Atonement (2007)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Joe Wright

Writers:

Ian McEwan (novel)
Christopher Hampton (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 January 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | War

Tagline:

You can only imagine the truth.

Plot:

Fledgling writer Briony Tallis, as a 13-year-old, irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit. Based on the British romance novel by Ian McEwan.

Plot Keywords:

British | Letter | Teenage Girl | Wrongful Conviction | Wedding

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 23 wins & 67 nominations

Cast

Saoirse Ronan	...	Briony Tallis - Age 13
Ailidh Mackay	...	Singing Housemaid
Brenda Blethyn	...	Grace Turner
Julia West	...	Betty
James McAvoy	...	Robbie Turner
Harriet Walter	...	Emily Tallis
Keira Knightley	...	Cecilia Tallis
Juno Temple	...	Lola Quincey
Felix von Simson	...	Pierrot Quincey
Charlie von Simson	...	Jackson Quincey
Alfie Allen	...	Danny Hardman
Patrick Kennedy	...	Leon Tallis
Benedict Cumberbatch	...	Paul Marshall
Peter Wight	...	Police Inspector
Leander Deeny	...	Police Constable

Also Known As:

Reviens-moi (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for disturbing war images, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

UK | France

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:12 | Canada:14A | Finland:K-13 | South Korea:15 | Germany:12 | Australia:MA | Singapore:M18 | Malaysia:U | Norway:11 | Sweden:11 | Brazil:14 | Taiwan:PG-12 | USA:R (certificate #43417) | France:Unrated | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Argentina:16 | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Japan:PG-12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Norway:15 (TV rating) | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Aldwych Underground Station, Aldwych, Holborn, London, England, UK

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Joe Wright conducted three weeks of rehearsals beforehand, ensuring that by the time the cameras rolled all the actors were comfortable with their characters and the environment(s) they inhabited. Vanessa Redgrave noted that "Saoirse Ronan and Romola Garai and I did some improvisations on body language, among other things, for Briony. Joe - who is brilliant with actors - was able to pick and choose what he wanted focused on during the filming."

Goofs:

Continuity: In the fountain scene, Cecilia pulls her blouse over her head before she steps in the fountain. When she rises from the water and dresses again, the buttons of the blouse are open.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Briony Tallis, aged 13: I finished my play.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Bringing the Past to Life: The Making of 'Atonement' (2008) (V)

Soundtrack:

O Soave Fanciulla, O Dolce Viso

Great interpretation of a wonderful novel

I saw a preview of this film yesterday and felt privileged to be one of the first people to see the film. It was also a pleasure to see a film before reading any other critical review or opinion. I am a great fan of Ian Mcewan and was concerned that it would not be possible to capture the subtleties and nuances of Mcewan's writing but I needn't have had any worries. The director, Joe Wright and screenplay writer Christopher Hampton have done a superb job and the complexities of the novel are superbly captured with real imagination. The story is set in three main areas, an English country house in 1935, war torn France 1940 and London 1940. The atmosphere in of all three are wonderfully captured by the director, cinematographer, costume design and score and I am sure that there are going to be some Oscar nominations for these. James McAvoy as lead man gives a tremendous performance of a restrained but passionate man. I was not as convinced by Keira Knightley's performance and am not sure that her acting has the mature edge to capture the social nuances of the times that McAvoy did so successfully. Do not see this film if you like fast paced films and rapid plot development! This is not a film for the pop video generation. If however you like character development and a plot that unravels at a pace that allows you to be immersed in the atmosphere of the film then I can highly recommend Atonement as one of the best films that I have seen this year.