Atonement Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
You can only imagine the truth.
Joined by love. Separated by fear. Redeemed by hope.
In the summer of 1935, 13-year-old Briony Tallis observes a flirtation between a servant's son, Robbie, and her older sister, Cecilia, that she childishly misconstrues. Briony's misunderstanding leads to a terrible crime whose consequences follow them through World War II.
| Saoirse Ronan | Briony Tallis, aged 13 |
| Brenda Blethyn | Grace Turner |
| Julia West | Betty |
| James McAvoy | Robbie Turner |
| Harriet Walter | Emily Tallis |
| Keira Knightley | Cecilia Tallis |
| Juno Temple | Lola Quincey |
| Felix von Simson | Pierrot Quincey |
| Charlie von Simson | Jackson Quincey |
| Alfie Allen | Danny Hardman |
| Patrick Kennedy | Leon Tallis |
| Benedict Cumberbatch | Paul Marshall |
| Peter Wight | Police Inspector |
| Peter O'Connor | Police Sergeant |
| Daniel Mays | Tommy Nettle |
| Joe Wright |
8.20 out of 10 (4525 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Not a chick flick in the least.
posted on 30 Aug 2009When I first heard about this movie I was kind of in between if I really wanted to watch it or not, and boy am I glad I did. Although I am usually open to watch any movie and give it a fighting chance. Especially a movie that is up for a picture of the year award, then it is almost always a given that I'll watch it. Atonement is honestly up there as my picture of the year (either this or Gone Baby Gone which was poorly misrepresented in the whole award ceremony).Atonement provides the viewer a completely engaging experience, on multiple different levels. First it sweeps you up with an engaging romance that was completely misinterpreted and misunderstood. Then gives the viewer a look on both sides of the fence. Seeing the young man go off to war away from his love and how they both coped with being apart from one another. And more importantly the grown up little girl who separated the two young lovers and how she was dealing with the mistake that she had made. I like the presentation, I like the actors, and I just flat out like this movie. Most movies I watch (I do work at a Blockbuster) just seem to drag and I'm always watching the clock to when it will be over (Michael Clayton, No Country For Old Men, We Own the Night, and I could keep going) instead of watching the movie itself. But Atonement was a complete experience that I never lost interest in and was actually disappointed that it ended. It is a sad ending, I will warn the casual viewer, but don't let that draw you away, it's well worth it in the end.So guys if you like good movies, watch this one with your girl. You won't be disappointed and you might actually like it.
All dressed up with nowhere to go
posted on 30 Aug 2009I saw this during its opening weekend in the theaters but never got around to commenting on it until now. This is a film about a girl who fabricates a lie that sends a guy to prison and tears apart a budding love and to atone for her actions she decides to wear the same hairstyle for the remaining 70 years of her life. Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) is a spoiled 13 year old rich brat who wants to be an author. Her older sister Cecilla (Keira Knightley) and the housekeepers son Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) have a thing for each other in a sexual tension kind of way but Briony likes Robbie too but Robbie scolds Briony down at the swimming hole and gets on her wrong side. spying on Robbie and Cecilla she misinterprets something between them and grows to like Robbie even less. Robbie writes Cecilla a dirty love letter and they finally consummate their passion in a quickly in the library. This is the only romance in the movie and your supposed to believe that it sets the stage for years of undying love between Robbie and Cecilla as they are separated forever by prison and war. A family friend Paul Marshall (Benedict Cumberbatch) who owns a chocolate factory visits the Taliis' and ends up molesting their cousin Lola Quincey (Juno Temple) and he comes to the diner table with scratches visible but nobody puts two and two together. Lola's twin brothers run away one night and a search party is formed to search the estate grounds for them. Paul takes the opportunity of the secluded darkness to force himself on Lola. Briony says she saw the rapist and it was Robbie. Robbie is the only one who couldn't have done it as he is far away from the scene having found the lost boys and is bringing them back but everybody believes Briony and Robbie gets sent to prison only to be let out if he agrees to fight in the front lines of world War II. And on and on this ridiculous story goes in the screen adaptation of the Ian McEwan novel by Hampton. Ramola Garai plays Briony at age 18 and Vanessa Redgrave plays Briony at 80. Wonderful cinematography by Seaus McGarvey and production design by Sarah Greenwood with art direction from Ian Baile but its like a decorated wedding cake. Pretty to look at but not much dietary value except for the Dunkirk scene. I would give this a 5.5 out of 10.
Life altering movie
posted on 18 Aug 2009I saw Atonement in Seattle yesterday to a packed house. I felt, for two hours I literally could not move. I had been looking forward to the release after reluctantly falling complete in love with Joe Wright's previous movie Pride & Prejudice. He has proved to be an upcoming visionary director who pulls you into stories on a whole other level. But James McAvoy, amazing. His face on screen pulled my heart out and crushed it to the floor of the theater. I felt I needed air when the lights came up, and for a movie buff that is a good feeling. Atonement has the tragic feel of the English Patient with much more likable characters. I can't say enough. Incredible. I hope Oscar sends many well deserved nods its way this year.
Absolutely Stunning
posted on 18 Aug 2009I have been waiting to see this movie for a very long time and today I finally got to see it. I had been trying not to get too excited in case it didn't live up to my expectations, but I needn't have worried. The movie absolutely blew me away.First off, it was filmed beautifully. Joe Wright really has a talent for using the natural surroundings to his advantage, I also loved that in Pride and Prejudice. The now-famous Dunkirk scene was just stunning. I was really excited to see that after all I had heard and it was just amazing. Wright really captured the anti-glory of the war when WWI is often characterized by the initial euphoria of all parties involved that war had come, then the steep disillusionment that followed. I was so glad that he did the shot as one long continuous take, it was excellent.Now, the performances. Starting with the most attention-getting, Keira Knightley did a fabulous job as Cecilia. I've read the novel and I felt that she really embodied the character. Saoirse Ronan was the most perfect young Briony. She's gotten a lot of attention as well and she fully deserves it, she was fantastic as the self-centered, ignorant, spoiled little rich girl. I felt, however, that the movie truly belonged to James McAvoy. He was so heartrending and incredible as Robbie. True, he and Keira Knightley didn't have a ton of crackling chemistry, but his earnestness and her eagerness make you really believe and feel for them.The writers did a great job adapting Ian McEwan's sprawling novel, and they did an excellent job showing the introspectiveness that the novel conveys. Of course it's hard to get so deeply inside of each character's head the way the novel does, but the movie does an excellent job without feeling rushed or choppy. As with Pride and Prejudice, they clipped the unnecessary but kept the heart of the story.All in all, it was an excellent, amazing movie, my definite favorite of the year and very worth seeing.
Complete WASTE OF TIME
posted on 16 Aug 2009This movie was an incredible waste of time, money, and gas. I went in expecting a beautiful, profound movie and left angry and disappointed. The film began with great potential but after about 45 minutes it plummets into an unbelievable, superficial and contrived story. How could Briony think that writing a happy ending for Cecilia and Robbie is any kind of Atonement? I would have liked the film better if Briony finally killed herself. It was so much like Titanic, technically amazing with an awfully cliché story.I'm shocked and annoyed that it was nominated for anything and that it won a Golden Globe. If it wins the Oscar, I will never trust the Academy again.
Commendable movie.
posted on 14 Aug 2009I don't believe it. Indeed, I'm amazed. This movie is actually good. A Hollywood romance movie that is actually watchable. Amazing. Shocking. Refreshing. I was expecting the usual Hollywood potboiler garbage - inane love story, major historical events being reduced to mere cinematic footnotes, laughable acting, ludicrous miscasting, etc. In other words, I was expecting a piece of junk, but thankfully my expectations were not met. This is a powerful movie with a compelling story and excellent acting. If I can't bring myself to rag this movie, then this movie has to be good. As a movie buff who has critiqued scores of movies, I've watched some major cinematic clunkers, stuff that doesn't even merit a DVD, cinematic flotsam that are a joke. This movie however is a work of art and warrants whatever commendations it gets from the public.
Stunning mosaic
posted on 12 Aug 2009Atonement is a distinctly British film based on a distinctly British novel.This film is art. In future moments when I bemoan the death of creative film making I will recall this beautiful cinematic masterpiece. The wonderfully crafted images blend perfectly with emotionally tuned performances. This film plays like a symphony with every note and chord in flawless harmony. There were no actors or dialog, no set designs or art direction, because each frame flowed as if occurring before my eyes. There is no need to praise this film or laud actors for their efforts, a single viewing reveals all. I can only hope more films of this caliber will be forthcoming. A visual feast. A triumph at all levels. Please see this film.
An adaptation at its finest.
posted on 10 Aug 2009Beautifully told with a perfect cast 'Atonement' manages to sustain its emotional core. It stumbles slightly when it shifts from its engrossing and striking first act to its ponderous second act but its heart beats unabated.Saoirse Ronan is mesmerising as Briony Tallis and is the driving force in the first act, much as James McAvoy in the second.The score is cleverly construed with the 'clunk' of keys a lingering frustration at first, but as the picture progresses it is a smooth and perfectly constructed piece of music.'Atonement' has is moments of conscious exuberance in particular the beach scene. One of the most well executed pieces of cinematography, which I consider to be one of the best takes I have ever seen. It does not progress or have much impact on the story, it is essentially a piece of art - but it is nonetheless gripping.A strong piece of cinema 'Atonement' is lavish but controlled and prolongs thoughts and feelings that only a well-managed and intelligent piece of film making could achieve.
Essential Movie Viewing
posted on 08 Aug 2009I saw Attonement sitting at the very front of the cinema, in the row where even when you slouch you cannot see the whole of the screen. This horrible disadvantage when seeing a movie did not lessen or do anything to impede my enjoyment of Attonement, this testifies just how good this film really is.Attonement is set in the early 1900s and begins in an idyllic English house with a handful of characters. We first meet Briany (Saoirse Ronan)a young imaginative girl who then proceeds to lead us too the other characters in a series of quick scenes. She greets Robbie the (James Mcavoy) very briefly before we also get the first meeting with the other main character Cecilia (Keira Knightly).Through a series of misconceptions and assumptions on Brianys behalf, she convinces herself that Robbie is a sex maniac and not too be trusted. As of such when an assault takes place near the house, she tells the police that Robbie is the culprit, she testifies against him, and he is sent too prison (chossing later to go too war instead) It's good to finally see a movie that does not treat the audience as six year old, instead it leaves the audience too notice the small, subtle details that are pivotal too the plot. By making this assumption, it makes the viewing experience more enjoyable as you begin too have to pick up and Analise peoples reactions, eyes and overall their characters to figure who is too be trusted and who is hiding under a phisade. I also enjoyed this movie because of it's ability too make the whole thing seem so realistic. A mid way tracking shot of Dunkirk Beach is particularly effective in making it all seem so very real and haunting. The performances are top quality, James Mcavoy in particular juggles a complex role and breaks out with some truly mesmerizing acting moments. Attonement is ultimately a story of love, and really does not stray from this main plot. It's about a couple deeply in love, whom are separated, then against all odds they must get back too each other, very sentimental I know, but still it never seemed that way. The way it was filmed, written and acted did not let it become sentimental either, almost like a Shakespearian tragedy. The Writing in Attonement is of absolute quality, it is convincing, believable and the end monologue left me stunned. This is a deep movie, that is deserving all off the credit it gets.
Very slow chick flick became a bit more watchable as it went on
posted on 08 Aug 2009After the first 30 minutes of total despair watching this slow, muddled and garbled chick flick, I was ready to leave and wondered why it was reviewed so well. What did I miss? But, I stayed due to my wife's effective insistence, but even at the end it still was just a watchable film overall, certainly not great and surely mainly interesting to female viewers wanting/needing a love story. The skin-over-bones, skeletally-thin lead actress, Kiera Knightly, was a aggravating melodramatic mess(channeling a young Katherine Hepburn?)with all her exaggerated gestures, and with her very unattractive figure and underbite she was totally unappealing to me as a romantic lead. But, hey, the critics sure liked this movie, both "male" and female, as they watched and whooped it up while drinking their pink ladies and bloody mary's in their hot pink feather boas and tights, I'll bet.Of course, Brit females and girly men everywhere surely loved it, but I'll bet that most men of any nationality surely did not, and if any non-Brit male or female understood even half of what was said I'll give them money. That it had garbled dialogue would be a big complement for the lousy sound. This is good film-making? Not to me. And, with its irritating soft and out-of-focus cinematography, the only visual things I liked were the '30's period sets and costuming, and the lush English countryside. That's it.I'm as bored writing about this film as I was watching it. It is not worth any more of my words. Instead, see Before the Devil Knows You're Dead and No Country For Old Men for two films actually worth seeing.
Beautifully made and performed but .....
posted on 06 Aug 2009This is a film that has had so much care lavished upon it in the making. The film has a stunning and authentic look, the performances are all very good and it is intelligently written. But it still does not work well for me. I'm not especially a fan of Ian McEwan and perhaps that is the problem. The film does not seem to me to establish the love affair between the two main characters to be as significant as it needs to be for the remainder of the film - I think that is a problem inherent in the book also (I've not read it, implied from the script though). I don't really care about any of these characters either, bourgeois Brits down on their luck, so tough. The mistake made by the young girl in lying and thus destroying her life as well as the lives of the lovers and disrupting their family relations is an interesting element. Most interesting is perhaps her continued arrogance depicted in her later years, when she is soon to die, for she continues to find truth a difficult concept to master. It is a thoughtful movie and beautiful to watch but for me something's missing.
Atonement -- Brilliant Work,Loved The movie
posted on 06 Aug 2009Well the movie was looking very promising from the day one of promos and because of that the expectations were high and the movie satisfy what you can ask for from a movie.What i really like about the movie was when the movie starts, it shows the same incidents with two different perspective which obviously makes you feel that its in the eye of the looker how he/she feels about the situation. Perception can be different for the same situation.I have heard that this movie is based on some British Romantic novel by Ian McEawn. Personally i feel making a novel come into life on the screen is a tough job especially when the novel is itself as successful as this one thats why i would like to compliment their work.As in case of acting, Keira Knightley and James McAvoy are also brilliant.No words to define their performances. They should be nominated for the best prizes in their respective categories.Pleasure for eyes , would strongly recommenced if you wanna watch a real good movie.
Amazing, Astonishing, Alluring......Atonement is an artistic triumph of the highest degree
posted on 04 Aug 2009Briony (Saoirse Ronan), a precocious thirteen year old, and young adult Cecelia (Keira Knightley) are the daughters of a wealthy, landowning family of Britain. An aspiring writer, Briony is highly observant of any and all activity surrounding her small world. One day, she happens upon her sister, not once, but twice, in a romantic encounter with Robbie (James McAvoy). Robbie is the son of a household staff member (Brenda Blethyn) and has worked on the gardens of the estate but he has also been educated by the family's patriarch. He is an intelligent and handsome man, with a good heart. However, Briony also has a crush on Robbie and her jealousy sets off a tragic state of affairs. When two young male cousins of the girls, dropped off at the mansion by divorcing parents, decide to "run away", the entire household searches for them in the dark of night. When Briony, flashlight in hand, stumbles across a man assaulting the young cousins' sister, she decides to tell the police that Robbie is the rapist. It is categorically untrue but, alas, Robbie is sent to jail. Five years later, Robbie is let out of prison to become a soldier for Britian in World War I and Cecelia, too, runs away from her family to work as a military nurse. The couple, still greatly in love, meet briefly but make plans to be together forever, when the war is over. Briony, too, enlists as a nurse and tries to contact her sister to ask for forgiveness and to make amends. But, can anything atone for the ruination of two lives? This is a movie of astonishing, tragic beauty. The principal actors, Knightley, Ronan, Blethyn, McAvoy, Vanessa Redgrave, and others are all superlative, giving it their all as the doomed, complex characters. Equally beautiful are the costumes, the settings, and the cinematography, for it would hard to find a more breathtakingly sumptuous film. Yet, even then, it is the story and the direction that should receive the most applause. This is a tale of woe on an epic scale, very intricate and very unsettling. More importantly, the direction is amazing, with happenings often told twice, from different perspectives, with seamless and subtle integration. The result is a work of art of the highest degree, deserving of infinite praise. In short, do not miss Atonement. It can send any serious film viewer into a rapturous state of mind.
a rave review from someone who DIDN'T like the novel
posted on 02 Aug 2009"Atonement" turns out to be a much better movie than it is a book. But before I explain what I mean by that, a little background on the story may be in order.Ian McEwan's novel - which spans eight decades, from the 1930's to the present day - centers around Briony Tallis, a precocious 13-year-old who lives with her family on a country estate in England. Briony is an imaginative child who revels in a world of fantasy and make-believe, a writer of stories and plays who is actually less equipped to interpret the realities of the adult world than she gives herself credit for. One unusually hot summer day in 1935, Briony witnesses a series of events involving her older sister, Cecilia, and the caretaker's son, Robbie, that her child's mind misinterprets in a way that leads to tragic consequences for all involved. Her choosing to act on what she believes to be true winds up echoing down the corridors of time, through World War II and beyond. As time passes and Briony grows to adulthood, she comes to see the error of her ways and spends the rest of her life trying to find a way to atone for what she has done. The coup de grace is that, due to circumstances beyond her control, Briony is forced to achieve her redemption in the only way she knows how - as a writer.At the risk of offending devotees of the novel, I must confess to being somewhat less than enamored with a book that many seem to rank among their all-time favorites. For despite its sometimes impressive dreamlike quality, the novel is too contrived and self-conscious to make the reader anything more than a mere dispassionate observer of the events it is portraying. As a writer, McEwan has an undeniable flair for narrative voice and description, but it frequently comes at the expense of characterization and story. His plotting is often arbitrary and clumsy, and his dialogue, when indeed he deigns to use any, is almost always stilted and unconvincing (I have to admit to laughing and rolling my eyes when I was reading the crucial letter-swapping scene).Yet, something has gone terribly right with the material in its journey from the printed page to the silver screen (suffice it to say, I didn't roll my eyes this time around). Since film is a largely visual medium, screenwriter Christopher Hampton and director Joe Wright are able to convey through images what it takes McEwan endless reams of paper to get across. Here, an idea can be suggested through a simple shrug of the shoulders, a meaningful turn of the head, a barely noticeable gesture or wave of the hand. And, indeed, the movie is rich in beautiful and unforgettable images that evoke a feeling, a time, a place, sometimes even an entire theme, all on their own. Even though the screenplay remains faithful to the three-act structure of the piece, that structure comes across as less fragmented, less arbitrary and less self-conscious than it does in the novel. Thanks to the seamless fluidity of Seamus McGarvey's stunning cinematography and the unifying tones of Dario Marianelli's brilliant musical score, everything in the film version of "Atonement" feels perfectly integrated and all of a piece.Of the performers, only Keira Knightley is in any way problematic. She looks positively gorgeous as the seductive Cecilia, and there are moments when she achieves the proper mixture of tenderness and haughtiness essential to the character. But she has a tendency to spit out her lines in a much too rapid fashion and her tight-lipped poutiness (a problem, too, in "Pride and Prejudice") eventually becomes annoying and distracting. As Robbie, James McAvoy proves again why he is one of his generation's most exciting screen talents, while young Saoirse Ronan is remarkably poignant and poised as the 13-year-old Briony. Ramola Garai and veteran actress Vanessa Redgrave do nicely as Briony in later stages of her life (although the ending, while moving, is a bit more reminiscent of "Titanic" than it needs to be).Wright is often at his best when turning what could have been mere technical "stunts" into integral pieces of the drama: a beautifully realized, five-and-a-half-minute long tracking shot of the carnage at Dunkirk, the effortless incorporation of a clicking typewriter into the musical score, a row of nurses marching in time to the rhythmic clacking. Through sight and sound, Wright creates a surrealistic, dreamlike tone, perfectly appropriate to the material at hand. What's amazing is that, even with all these stylistic flourishes, Wright never loses sight of the human drama at the story's core. In his direction, he displays an astonishing economy of means, moving the story along at an almost breakneck speed yet never allowing the movie to feel telescoped or rushed. Not only does his pacing not sacrifice the emotional resonance of the piece; it greatly enhances it."Atonement" ends on a lyrical note of melancholic uplift that leaves audiences wrung out and emotionally exhausted, as Briony engages in her final and greatest act of storytelling creativity. Watching the movie "Atonement" is nothing short of a rapturous experience.
The most overrated film of 2007, & oh yeah extremely boring too!
posted on 02 Aug 2009Wow! I cannot understand for the life of me how this received 7 Oscar nominations! I don't know what movie they saw because I did not see the same one that is for sure. This movie was very very flawed in almost every regard. The only redeeming value was the acting was somewhat decent. The plot however was boring, the script jumped all over the place, and I had no emotional attachment to any of the characters. I could have cared less about what happened to anyone in this film. I can usually understand why certain films people like, even if I don't like them. Just as I despised "American Beauty" because it's sick, but at least I can understand why others might like it. This however was extremely slow moving, the so-called love story was practically non-existent, and the over all feel of it was that of complete laziness. Don't bother to watch this unemotional snooze-fest.
Gourmet meals blended all together is not appetizing
posted on 02 Aug 2009The individual scenes are the best of any movie I have scene, but all together, the whole picture is similar to gourmet meals of all sorts blended together. The result is difficult to digest. Very disappointing. The story is a forced series of misunderstandings that seem very amateur and far fetched. I think the TV show "Threes Company" had more realistic misunderstandings. I suppose the blame to the lame story goes to the original author. But if I was to take the story seriously, it is really Roby's carelessness that leads to tragedy. The fault is also partly do to Cecilia's lack of relationship with her younger sister. Communication in general is important but is even more critical within a family.
So Beautiful, So Romantic, And So Darn Cruel
posted on 02 Aug 2009"Atonement" is about human cruelty, so it is not surprising, that the movie is also cruel to the audience. I'm not sure how I would have ended the film but I surely didn't expect the film to slap me in the face at the end. The finale wants to have it both ways -- it wants to be clever and it wants to be romantic -- but it left a sour taste in my mind. It teases you with something that the film is never willing to embrace. Too bad. But it is a good, at times, exhilarating film. The section about the war doesn't work well, though. Maybe because this is not an anti war film, or maybe because this segment concentrates on the main male character, I found this section a bit sluggish -- the women in the film are much more interesting than the male characters. Anyhow, I loved it because I think I'm exactly the kind of audience this movie is made for. I simply love these impossible-love scenarios ("Somewhere in Time," "Remains of the Day," etc.). James McAvoy and Keira Knightley are a handsome couple. But little Saoirse Ronan steals the film as Knightley's ratty sis. And there is a wonderful cameo by a great English actress. I liked it but it is a movie that frustrated me.
A Contemporary twist film that uses romance as its drive before hitting us with the tragedy.
posted on 31 Jul 2009Such a film like Atonement is one that sneaks up on you; it builds and builds seemingly going nowhere or not doing anything to suggest anything fantastic before hitting you with a contemporary twist. It's a film that makes you think; thus already elevating itself above a certain level of quality, there have been films that have used this little tactic in recent years that have spawned both great hate and admiration; films like: The Usual Suspects, Fight Club and even The Village. The films hit you with a series of scenes that although seem disjointed and random, all make sense when the apparent 'twist' makes itself known.After the film had ended; it got me thinking, which is a good sign. 'What does Atonement actually mean?' I thought to myself and that's when the penny dropped. Such audacity to have a major clue in the films title hinting at the possible results that will happen following the events that occur in the film's first plot point. If that sounds complicated then good, because clever films are complicated. Following Atonement's finale, I think two thirds of what I was going to say about the film were rendered either incorrect or useless; such is its nature that it relies on twisty, bendy and fate driven incidences to get across both its story and tragedy. I was sceptical for the best part of this film, noticing a lot of frustrations and rather a few incidences of inconsistency.Firstly, I did not buy how Briony (played by three different actresses) put two and two together regarding the incident at the fountain and how she would perceive it to be anything sexual; secondly, I find it amazing how even in the 1930s it would seem a thirteen year old girl would be able to identify the "worst word of them all." Granted, the third occurrence of a sexual nature that happens in the library Briony observes is the most blatant but I feel if she'd spied them kissing previously or whatever instead of the incident at the fountain that had nothing to do with anything sexual, it would've made for a better build up. To sum up; I fail to see how a thirteen year old girl can honestly 'see' sexual discrimination between two people who are standing at a fountain talking; before one of them has to take their top off so that they can get into the fountain to retrieve something. But these events lead to the bigger picture because when she finds them in the library, things really screw up her psyche.This is where the film's reoccurring theme of luck/chance comes in; if their hadn't been a wasp in the room, Briony wouldn't have gone to the window; if Robbie (McAvoy) hadn't sent the wrong note like he so stupidly does, everything would've been fine; if Robbie and Cecilia (Knightley) had spoken to Briony after she caught them in the library perhaps explaining what was happening and how everything would be alright, Briony wouldn't have felt as bad as she did. Little inconsistencies like this do bug me in films where the logical thing to do is substituted for sake of a story. But the initial incident also has a lot of inconsistencies; such as the fact Briony sees another example of love and/or sexual relations in the form of forced said events; in such quick proximity to one another in a certain time frame. The attacker is also stupid enough to recognise the witness that is Briony and run off without confronting her. I remember feeling that the attacker must not have known Briony otherwise they would've hung around to explain their actions – turned out they did know Briony but ran off anyway – how could they assume she didn't see their face? Following said events, Robbie finds himself in France just before the Nazi invasion and the event that was the Dunkirk evacuation which is brilliantly captured in one, long take. Running parallel with this is Briony's life as a nurse in London, treating the injured. Here, I wondered why we were following Briony and this where the film makes you think it's flailing and flailing but really it's playing you because it's doing everything right. True, Briony would have no idea what's happening to Robbie in France but we are shown it anyway; instead, Cecilia is ignored only until she is visited by Briony – an event that I was tearing my hair out over when questioning the character's sanity and ability to let it all go: Robbie gives her an earful because of her action. But where I thought Atonement was going through the numbers of trying to make its apparent hero make up for past mistakes; suffer an epiphany; yadder, yadder yadder.........but no, it was playing me.It may sound like I am bashing Atonement but it does the business in the end. Getting there is a little messy but the story is very smart with a real feeling of: 'what if said event hadn't happened' and the closing montage of the fates of people is stirring because you don't see it coming; you have been led to believe one thing and then had what you thought turned on its head. There is enough authenticity and beauty to be had in the photography and costume with an air of tragedy and regret flowing throughout as the film switches perspectives in a confusing but rewarding manner.
A fine romantic drama that doubles as an exploration of perception & storytelling
posted on 29 Jul 2009Joe Wright's "Atonement" concerns a fledgling writer who accuses her older sister's lover of a crime that he didn't commit, thus changing their lives irrevocably. Eventually she seeks to atone for her actions and what on the surface seems to be merely romantic melodrama evolves subtly over the course of the film into something wholly unique.The cast is well-assembled with fine performances all around, though perhaps none that are particularly outstanding. Saorise Ronan, as the young Briony Tallis, received an Oscar nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category. She showed herself fully able, at a young age (13), to match the high standard put forth by the rest of the cast.The story is an interesting one, though the chain of events leading up to the accusation stretch the limits of plausibility. These events are easier to accept in the end, though, as certain facts come to light which cast doubts on the entire story. I should note that the script garnered an Oscar nomination.The direction by Joe Wright is excellent, so I am baffled by the fact that he didn't even receive a Best Director Oscar nomination. His debut, "Pride and Prejudice", showed promise and here he delivers on that promise. The art direction, costumes & cinematography all received Oscar nominations so it should be apparent that the film is easy on the eyes. The only Oscar win for the film was for the score, which is quite unique and memorable.I definitely recommend the film though some may find the romantic aspect off-putting. Nevertheless, let it be known that this film is not merely throwaway romantic fluff; there is indeed plenty of substance here for the discerning viewer.
the best movie of 2007
posted on 30 Aug 2009i saw Atonement yesterday.i was stunned till the last minute of the movie.i was hoping for a happy ending,i cried so much in the end.MCAVOY performance is absolutely the best ever ,there's no rival to such an acting it's perfect.i wanted him to get an Oscar for the last king of Scotland because he was the one who made the movie a great one.his emotions are so real i loved every minute of ATONEMENT i saw it 3 times. i learned a good lesson from it.the way we perceive things isn't always enough to make judgments. i was like briony as a little girl i used to write stories i was like her in every way but when i grew up i learned that i perceived things somehow in a wrong way. i didn't expect anyone to write a bad review about this tremendous movie,it's a classic ,it's pure art,the expressions,everything.my favorite scene is when he was dreaming that he wished none of this has happened it's really sad.he was dreaming of becoming a doctor.he is an honest person , a loyal man.i wish with all my heart that the Oscar would go to MCAVOY i want to see more and more of such performances.it's high level when i saw it yesterday i said to my friends the standard this year is so far better than last year.this movie is simply great with no flaws.i think we should recommend movies that touch our hearts not our eyes with blood shots and thriller moves.