The best film of the year

Rating: 10/10 (7 December 2007)

The film is also technically superb. The cinematography is outstanding, with beautiful shot compositions on a hot summer's day to a war torn France. The most forefront achievement though is a scene that displays the English army's evacuation to Dunkirk. The scene (which lasts close to ten minutes) follows Robbie through an entire beach front filled with hundreds of soldiers, all of which is captured in a single shot. It is truly an achievement as the scene is both harrowing and mesmerizing. The musical score also deserves merits for its originality. Composed by Dario Marianelli, the music incorporates key sound effects (notably the type writer of Briony's) into musical themes. It really is rather clever works very well.
Even with all of its technical mastery (writing, music, editing, cinematography), the film's strongest assets are from its performers. The character of Briony, played by three actresses at different ages (Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, and Vanessa Redgrave), is acted to near perfection. All three actresses (especially 13 year old Ronan) bring their A-game in represented a very complicated character. Keira Knightley though really finds a role to sink her teeth into as this is by far her best performance. Cecilia, who on paper may just seem like a supporting character, is taken to the level of leading lady by Miss Knightley. However, the film's strongest performance goes to James McAvoy as Robbie. Most film fans will recognize him as Mr. Tumnus from The Chronicles of Narnia, but here he gets to show how good he really is. His character of Robbie represents the best in human nature and will draw the strongest connection with audiences. McAvoy brings to him a sincerity that makes one of the strongest performances of the year. Mr. McAvoy is quickly on his way to stardom, and right so.
This is a film that really works on every level. The first act of the film is arguably the strongest. The scenes at the country house have a great sense of realism and honesty to them; you feel like you are there with the characters (very hard to do in a period piece). Joe Wright's masterful direction gives Atonement the sweep of an epic but the scope of a deep and personal character drama. It is a brilliant and moving story that will pull at your heart-strings and leave you shaken by its ending. Don't be surprised to hear its name a lot come Oscar time, it is the best of the year.