The Best Film of 2007!

Rating: 10/10 (9 February 2008)

Atonement opens with a blooming love between two young people and descends into a pit of sadness, angst, and loss. The film is set in 1930s England and follows the main characters into WWII. Young Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) has a vivid imagination which will be the death of the young lovers.
Cecelia Tallis is the daughter of a wealthy business man (we're never told what he does for a living, and we never see him for that matter). Robbie (James McAvoy), the son of the grounds keeper was educated at the same schools as Cecelia by the grace of Cecelia's father. It was fun to watch Robbie and Cecelia around each other, with each one afraid to say what they're thinking. It was only by change they find out about each others feelings, in a library nonetheless. The two had their whole lives ahead of them until Cecelia's younger sister Briony comes along and turns their world upside down.
The fall of 2007 offered some of the best movies of the year; some were the best movies ever made. This is one film where I couldn't possibly describe in. I don't think there are enough words in the English language anyway (maybe I'll have to use Sanskrit). Atonement, simply put, is one of the best love stories I've ever seen. The picture perfect young romance is painted so beautifully that it makes you feel horrible when you find out the love is doomed to end. I think it's an unfulfilled love story rather than a happy ending that really gets the audience stirred up. I once read that realistic films don't make money and don't do well at the box office. Is there a difference between a realistic film and an honest one? Perhaps, Atonement is all about honesty. There is honesty in the acting, writing, directing; every frame of every scene. The film isn't mushy-gushy, it seemed more about devotion.
Keira Knightley is terrific as Cecelia. Her on screen presence and demeanor are always full of energy and life; her performance was incredibly powerful but done with the utmost subtlety. She completely inhabited her character and has the posh, upper class British accent to go with it. The film moves forward to the heat of WWII and jumps back and forth from Robbie in France to Cecelia and an older Briony in England. Young Saoirse Ronan was leaps and bounds ahead of the older Briony (Romola Garai). I can't help but think that Briony's character was watered down as a result of Briony punishing herself for what she did to Cecelia and Robbie. She feels guilty for what she's done, and being a war nurse doesn't leave much time for being the carefree aspiring novelist she once was (or so we think). Briony's existence is the only part of the film that is dishonest. She spends her entire life lying to herself and living a charade; in doing so, she finds atonement.
This film had lavish sets and breathtaking cinematography. The way the colors look in some films today; I forget if I'm watching a live action movie or CGI. In Atonement, the sun rises and sun sets are as honest as any of the film's stellar performances. One of the most stunning scenes in the film is a five minute long, uncut tracking shot which thoroughly gives the audience a taste of France in WWII. I had never heard of director Joe Wright before this film, but I sincerely hope this is only the beginning of his career. Atonement is one of the year's best films, and will no doubt take the top spot at the Oscars.