Now open your eyes and pretend they're white.

Rating: 8/10 (22 May 2020)

I see a lot of people here saying they put off seeing this film because of its hype. Despite being a screenwriter/video editor, I am in this category. My rule of thumb is if critics love it, I will hate it. Well, this time the critics got it right. This is a great film. I can't give it a perfect ten because I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed and there were far too many twists for me to keep track of. I still have too many questions. (Maybe that's WHY some people would give it a perfect ten) it is a heartbreaking film but I feel also a misunderstood one. When you're my age (34) and a movie revolves around a 13 year old with an unreliable narrative, you know this Isn't going to go well but you also know SHE'S 13! Without spoiling the film, some events happen prior to Briony falsely accusing Robbie of rape that aren't exactly outside the realms of possibility of someone that WOULD commit rape. It's not impossible for a young impressionable child to deduce this from prior events. I had a lot of pre conceived notions before seeing this film. Every time this movie is mentioned, Briony is referred to as practically the worst villain in the cinematic universe. Having seen the film myself now, I think we need to go easier on her. She repents (atones, as the film IS called 'atonement') but it's too late in a twist I won't spoil for you. Your heart breaks for the fate of the characters yes, but your heart breaks for the young girl who (understandably) never had the courage to come forward with the real story until she was an old lady too. Or at least mine did.
My one gripe with the film is we never resolve once we do find out who did commit the crime and to whom, and in fact a little bit of logic would have told you who committed the crime based on who was missing that night, but I guess they weren't the point.