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Review #582 of 365
Movie Review of Atonement (2007) [R] 130 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $13.50
Where Viewed: Landmark Esquire Theatre, Denver, CO
When Seen: 12 December 2007
Time: 4:15 pm
DVD Release Date: 18 March 2008 (click date to purchase or pre-order)
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer
Soundtrack: Download now from 
- or - order the CD below
Directed by: Joe Wright (Pride and Prejudice)
Written by: Christopher Hampton (Imagining Argentina) based on the novel by Ian McEwan
Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Saoirse Ronan ("Proof") • Ailidh Mackay (debut) • Brenda Blethyn (Introducing the Dwights) • Julia West ("Holby City") • James McAvoy (Becoming Jane) • Romola Garai (Amazing Grace) • Harriet Walter (Babel) • Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End) • Vanessa Redgrave (Evening)
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
Click to see photos from the Premiere of Atonement
Click to read the spoiler points for Atonement
When the war rages, however, Robbie is given the option of joining up in the military to defend the crown or rot in prison. Obviously, he chooses to be 'free' and fights nobly on behalf of his nation, his command of French coming in quite usefully. Having lost all hope of ever reuniting with her love, Cecilia becomes a nurse to play her part in contributing to the betterment of her nation through service. The story then charts briefly the courses of the lives of Briony as she ages and realizes the extent of the damage she has done, Robbie as he fights the war, and Cecilia as she copes with her loses.
The story seems to take dreadfully forever to start to get somewhere, somewhere we've not almost seen and better in now numerous adaptations of Jane Austen's novels. With nearly a half of the film's ample running time being consumed by the events leading up to Robbie's expulsion, and a terribly long portion of that devoted to the non-existent performance of Briony's first play, one might find oneself shifting about a bit, accepting the primal urge for a bathroom break, or even a popcorn refill—who knew it was possible to eat the entire bucket plus a refill? And while that may seem impertinent given the immense on-screen talents and elegant writing and filming of this movie, the fact of the matter is that, and forgive this, it takes an inordinately long time to get to the twist and what makes the story sort of worth the wait—which occurs in the last seven minutes of the film. And be forewarned, the twist is metaphysically uplifting, perhaps, while simultaneously a huge downer, definitely.
As for the performances, they are good, but not great. James McAvoy has it in him, but this is twice he's nearly played the same character in two films in the same year, and he's better in the former as Tom Lefroy in Becoming Jane. Keira Knightley's rendition of Cecilia fails to bring about the electricity of this relationship that serves as the justification for the film. She's no Juliet, in other words, when it comes to really loving this Romeo. As these big stars, it turns out, are playing characters that are the reason for the story, but not really the story. The story is really about Briony Tallis. The story is really about how a young, slightly jealous, brilliant girl uses her powers of persuasion to ruin the lives of her sister and sister's supposed soul mate who then grows up living under this tremendous sense of guilt such that she cannot even begin the process of atonement until she's nearly dead. And, it is the three actresses: Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, and eventually Vanessa Redgrave who play her through the course of her life who make this film--each one dazzling with blond locks and longish feet into which the character never seems to grow even in old age. She is the central character, and it is comprehending her and what she goes through that brings the most satisfaction from this supposed story of timeless love in a era of war. Unfortunately, by casting such luminous actors in the lesser roles, and focusing too much on their story, the story that really matters gets somewhat lost and not re-found until the final shocking revelations in the end—at least a few Kleenexs® are recommended, to use somberly as you watch the credits and reflect upon what you've just witnessed.
Therefore, while certainly a very, very good film, Atonement, is perhaps not quite as good as it might have been had anyone involved stopped and realized what the point of the story is and that they had actually three brilliant actresses cast perfectly to play Briony to her fullest rather than allowing the film to wallow too much in the romance of Robbie and Cecilia that fate seemed destined to prevent from the start.
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
Other Projects Featuring Atonement (2007)
Cast Members
Saoirse Ronan
• Ailidh Mackay • Brenda BlethynJulia West
• James McAvoy • Harriet WalterKeira Knightley
Director
Joe Wright
Writer
Christopher Hampton
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