Atonement

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 3:57pm

Saw this film this weekend. I will admit to being one of thsoe who didn't believe the book could be adapted. i was so wrong. This film is stunning in every way possible.

McAvoy gives one of his best performance in it. Knightley is also wonderful in it. However, I have to say that Saoirse Ronan (aged 13) gives the best performance I have EVER seen someone her age give. It is astonishing. Any 50 year old would be lucky to give a performance as precise and subtle as hers.

This is my favorite film of the year thusfar.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 4:00pm

Wanna read the book first but its far down my book list.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 4:02pm

It's a terrific book, you're missing out. It's a short read too.

I really adore the director's Pride and Prejudice so I can't wait to see this.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 4:05pm

I should also mention that the score is a highlight for its simplicity and ingenuity.

[Anakela]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 4:07pm

However, I have to say that Saoirse Ronan (aged 13) gives the best performance I have EVER seen someone her age give. It is astonishing.

Agreed- after seeing her performance in Atonement I am actually now *really* looking forward to the adaptation of The Lovely Bones, which is something I didn't think I would ever say considering how much I love that book so.

[Taryn]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:33pm

I am looking forward to this movie SO MUCH. I can't even say. The book really is a masterpiece.

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 5:40pm

It's probably the best movie I've seen in years. It's really devestating, and basically (except for a little scene at the end) page for page exactly like the book. The book lovers out there won't be disappointed.

I thought Saoirse was amazing, but I was so much more impresssed with Romola Garai (adult Briony). She did so much with limited screentime, she was subtle and really heartbreaking, and I thought her and McAvoy gave the best performances in the movie. I hope the both get some major recognition for their work come award season.

Go and see this movie everyone!

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 6:06pm

and McAvoy is dreamy.

it should be illegal to be that dreamy AND that talented.

[nitsua]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 6:23pm

I thought the first part of the book was fantastic, but the last part, especially the part at the beach, was stupid and pointless.

The book would've been a lot better without that part.

I didn't really like all the stuff at the hospital, either.

But the end was nice.

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 12/10/07 at 7:02pm

McAvoy is totally a dreamboat. It's too bad that he's like, 5'4. Have you seen 'Starter for 10' and 'Becoming Jane'? He's adorable in those.

I didn't think the Dunkirk scene was stupid or pointless. It wrapped up Robbie's story, there would've been no resolution without it. Without writing any spoilers, I'll just say that the whole movie wouldn't have made any sense without it.

And I loved the hospital parts, especially the scene with Briony and the French soldier. I'm so glad they kept that part in the movie, that was like, the single most touching part of the book for me.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/11/07 at 3:16am

The book is amazing, the film is amazing.

I was totally enamored by the film. Oscar worthy film, direction, performances, editing, screenplay, score, art direction, cinematography, etc. It's a masterpiece. I cried and cried and cried.

[nitsua]

Posted: 12/11/07 at 3:17am

I wouldn't call the book "amazing". Sappy, sure. Drawn out, sure. But amazing, not so much.

I can't wait to see the movie.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 9:58pm

Absolutely wonderful.

But "Sweeney Todd" was better.

Ha.

[pushdabutton]

Posted: 1/4/08 at 10:05pm

I highly recommend this wonderful movie.

[scott68]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 3:58am

Loved the book, and the movie absolutely did it justice. I wasn't quite so hot on the change of the location of the ending, as in the book it had a lovely sense of symmetry and coming full circle, but it didn't greatly affect it. The costuming and score were both wonderful, and that one long shot through the ruined beach was just... wow.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 5:20pm

It's one of my favorite books and the movie is beautiful. For all the crap she gets from a lot of people, Keira is really a good, good actress. McAvoy reminds me SO much of Ewan McGregor it's just ridiculous.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 5:58pm

Knightley was great. What crap does she get? She's Oscar nominated.

But the real revelation in this film was Saiorse (sp?) Ronan, who gave one of the greatest performances I have ever seen from a young person. Those eyes. I'd love to see her walk away with an Oscar. She was brilliant.

But, I mean come on. I just don't get how Vanessa Redgrave is actually getting nominations for her performance.. for all 3 minutes of it.

I'll post the review I posted elsewhere:

I can describe this film in one word: beautiful. It's lush. It's fascinating. It also turns out to be a complete bore. The first hour of the film is brilliant- quick, emotional, exciting. Then, something happens. The story becomes a sappy war story, an endless montage of beautiful but truthfully unmoving images. Yes, the performances are great. Saiorse Ronan is just brilliant, giving one of the most subtle, nuanced performances I have ever witnessed from a child. She's just wonderful and carries the films better half with dramatic wit. Keira Knightley is great in her less exciting role, which is oddly the lead role. James McAvoy is also first rate. Romola Garai, playing the same role about 6 years later as Ronan, is also subtle and nuanced, but also a tad bit crazy. Vanessa Redgrave, with her whole 3 minutes of screen time, is also quite good. However, the film just can't recover from those boring 45 minutes. The ending is a huge twist, and I must say, I was surprised. Yes, it's one of the year's best film, although nowhere near the brilliance of "Sweeney Todd". I liked it, yes. Next time I watch it, I'll just fast forward through the second half, and try not to cry my eyes out at the film's conclusion.

[AnnaK<3LMIP]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 6:03pm

By crap I mean that most people I have met really don't like her at all, and my uncle's girlfriend works at some sort of tabloid-like magazine, and she says that they never publish nice things about her. That's all.

[Atrias]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 6:11pm

I actually bought the novel with some of my Christmas money.And once again I proved to myself why it's a really, really bad thing that I like to read the last few pages of a novel first.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 12:43pm

I'm not usually a fan of White Cinema but I was really impressed with ATONEMENT.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 1:05pm

Liked Atonement. I thought all three Brionys were wonderful, and it's a shame that they are indeed played by three actresses, because Briony really is the lead role. I've never been terribly impressed with Keira Knightley (that's putting it mildly). She was fine in this.

And yeah, James McAvoy is hot. And the fact that he's Scottish automatically makes him 100 times hotter.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 9:26pm

I finally just saw this and I am so mad that I didn't see it on the big screen. One too many idiots told me it was dull, so I skipped it.

I LOVED it. I can not believe it didn't get Best Picture. I can not believe Wright was not nominated. I can not believe it lost cinematography (There Will Be Blood had great cinematography, but please) and art direction (but yea for Sweeney).

I haven't seen Juno or Diving Bell, but as for the rest, this was the best picture of the year.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 9:29pm

I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I saw it last week on my bus trip to NYC...

J*

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 9:46pm

I rented it last week, along with La Vie En Rose.

It was fantastic. Well acted, visually beautiful, with a great great story. I also thought that it ended really well.

La Vie En Rose was all over the place. It got to a point where I watched the entire thing just to say I watched it. I did see how she won the Academy Award though. Her performance at times was just, wow.
Updated On: 3/28/08 at 09:46 PM

[roquat]

Posted: 3/28/08 at 10:32pm

I don't feel any great necessity to see this. It looks like what I refer to as a "sigh" movie--Suffering In Great Hats.