Atonement

Rating: 5/10 (15 December 2007)

The trailers were interesting. The star cast was stunning. The reviews were fantastic. The photography seemed perfect. This all lead me to see the movie  despite the fact that my boss  when asked how is Atonement  after a 5 second pause  said, um.meaning  not so good.
The story is set around the decade of world war II. Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan), jealous of her sister Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightley) love affair with Robbie Turner (James McAvoy); accuses Robbie of being a sexual perverse and raping her friend. Robbie is sent to prison and after 5 years, sent to serve the army in WWII. Grown up Briony (Romola Garai), serving as a nurse, despairs her lies and as part of atonement apologies to Robbie and sister Cecilia, but it is too late for Cecilia and Robbie to unite.
The movie is based on the popular novel written by Ian McEwan by the same name. The adaptation is synched in four parts  the first part of summer where Briony falsely accuses Robbie, the second part of WWII - Robbie serving the army, the third part of nursing  and atonement of Briony; and the fourth and final part of Briony's interview of the autobiographical novel.
The first part winds up slowly  as slowly as the British rural summers. It is wonderfully shot and as audience, one gets the feel of the real summer. This part is the most interesting because of the romance between Robbie and Cecilia. The army part of heavily funded and created, but is loose and does not build up the interest. While the nursing part is slowly un-winding of the mind of Briony, who recognizes and waits for her atonement.
I liked the first part the most. James McAvoy is the best thing in the movie, he brings to himself  so easily the boyish charm, and the vulnerability of an accused man, that his performance is worth noticing. One more cap after The Last King of Scotland. Keira Knightley has acted very well, but what on earth she has become? Like a walking stick  just bone and sticking flesh? Uh..what the world has come to be, defining her as the most sexiest and beautiful women. People must be really mad, and out of their minds.
The role of Briony was the strongest and is the 13 year old Saoirse Ronan renders with great punch and epoch, while the grown up role by Romola Garai  even though having depth, does not touch you or does not even leave an impression. A lot remained in the part three of the movie.
The best parts of the movie were the cinematography by Seamus Greenwood and the musical score by Dario Marianelli, which was near to brilliant  especially the type writers strokes and that turning into music, with a slight synch with the character's tap of fingers or crossing of door. Brilliant! But overall movie experience, it leaves a lot more to be desired. Director Jeo Wright could have made it a much better movie, with the amount of talent and money available to him. Jeo was too detailed in dwelling into the era of three parts and missed out on the gripping narration.
A chance of good movie lost, but not that bad.
(Stars 5.5 out of 10)