Atonement or Bragging?

Rating: 8/10 (25 December 2010)

Atonement is a brilliant adaptation for the screen of Ian McEwan's World War II dark, mis-casted romance of Robey Turner (James McAvoy) and "C" Tallis (Keira Knightley). The division of Christopher Hampton's brilliant screenplay into three principal parts, first set pre-war on an English country manor, then four years later in the midst of the disaster at Dunkirk, and then 60 years later in post-war Britain follows in the main the direction of McEwan's popular novel. It avoids the oppressive ennui of the first 50 pages of the McEwan novel by focusing directly on the major theme of the work, the misinterpretation of an adult event seen through immature teenage eyes.
To emphasize the point, Christopher Hampton uses a technique that violates the cardinal rule of story telling employing a multiple perspective on a particular scene.
The first part of the screenplay faithfully follows the book without venturing into the book's tedium.
The matriarch of the Estate, suffering in the summer heat from a migraine, laments that warm weather leads to immoral conduct. Age 13, Briony Tallis, "C's" teenage sister, is particularly attentive. Having caught the servant's son Robey and her patrician sister in 'fond embrace' in the Manor's library, Briony has persuaded herself that Robey is a sex maniac. When she spies her 16 year old cousin Lola Quincey (Juno Temple) out in the bushes with guest Paul Marshall (Benedict Cumberbatch), Briony cries rape and accuses Robey. Out of convenience or indifference, the elite prosecute Robey who is whisked off the prison with "C" crying "Come back to me."
Part II of the movie is fairly faithful to the book. Indeed in Part II, the action in the book becomes somewhat lively and interesting.
Flash ahead four years, Robey is out of stir in the fire of battle on the continent with the "John Bull" type Tommy Nettles (Daniel Mays)and the colonial sergeant Frank Mace (Nonso Anozie). Nettles complains "give the Jerries the continent; the French hate us anyway. Lets keep our Empire." Robey promises a kindly French farmer that the British will return. The Colonial emblematic for what was to come drifts away.
Rescued from Dunkirk, Robey reunites with "C." Briony tearfully promises to atone, to set the record straight. Is this a formula Hollywood ending?
Flash ahead 40 years to Part III for the surprise which is delivered with a bang. The ending differs from the book. The movie ending is well played and short, but one wonders whether Briony is atoning or bragging.
The book's ending is more drawn out and leaves a different question most subtly: Did Briony make the whole thing up?
The story is typically English with the long time gaps. I might have thought Robey's trial and conviction too interesting to leave out.