A clever and emotional piece of film-making.

Rating: 8/10 (23 September 2007)

Being the jaded soul that I am I wanted to hate this film, mostly because everyone else was loving it (does that make me a bad critic?) but you see the thing is I just couldn't dislike it in anyway. It is told so well, edited so cleverly, the music is powerful, the story is multi-layered, there's that six minute tracking shot in the middle which is simply breathtaking (filmed on a set that cost £1 million pounds), all in all it is everything a movie should be. Based on the Ian McEwan novel it tells of how a simply misunderstanding can have disastrous effects and escalate a situation way out of control. With a backdrop of World War 2 the two star crossed lovers, knightly (still wooden) and McAvoy (always brilliant) communicate through letters and long to see each other again but the war and circumstance may have other plans. A real human story packed with emotion and depth it's like a British 'English Patient' and I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't in line for an Oscar or two. At last a film with a brain, enjoy because it will probably be a while before you see another film this good.