On the Big Board |
| Position |
Staff |
In Brief |
| 9/46 |
Les Winan |
Beautifully shot, the film mostly does justice to McEwan's novel. Somehow a tiny bit dull, but that doesn't take away from the ultimate weight. |
| 10/48 |
Kim Hollis |
A lush period piece with fine performances from Knightley and McAvoy. And yes, 'the shot' is every bit as impressive as advertised. |
| 12/94 |
Shane Jenkins |
Surprisingly stylized and alive. Its magnificent from a tech standpoint and the rest isn't too bad either. |
| 68/214 |
Max Braden |
Redgrave's scenes really save this, because the 'crime' is too quick and coincidental, and the war story too meandering. |
Ian McEwan is one of Britain's most acclaimed, popular authors. He has been short-listed for the prestigious Man Booker Prize several times, including his novels Amsterdam (which went on to win), Atonement and On Chesil Beach. Previously, his novel Enduring Love was adapted into movie form and starred Daniel Craig and Samantha Morton, as well as earlier books such as The Cement Garden, The Comfort of Strangers and The Innocent. Atonement was released to the reading public in 2001, and achieved both critical and commercial success. It's only natural that this dark, deceptive story would be turned into a movie, and it's already attracting awards attention in advance of its release.
Directed by Joe Wright, who previously helmed the recent adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, Atonement has already been a minor hit in the UK. It centers around a lie told by a little girl named Briony (Saoirse Ronan). After she sees her sister, Cecilia (Keira Knightley) making love to a long-time friend of the family (James McAvoy), Briony becomes deeply upset. When a cousin of hers claims to have been sexually assaulted later that evening, Briony points her finger at Robbie, Cecilia's lover, even though she knows full well he is not guilty. This lie changes all three of their lives irreparably, causing Robbie to be sent to both jail and war, tearing the lovers apart. Can the two find their way back together?
Atonement is certain to be a lush, gorgeous film with some fine performances from actors like Knightley and McAvoy, who caught our attention in 2006 for his starring role in The Last King of Scotland. Also present in the film are Academy Award nominee Brenda Blethyn and Oscar winner Vanessa Redgrave. (Kim Hollis/BOP) (Kim Hollis/BOP)
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