Review: Atonement
I wanted to see this movie as soon as it came out, mostly because I loved James McAvoy in The Last King of Scotland and wanted to see him in another movie. But also, because the previews looked really good. I ended up not going to see it in the theaters but rented it when it came out on DVD… I am so glad I did not waste $10 as originally planned.
Plot synopsis from All Movie Guide:
The year is 1935, and as the summer heat takes hold, 13-year-old fledgling writer Briony Tallis watches her older sister, Cecilia (Keira Knightley), get undressed and go frolicking in the garden fountain on her family’s country estate. The housekeeper’s son, Robbie (James McAvoy), a childhood friend and recent Cambridge graduate, also witnesses the innocent act. When Robbie and Cecilia subsequently cross a particularly sensitive boundary and the scheming Briony accuses Robbie of an unspeakable transgression for which the boy is wholly innocent, the repercussions of her unfounded claim threaten to affect all three for decades to come.
My first mistake with this movie was not reading the plot outline and just going by what the previews led me to believe. From the preview I figured it would be kind of an epic war time romance type movie… I was very wrong (in my defense that’s what they were marketing it as, I was just stupid enough to believe it).
The movie was not a love story. Yes, there was a subplot of romance I suppose, but overall it was not the main plot of the movie. It was more about what the 13-year-old girl did and the consequences of her actions. Which would have been OK I guess, but the movie was just so twisted, it kept jumping all around with no notice and the style just didn’t fit the story. I don’t really know how to explain it but it didn’t work.
On top of all this, the movie was really really boring. It was only 2 hours long and it easily felt like it was at least 45 minutes longer than it was.
I did not care about any of the characters, I didn’t care what was happening or what was going to happen. It just wasn’t entertaining. The movie was well made and all, but I’m looking for entertainment in a movie; I don’t care about all the technical crap.
This is the second movie I’ve seen that was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture that did not deserve it at all. (The first one being Michael Clayton which was also not entertaining)
And yet again I am disgusted that American Gangster was completely over looked.
My Rating:
Didn’t Like it
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March 25th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Atonement looked and felt a lot like Pride and Prejudice, impeccable setting, acting and dialogue. A bit depressing toward the end, but over all very well done.
March 25th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I agree that it was a well done movie. Very well made.
What I was missing was the entertainment value. I just didn’t enjoy it.
I liked Pride and Prejudice much better.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
I got alot of forewarning before seeing this movie that it was not a happy movie and does not end happily.
When I finally saw it, I was expecting some serious sadness, so I was prepared for where the story goes.
I find the character of Briony to be very interesting and more the storyline than the romance between seperated lovers. No matter what Briony did in life she was buried in guilt for a mistake as a child. The actresses that played her as a child and older lady did amazing jobs. And the makeup-wardrobe team did a great job too of easily connecting the three actresses playing Briony.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I agree that the actors did a great job and it was a well made movie.
But personally I was not interested in any of the characters or really the storyline at any point.
It was not an engaging movie which is why, personally, I didn’t enjoy it.
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