Oscar Review: Atonement

Atonement
Directed: Joe Wright
Written: Christopher Hampton and Ian McEwan (novel)
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Keira Knightley, and James McAvoy

Blech! Period pieces are something I do not often enjoy. They all follow the same basic rules:
1. Have every actor involved go by the classical standard of "victorian" acting.
2. Be nominated for best costume design no matter what.
3. Have Keira Knightley on the cover.
4. Focus on a rich family.
5. Make sure it is a love story.
Atonement breaks none of these rules, and to the untrained eye looks like just another sappy old love story that we have heard several versions of before. The truth is that Atonement breaks new ground in an endless cycle of period piece love stories with its touchy subject manner, creative directing, and bold ending. The tragic story begins at the large estate of the Tallis family. Briony Tallis(Saoirse Ronan) is a writer who at the age of 13 has already completed several stories and plays. Today her cousins are coming over(while their parents are getting divorced) and she has a play prepared to be performed that night. Her three cousins, a 15 year old redheaded girl named Lola Quincey and her two younger twin brothers; are not very interested in Briony's play despite her pleading with them to pay attention. Meanwhile Briony's sister Cecilia is preparing for the arrival of her brother who is bringing his best friend who runs a chocolate factory. Cecilia is being bothered by her classmate/landscaper Robbie (James McAvoy) who later that day confesses his love to Cecilia in a note he gives to Briony. Unfortunately he accidentally gives Briony a highly sexual and crude note that he wrote as a joke. Cecilia seems undisturbed and shows her love to Robbie in the library of their mansion. Cecilia walks in on this and is highly shaken up, this and a case of mistaken identity later in the night lead Briony to accuse Robbie of being a sexual predator. Robbie is arrested and eventually joins the army, being separated from his lover Cecilia. Atonement focuses on the tale of Robbie and Cecilia craving to be back with each other as well as Briony's growing guilt for falsely accusing Robbie over the course of several years.

The first act of Atonement feels very typical, but interesting to watch. A rich yet troubled family and their sexual adventures! We have seen this story before, but the acting helps this part of the story rise above conventional standards. Saoirse Ronan in particular is wonderful as Briony (the real star of the movie) her portrayal of the innocence yet ignorance of a little girl will really affect you. Keira Knightley nor James McAvoy really impressed me and seemed very plain and simple with their performances. This may just be the fact that the story of the character Briony is much more interesting than the love story that the film so heavily advertises. The middle act shows off the more impressive technical aspects of Atonement. A single several minute shot on the beach of Dunkirk is breathtaking, the constant moving camera that goes across the beach, along with the moving score complimenting the singing soldiers in a choir, all mixing with Joe Wright really showing off his talent.

The final act is what really brings this movie over the edge of being typical to its genre (as could be said for many of the best films of 2007) Atonement has an ending that is so astonishingly brilliant, it improves everything in the film tenfold in a single moment. So while Atonement may at first come off as typical, good things come to those who wait, in this case the good thing would be a revolution of consequences in period piece romance.

9/10