A Beautiful Yet Exhausting Film

Rating: 6/10 (17 February 2008)

This movie, although many will go against this declaration, is not for every type of viewer. Those who enjoy ampulous movies, watching the production details, or gasping against fabulous skies and fields for minutes, and enjoy a lenghty, slowly told story; will like it. Those (most likely men) who enjoy another type of movies; fast movies, with fulfilling characters, twists and sudden changes, will be disappointed by Atonement.
My partial disliking of the film, however, comes through another lane. The story, and semi-spoiler ahead, centers mainly and poses the eye on the couple of Robbie (McAvoy) and Cecilia (Knieghtly) and it's relationship. Yet their relationship is nothing more than a sexual attraction arising from years of close living together. Their is no inner travels to their feelings, but to their thoughts. It's a cold relationship, moved by some impacts and problems that do not really satisfy the romantic crave.
Later we realize the focus and most compromising story gathers around Briony (a beautiful and genius Saoirse Ronan) and her story of Atonement through a mistake she did. We will appreciate the closing, her development, and she will be the most endurable character.
Then why did the story hesitated in showing random scenes of Robbie at war, showing the despair of War that nothing has to do with the spine of the movie. The story of Lola doesn't bring much to the story, but a device to fuel the conflicts. Neither does the long stays at hospitals.
Why did they deviate the focus so much, why did they change the optic on stories, not knowing who finally is the backbone of the movie? "Atonement" is beautiful, has delicious camera works and stylized production values. Yet it is exhausting, dipped into much detail and perspective the inner struggle of characters isn't fully developed.
If it was a tad less cold, and more explicit in their sentiments, I would have liked it more. Yet, and I don't know why: I recommend you to see it. At least so you can get your own conclusion.