Patience may be a necessity here

Rating: 7/10 (23 May 2008)

This is one of my lower priority Oscar/Golden Globes-nominated movies,as I had no familiarity with the novel and the perception of this film came off as being a "wispy,English period piece". Those reasons and also that this was shown in somewhat limited distribution outside of NYC or LA up until closer to the Academy Awards. So with that in mind,I was resigned to seeing this film on DVD and probably long after the Awards had been given out.
HAving finally seen this,I can say that while my curiosity was satisfied and I found stuff to like about it,I wasn't as awed or overwhelmed as some whose comments I've skimmed here.
The damage done by 13-year-old Briony Tallis(Saorise Ronan,later to be played by Romola Garai)in regards to the relationship between her older sister Cecilia(Keira Knightley)and her prospective boyfriend,a longtime family friend and grounds keeper(James McAvoy)is deep enough to tear the two asunder,right as England is being thrust into World War II. Over the course of the movie,all three principals(and of course,to an extended degree,their friends and other family members)are affected in ways that are both profound and simple.
Director Joe Wright paces this movie in a slow,somewhat detached way and,depending on your patience for artsy,disjointed narrative,will either fascinate or frustrate. There is absolutely no hurry to spell out the situations,or for that matter fill in any blanks that the story leaves. To me,it feels kinda like dirty pool being played here:sure,you're drawn in and intrigued,but it seems to string the viewer out and then leave said viewer perhaps confused and even angry by the third act.
Beautiful imagery and attention to detail makes this film at least marginally above average. Credit cinematographer Seamus McGarvey and film editor Paul Tothill with that. This movie is certainly a visually intriguing offering,but as overall entertainment,this could be considered a bit of a test,where patience is more than a virtue.