Subtle but sometimes ham-fisted!

Rating: 7/10 (12 September 2008)

This is a visually ravishing feast based on the celebrated novel by Ian McEwen. James Mcavoy excels, and there is good support work from the likes of Benedict Cumberpatch and Harriet Walter. I struggled at times with Keira Knightly. I just didn't think she inhabited the part in quite the way she should have. But this is a small bit of nitpicking. Joe Wright directed this with exceptional flair. The cinematography was excellent. Some beautiful compositions and the colours were ravishing and there was a real sense of scale to many of the big set pieces. My reservations are that despite everything I wasn't as moved by the climax as I felt I was supposed to be. I felt that much effort had been made to build to an emotional resolution but somehow it left me feeling cold. Something about it felt a little contrived for my taste. I read the novel shortly afterwards and I can see that something about the climax is more satisfying in novel form.