Have a Guinness when you are tired

Rating: 5/10 (29 December 2007)

I have found Atonement somewhat disappointing. Even though I have not read Ian McEwan's novel, it is rather obvious that only a great novel could inspire such a good story and the story is by far the best what this movie has. Acting is distant second best and the rest is only fair. Apparently the main problem is that the director Joe Wright has little clue about how to make a psychological drama and with amazing persistence treats this genre as an action movie or a thriller. After the first 15 minutes I became so annoyed and tired with an endless stream of fast-pacing flash-and-go scenes that I was really looking forward to a commercial break. And -- surprise! -- the commercial break came up, although a little late. It happened when Cecilia (Keira Knightley) was leaving on a bus, with Robbie (James McAvoy) running after her. The back of the bus had a large slogan painted across: "Have a Guinness when you are tired". It looked just perfect beside beautiful Keira Knightley, indeed. To summarize, it would be unfair to say that the film has totally ruined the story; however, it leaves an impression that its creators perhaps needed a bit more Guinness.