Essential Movie Viewing

Rating: 9/10 (4 January 2008)

I saw Attonement sitting at the very front of the cinema, in the row where even when you slouch you cannot see the whole of the screen. This horrible disadvantage when seeing a movie did not lessen or do anything to impede my enjoyment of Attonement, this testifies just how good this film really is.
Attonement is set in the early 1900s and begins in an idyllic English house with a handful of characters. We first meet Briany (Saoirse Ronan)a young imaginative girl who then proceeds to lead us too the other characters in a series of quick scenes. She greets Robbie the (James Mcavoy) very briefly before we also get the first meeting with the other main character Cecilia (Keira Knightly).
Through a series of misconceptions and assumptions on Brianys behalf, she convinces herself that Robbie is a sex maniac and not too be trusted. As of such when an assault takes place near the house, she tells the police that Robbie is the culprit, she testifies against him, and he is sent too prison (chossing later to go too war instead) It's good to finally see a movie that does not treat the audience as six year old, instead it leaves the audience too notice the small, subtle details that are pivotal too the plot. By making this assumption, it makes the viewing experience more enjoyable as you begin too have to pick up and Analise peoples reactions, eyes and overall their characters to figure who is too be trusted and who is hiding under a phisade.
I also enjoyed this movie because of it's ability too make the whole thing seem so realistic. A mid way tracking shot of Dunkirk Beach is particularly effective in making it all seem so very real and haunting. The performances are top quality, James Mcavoy in particular juggles a complex role and breaks out with some truly mesmerizing acting moments. Attonement is ultimately a story of love, and really does not stray from this main plot. It's about a couple deeply in love, whom are separated, then against all odds they must get back too each other, very sentimental I know, but still it never seemed that way. The way it was filmed, written and acted did not let it become sentimental either, almost like a Shakespearian tragedy.
The Writing in Attonement is of absolute quality, it is convincing, believable and the end monologue left me stunned. This is a deep movie, that is deserving all off the credit it gets.