Characters not as interesting as the events unfolding around them.

Rating: 6/10 (7 February 2010)

Though not the great film some would have you believe, Atonement still has quite a bit going for it. For example it made me want to learn more about the Dunkirk evacuation and much more about the events leading up to WWII. Alas, this is essentially a romance, and the historical perspective and details take a back seat to weepy longings and misunderstandings caused by jealousy. The film looks terrific and the acting is more than satisfactory. Where the film goes wrong has to do mostly with its inability to sell the characters' motivations.
The story deals with a mousy tween girl accusing her older sister's lover of a sexual assault. From there he is sent to prison, and then finds himself serving in the British army in the early stages of WWII. All the while the two sisters have given up their wealthy lifestyles to work as nurses as the elder sister longs for the return of her beau. While the younger sister wishes to atone for her lie by saving lives and hopefully one day reconciling with the star-crossed lovers. As one can tell, this is the type of plot that grows inside a romance novel. Apparently the novel this film is based on is quite well-regarded. If that is the case, then I might suspect that much of that book never made it the the screen.
There are problems all throughout how this film is constructed. A viewer who doesn't let themselves get blinded by the sentimentality will question much of what they see. What on earth could be the little girl's motivation for seeing the young man blamed for such a terrible crime? And never speaking up for all those years to clear his name? Not realistic. The film seems to be channeling the movie Cold Mountain in some ways. We have two young lovers who hardly have much between them except a tryst in a library. And now, separated by war, the woman can only look to the horizon and repeat a phrase about wanting him to "come back". Silly. The first act seems needlessly drawn out and full of contrivances. The rest of the film feels a bit truncated trying to catch up the the present after the last few years of these characters' lives have happened off screen. What was prison like for Ronny? What was the fallout like between the sisters? Did Celia try to clear his name? What was his trial like?? All of these things could have made for some interesting viewing. Are they detailed in the book? The film does have some good selling points. Good acting, great period costumes and props. And the 5 minute unbroken scene along the beach is just as incredible as advertised. I wish the rest of the film could have been that good. 6 of 10 stars.
The Hound.