Not a chick flick in the least.

Rating: 10/10 (18 March 2008)

When I first heard about this movie I was kind of in between if I really wanted to watch it or not, and boy am I glad I did. Although I am usually open to watch any movie and give it a fighting chance. Especially a movie that is up for a picture of the year award, then it is almost always a given that I'll watch it. Atonement is honestly up there as my picture of the year (either this or Gone Baby Gone which was poorly misrepresented in the whole award ceremony).
Atonement provides the viewer a completely engaging experience, on multiple different levels. First it sweeps you up with an engaging romance that was completely misinterpreted and misunderstood. Then gives the viewer a look on both sides of the fence. Seeing the young man go off to war away from his love and how they both coped with being apart from one another. And more importantly the grown up little girl who separated the two young lovers and how she was dealing with the mistake that she had made. I like the presentation, I like the actors, and I just flat out like this movie. Most movies I watch (I do work at a Blockbuster) just seem to drag and I'm always watching the clock to when it will be over (Michael Clayton, No Country For Old Men, We Own the Night, and I could keep going) instead of watching the movie itself. But Atonement was a complete experience that I never lost interest in and was actually disappointed that it ended. It is a sad ending, I will warn the casual viewer, but don't let that draw you away, it's well worth it in the end.
So guys if you like good movies, watch this one with your girl. You won't be disappointed and you might actually like it.