I’m now a full-time NASCAR driver, but I wasn’t going to say no because of that.”

Muniz continued: “Having stepped away from Hollywood a bit to focus on other things and get the opportunity to jump back into it in a big way was awesome. At times, you take things for granted … now I try to put more effort into everything.”

Keep scrolling to see the show’s cast then and now:

Chris Brown and Usher have fans offering up their wallets without hesitation after their surprise announcement on Friday (April 10). The entertainment icons are going on tour together! Yup, you read that right! After years of fan requests, the singers are coming together for an R&B show like no other. As expected, social media users are losing their minds with reactions!

RELATED: Another One? Chris Brown Has Fans Thinking A Tour Might Be Coming

Breezy Announces New Album 

Back in March, Chris Brown had fans digging for clues about his next music move after sharing a cryptic post. “ALL IMA SAY IS MAY,” he wrote on Instagram Stories. From a new album to another Breezy tour, the speculations were all over the board! At that point, fans were still chattin’ about the energy he put into ‘Breezy Bowl XX,’ which honored his 20 years in the music industry.

On Thursday (April 9), Breezy revealed that he’s dropping his next album on May 8th. For now, he blessed fans with what seems like the album’s first single, ‘Obvious.’

Chris Brown & Usher Surprise Fans With Tour

Now, it seems we finally know what MAY meant! A new album AND a legendary tour. Breezy first teased on Thursday via IG Stories that he “had something to tell” on Friday. Then, amid dropping the R&B tour news, he posted on the same platform, writing, “Y’all not ready,” with fire emojis. The announcement, a video, was posted on his and Usher’s Instagram feeds early Friday morning. It shows two masked men hopping on motorcycles and speeding to link up as they pass by fans receiving alerts on their phones. It ends with the two men, revealed to be Chris Brown and Usher, stepping into an elevator. Usher says, “It’s time, and Chris Brown responds, “Hell yeah.” Then, the doors open to a stage with a cheering crowd in front.

Social Media Sounds Off With Reactions To Tour

In our lil’ corner of the internet alone, the roommates filled up TSR’s Instagram comment section with the quickness! After just an hour, 15,000 comments piled in. From talks about securing their tickets to what bills they’re putting off to do so, keep reading to see how folks are receiving the tour announcement. And on X and Threads? Same energy!

@simplyt_errica commented, “In my best K-Ci voice 🎶🗣📢 TAKE MY MONEY…. I’ll see ya’ll there!!! 😫😒😂”

@bighomieblocks commented, “GETTING MY TICKETS NOWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWW.”

@iamgeorgiareign said, “Just put my birkins, my car and my sister up for sale😭😭😩😩 idgaf.”

“My landlord is just going to have to understand,” @rnb.radar added.

“I got a kidney available for anyone who may need it😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 lord help meeeeee,” @breezygotjuice wrote.

“Just paid my credits cards off and I said I wasn’t going to touch them again. Nevermind I take that back 😂,” @viva_glam_kay said.

“Idc what I gotta spend I’m going if I gotta sit in the sky!!😢,” @__muvax3 commented.

“BAYBEEEEEE!!! This is going to be amazing & worth every dime!!🔥🔥🔥,” @angee128 predicted.

“Show sold out before the tickets even go on sale,” @markethpryor said.

@officiial_kemaa commented, “Now I have to dip my chip in my savings again… lorda mercy.” 

@braidsbydessi added, “Dear Klarna and Afterpay…” 

“I’m gonna have to donate blood for these tickets, but I WILL be there 😂😂😂😂😂,” @_.theoriginalvictoria._ wrote.

It doesn’t matter if it up being more than the sum of its parts when the parts are this good.

By Joshua Tyler
| Published 14 seconds ago

Defining just exactly what Cloud Atlas is, is nearly as hard as explaining why it works as well as it does. I can tell you that the movie tells six separate short stories by mixing them together and attempting to draw connections to them.

Two of those stories are hard science fiction. One involves a future where genetically engineered women are used as slaves. The other involves an even farther-off future where civilization has fallen, and the last remnants of humanity seek to escape.

As directed by The Wachowskis, the directing duo behind The Matrix trilogy, the connections between all six stories work spectacularly, though the threads between them, beyond an inexplicably recurring birthmark and the recurrence of the same actors playing characters of different ages and sexes, are fairly thin. This shouldn’t work, but it does.

It works because each of these short stories is so engaging that the world going on outside fades away in whatever moment you happen to be in. It works in a broader sense, too, because Cloud Atlas has grander ambitions than simple storytelling. There are big ideas here, ideas too big to be told with only one tale. Unfortunately, not all of these big ideas always ring true.

The idea that does is the one that most clearly links all six stories together. The thing all six have in common is the idea of people working together to defy conventions.

Whether it’s a white man (Jim Sturgess) helping an escaped slave (David Gyasi) in the past, a group of elderly nursing home patients hatching a plot to escape an evil nurse (Hugo Weaving), or a villager (Tom Hanks) in a far off future defying the devil (Hugo Weaving) to help a visitor (Halle Berry) send an SOS, every story follows rule breakers. Sometimes, doing the right thing means breaking with tradition.

If that were the only big idea in Cloud Atlas, then maybe I wouldn’t have walked away feeling a little muddled. But it tries to cram so many big ideas into its stories that those tend to muddy the tenuous connections the film forms on its own.

I’m not sure it matters, though, that the movie never coalesces into the soundly constructed, ideological whole I wanted it to be. The truth is, I’m not even sure if that’s what Cloud Atlas directors Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, and Tom Tykwer are going for.

If you’ve read any other reviews of the film, you’ll find that no one really seems to understand what Cloud Atlas is. If you watch it, you probably won’t either.

What I can tell you is that there’s not a boring moment in it, anywhere. Spend time with Cloud Atlas, and you’ll be entranced, excited, and utterly engaged by one of the most ambitious movies of its time. It doesn’t matter if Cloud Atlas ends up being more than the sum of its parts when the parts are this good.

Released in 2012, Cloud Atlas was the last good movie the Wachowski siblings made together. They made one more attempt at collaborating, but the result was the disastrous 2015 sci-fi movie Jupiter Ascending. Now, they work separately, and their days of collaboration seem to be over.