Review of Atonement (1971) by John H — 26 Aug 2011

Considering that the source novel is pretty much in everybody's head the whole time, Wright and scribe Christopher Hampton have done a remarkable job of translating Ian McEwan's work to the screen.

Knightley and McAvoy give great performances, although the real standout is Ronan, who is able to convey so much without even speaking. Fantastic scenes abound: the love scene in the library, the single-shot Dunkirk sequence, and of course that haunting epilogue.

However, visually the film is able to find the unity present in the novel; its four distinct sections are a tad disjointed. But the pieces are rich and satisfying enough to work a steady power.