Review of Atonement (2007) by Heather M — 27 Dec 2014

I really wasn't very fond of this when I saw it in the theatre. For reasons I'm not too clear on this many years later, it lost me during the war scenes and never really got me back ... especially with it's twist ending that can't help but annoy you if you're not really with the film to begin with.

On repeat viewing, I feel quite differently. The first half is brilliantly constructed, tightly paced and both capturing the point of view of the little girl who doesn't quite understand what she's seeing while acknowledging that the viewer has a more complete understanding.

I don't think the second half is as good, but the war sequences are far better than I remembered. Knowing the ending in advance robs it of its frustrating qualities and I can see how it really does end the story appropriately.