Review of Atonement (2007) by Chris M — 21 Mar 2011

For what it is worth, I will always love this film. I feel that it is a work of art almost in the mold of Terrance Malick. Honestly, I never thought I would enjoy it so much. I watched it on a whim on a night when I had nothing going on. Wow! I must say that I was hooked immediately.

A real wonderful aspect of the movie is that it took it's time to let the first act play out. It was a very detail oriented set piece that played out. The scene at the fountain gets the story moving. Briony's perspective in this scene makes you wonder about her thought process that will ultimately be revealed. The love story was one of those that kind of had you chomping at the bit. Robbie's strange confidence makes you wonder what Celia is going to do to play off of it. Well, the note gets that little train moving. What goes on from there is a series of misunderstandings that lead to the ultimate punishment for Robbie. Naturally, Briony's perspective from that first scene and into the passing of the note evolves into the thought process where she believes that he committed rape.

The second act in France left you longing for Robbie to get back to Celia. The beach scene uses the same camera technique that Goodfellas and The Secret in Their Eyes (Best foreign film last year, Amazing movie by the way). Although the other two did a slightly better job of this, it is no criticism by any stretch. That scenes held it's own.

Honestly, the hospital scenes are my favorite (I do work at a hospital, so this might be expected). This is where Briony must do her penance for her accusations. The scene with the French soldier is my absolute favorite. It left me with a couple questions, but most great scenes do.

The final act just turned everything on it's head. It's one of those great twist endings which makes you wonder why you didn't see it coming. I was totally caught off guard and it really put the icing on the cake for me.

Along with The Departed, Atonement is my favorite movie of the last 30 years. I only saw it 2 years ago and I've probably seen it 5 times since then. It really stands up to repeat viewings which is my barometer of greatness.