Atonement Review

Well what can I say?  This movie is a secluded dream.  A romance that doesn't have an origin but a quirky lust and a long engagement.  Its original to say at the least.

It starts off with this huge summer home in Britain, with Briony and Cecilia Tallis (Saoise Ronan, Keira Knightly), their mother, and three younger cousins living together.  Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) is somewhat the neighbor, who is a promising student trained to be a doctor.  However, does chores around the mansion. Hmmm I wonder why. 

Well basically Briony, the 13 year old, has a enormous crush on him.  His sweet eyes....long greasy brown hair......that British accent.......ahem I mean uh, yeah, he was kick ass in looks! And Briony likes him alot!  But Cecilia has a crush too, and Robbie the same with her. 

Later in the day, Robbie ask Briony to send a letter to Cecilia (I won't read what it says but it makes the romance kinda quirky), but it turns out to be the wrong letter, and Cecilia reads it and is disgusted...but turned on, as Robbie and Cecilia have a 'get -together', in a library.

I think alot of guys who had written that letter would have been slapped, but thats just me.  And man, British peeps have weird kinky tastes in the places to have relations; a library!?!  Well anyway, Briony sees them do the nasty and plans for a way to rid of Robbie.

Briony's cousins, the twins, vanish and there is a search party (mind you its all in one day; thus why the beginning drags), and Briony sees something shocking (won't tell ya!) and blames it on Robbie, who is sent to jail, and the separation begins.

During the seperation, 4 years, Robbie is at war and Cecilia/Briony (now played by Roma Garai) are nurses.

...and I can't give you anymore, I think it'll ruin the movie.  But none the less I think you should find it necessary to see this film.  Reason being, its a gifted screenplay, however, doesn't have enough character development.  Like how and why Cecilia and Briony become nurses (possibly to help others...or to be closer to Robbie, I don't know), and when did Cecilia fall in love with Robbie. But anyways, the best cinematography in years, spanning to The Thin Red Line, is in this movie.  A lot of the shots seem kind of fake (some are) but others are impressively timed and focused that I can't argue.   

But it isn't the best picture of the year, according to me.

But it will get the oscar/golden globe for best picture, screenplay, cinematography, and yes...best actress.

I hesitate because Keira had a limited role in it.  And I hate seeing the big awards given to someone that was in the movie for a short time and had a total of 50 lines.  I do like her though, especially in movies like Bend it Like Becham and the Pirates series, and I find her very attractive in this movie, but very limited.  The acamedy will just give it to her because she's young, pretty, and has a British accent.

But anyway, the movie is a must of 2007 and its a wonder how much attraction would raise up if we had a British accent