A beautiful and haunting daydream that will floor you.

Rating: 9/10 (23 June 2010)

Occasionally, a film will be made with such power and emotion that it will shake you to your very core. Atonement is one such film, a worthy winner of the Golden Globe for Best Drama, and what, in a different year, could have taken home the Oscar. I dunno if it was just me, but I was so affected by this film that I barely remember even leaving the theater afterward. It weighed heavy on my mind for over a week. It is the story of a young girl's selfish actions and the consequences those actions have on the people she loves the most. It is gorgeously directed by Joe Wright, who had previously debuted with Pride and Prejudice. Watch for the tracking shot on the beaches at Dunkirk. Flawless.
The acting is phenomenal on every level. James McAvoy and Keira Knightley sizzle as two lovers whose fates stem directly from one misunderstanding. Saoirse Ronan, who was twelve when she did this film, is a revelation as the young and naive sister of Keira Knightley.
I will reveal no spoilers here, but if you want an example of what happens fine storytelling, directing, and acting come together to make something beautiful and heartbreaking, Atonement is your movie.