Great story and acting

Rating: 9/10 (21 March 2011)

Atonement Story: Based on the novel from Ian McEwan, this is one of the best adaptations I have seen (if not the best). This is a story about the power of lie. Story about guilt, feeling of guilt and also as title suggests atonement. Atonement is a romantic but very sad story, but it is also very beautiful. And I liked characters form the movie because they were live characters, very credible ones.
Acting: Three actresses playing the same character in different time – Ronan, Garai and Redgrave are all great. I would say most impressive is Ronan, who is not better then Redgrave but considering she was thirteen at the time she was incredible. James McAwoy gives a terrific nuanced and subtle performance. His calm and intelligence is great. He plays the calm, intelligent but very self assured young man, son of the maid just perfectly. Knightley also conveys her character in superb way. In the beginning under a cold and sharp behavior, you can see she is boiling pot of emotions and when they burst out it is really impressive. Then she plays passionate, loving girl who also upon meeting those she considers enemy can be cold and sharp again. All her three character positions are played beautifully. I think it is a shame that those two did not get at least Oscar nomination.
Directing and camera: This film is just beautiful, full of great scenes. You really feel what is happening: hot summer afternoon, summer night, incredible chaos of beaches of Dunkirk or chaotic scenes from hospital. Joe Wright is really a master of "moody" scenes. Great one was the ling scene from Dunkirk, which is one of the most impressive scenes I have seen.
Music: Very good and greatly put into the movie. Also very clever was the use of the typewriter sound in the beginning of the movie.
Conclusion: One of my favorite films. Beautifully shot, with good music and great performances most notably form McAwoy and Knightley (who is also incredibly beautiful and wears the famous green dress). Also story is very good and it will not let you go long after the movie ends.