The Power of Betrayal

Rating: 10/10 (16 November 2012)

There are movies that come along every once in a while that leave you speechless; Atonement is exactly this kind of movie. After finishing the movie I was left emotionally drained and almost in shock of the sheer greatness I had just witnessed. The combination of emotion, fear, beauty, and all around excellent acting puts Atonement at the top of my list of favorite movies. Keira Knightly stars as Cecilia, a stuck up English woman who is desperately trying to find her place in the world. In comparison to some of her other famous performances in Pride and Prejudice or Pirates of the Caribbean, she shows a similar side in Atonement yet she still gives an unforgettable performance. She is aggressive yet poised, and seems to know exactly what she wants despite the disapproval of others around her. Cecilia truly stands out with her strong facial structure and lack of emotion not often seen from women in romance movies. Atonement follows her and Robbie's gut wrenching romance from start to finish and literally leaves you hanging on to their every interaction. The gardener, Robbie, brings out a side in Cecilia that you may have never seen from Keira Knightly as an actress. His simplicity and boyish charm is a surprising match for Cecilia yet they are just so wonderfully meant for each other. Throughout the movie you can just feel the sexual tension brewing between the two, leaving you wondering what will happen next. James Mcavoy (Robbie) almost outshines Keira in his acting due to the raw emotion he brings to the table. The story line speaks for itself but the acting skills of Mcavoy truly do stand out. Another stand out actress is Saoirse Ronan who plays Cecilia's younger sister, Briony. Throughout the film it is easy to see Briony's longing to live up to her sister and outshine her in any way possible. Their conflicting personalities lead to Briony's decision to alter Robbie and Cecilia's lives forever. Due to misconception and immaturity, Briony commits an act that can never be forgiven. Although a young and fairly new actress, Ronan delivers an outstanding performance. Her haunting eyes leave you wondering what kind of evil lies within children and how far they will go to get what they want. The combination of Knightly and Ronan truly is a perfect match. Both girls are very head strong and it is easy to see that they have probably never understood each other. Jealousy remains between them that leads to an exciting twist in the middle of the plot. Not only are the actors and story line absolutely outstanding, the sets and costumes really tie everything together. The movie is primarily set in an English manor in 1935 which gives the image of an old fashioned well-to-do family while the movie also displays images of World War II. The combination of environments keeps the excitement rolling and also keeps the audience on their toes. Not only does the time frame change drastically, so do the characters and the journeys they embark on. Costume choice also plays a big role in the movie as Cecilia is portrayed a sultry woman and Briony as a young child. This juxtaposition also adds to their differences as characters. Robbie is obviously from a much lower class family than Cecilia which is also portrayed through costume design. This is another factor that adds to the many differences within the couple. Overall, I absolutely loved this movie and highly recommend it. The dramatic twists and turns constantly keep you wondering what will happen next. Gut wrenching emotion as well as unforgivable deceit make this movie one of a kind. Atonement is an all around excellent movie that you simply cannot forget.