Oh, what a wicked web we weave....yada, yada, yada.

Rating: 5/10 (2 February 2008)

This will be a short review because I refuse to add to the tedium of this movie. And as someone who dislikes pushing a story to unfold too quickly, for me to call this thing tedious is a big deal.
The story, such as it is, revolves around young Briony Tallis, who sees a few incidents that could be and are misconstrued. After each incident, the story jumps back and shows us that what she saw has an innocent explanation, but she still uses them to send the gardener, Robbie Turner, to prison for a crime he did not commit. Then comes World War 2 and Dunkirk and the story shifts to the long distance longing of Robbie and Briony's sister, Cecilia, and how Briony begins trying to atone for her lies.
Of course, the production values are good. The acting is good. Kiera Knightly and James McAvoy make a surprisingly acceptable couple. Sometimes the director gets a little carried away with things, but not ridiculously so. I got no complaints there. And let me make clear -- I have not read the book "Atonement" is based on, so my only reference concerning this story is the movie. But if the book is anything like this overly-self-important "film", I'll never go near it. I hate being lied to by a storyteller -- and that is what this movie does about halfway...no, maybe two-thirds of the way through. I won't say what that lie is, but it all works around that age-old saying, "Oh, what a wicked web we weave when first we practice to deceive." The movie should have paid attention to its own message.