wonderful

Rating: 10/10 (8 September 2007)

As a huge fan of Ian McEwan's novel, I was originally anxious as to how any film could accurately portray it, and not a little jealous as I had decided it my destiny to write the screenplay. However, Joe Wright exceeded my already reasonably high expectations (he did well on Pride and Prejudice) and delivered a masterpiece. Briony, a 13-year old girl, has an extremely fertile imagination, and has been writing stories from a very young age. At the beginning of the film, she has just completed her first play, and is learning the difficulties that follow this, i.e., actor trouble and worries about rehearsals. It is clear early on that Briony has slightly egocentric tendencies. For one, all her toy animals face her writing desk, where she is usually to be found. So when her older Cecelia and her friend Robbie finally start their long anticipated relationship, Briony has misinterpreted the signals that led to it, and believes Cecelia to be the victim of a predator. And so she tells a lie that will ruin the couple's chance of happiness. Years later, Robbie has been sent off to war, Cecelia is a nurse, and Briony a trainee nurse, trying to atone for what she did four years ago. We have star acting from all of the main cast, and to be honest, I really loved Robbie's army buddy, whose final line finally brought out my long held back tears. Keira Knightly looked lovely, and has finally moved on from coming-of-age roles to Woman, and may I say she does it beautifully! All three actresses who played Briony did so just right for her age, especially Vanessa Redgrave. James McAvoy, however, delivered a stunning performance- from quite comic humour as he realises a rather embarrassing letter mix-up to seething with anger as he shouts at a humbled Briony. Atonement has already been predicted as a huge Oscar winner, and I can definitely back that.I would definitely recommend this film and give it ten stars.