Review of Atonement (2007) by Sam F — 30 Dec 2012

I have never really had the chance of watching this film when it first came out. After years of waiting, I have found the novel and then the movie. I watched after reading a large portion of the book, unable to contain my patience. Joe Wright has produced a very faithful adaptation and a great one too. The film even follows the format of the story in terms of sections and scenes. The acting is exemplary. For someone so young, Saoirse Ronan is over the top. James McAvoy and Keira Knightley are excellent together as well. McAvoy was definitely robbed at the Oscars, not even earning a nomination, which he had in the Golden Globes. The love story is the usual tragedy but what got me to love this story is how the innocence, naivety and overconfidence of a mere child can cause so much devastation to an innocent couple. Ian McEwan himself (the author of the novel) has laid out the story pretty well in the novel, so there is no surprise that the movie would turn out wonderful. The cinematography is excellent and the visuals stupendous, especially during the Dunkirk scene. The ending is well edited and so emotional. The highlight of the whole movie is definitely Dario Marianelli's score, which prominently features running piano melodies and a typewriter.

Overall, this is a fine example of excellent film-making. I enjoy this film much better than 'Titanic' (maybe because 'Titanic' is just another tragic love story with nothing much to tell).