Atonement (No Spoiler)

Atonement, staring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, was one of the big Oscar films last year (2007) that I couldn't get around to seeing. It can become a bit confusing because the 2008 Academy Awards are for films that came out in 2007. Atonement was nominated for 7 awards including best picture and won 1 for Best Original Score. I had recorded it a couple of weeks ago and finally got around to watching it last night.

Atonement was a perfect title for this film because the word itself is defined as one's attempt at redemption for a mistake or a sin and that is exactly what this film is about. This film was based on a novel by Ian McEwan and is about Briony Tallis, a 13 year old aspiring writer who misinterprets a few acts between her sister Cecilia (Knightley) and her lover Robbie (McAvoy) leading her to accuse Robbie of a crime that he didn't commit.

Atonement takes place in 1935 on a very wealthy families property in England. Robbie is the son of the family's servant who lives in a small house on the families land with his mother. Briony's accusations lead to Robbie being sent to prison and Cecilia disowning her family. As a few years pass and WWII begins Robbie is given the option to go to war or remain in prison. Before he sets off to war he sees Cecilia and promises her that he will return and marry her.

As Briony gets older she realizes the severity of her accusations. She begins to feel regret for what she did and attempts to contact her sister to make amends. However, no matter what she says or what she does there is nothing she can do to take back the ramifications of her actions.

This film was nominated for best cinematography and there were some really beautiful shots. My favorite shot was on a beach in France. There were thousands of English soldiers just waiting for the boats to arrive to take them back to England. The camera starts on the characters as they walk the beach. As the camera moves you see all kinds of destruction. You also see many dead, wounded and drunk soldiers. As the camera finishes panning it ends up back on Robbie and just creates a really cool effect and feeling.

I know so far I have only written good reviews but I have a limited means on what I can see. Therefore I pick and choose carefully but don't worry soon enough I will tear a movie apart. As far as this movie is concerned, I really enjoyed myself. I would classify this film as a poetic elegy of the late 1930's. So if it sounds like your choice of brew check it out.

Atonement Trailer
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3836805401/