Breathtaking, heartbreaking, but flawed

Rating: 9/10 (8 February 2008)

Ian McEwen's brilliant novel is one of the most popular of recent years. Ever since it was published in 2001 it seemed as if it was destined for the screen. However, there are undoubted problems with adapting it for cinema. The structure is anything but cinematic and there are so many perspectives that the novel is written from that adapting it successfully seemed impossible. This is nowhere near as detailed or as electric as the novel, but that would be impossible. This is a successful adaptation of a difficult novel that is filled with invention, quality and is genuinely beautiful.
The starting point with any film is the script and Christopher Hampton's script can only be described as tough. It does a very hard job quite well. It is interesting, genuinely well written but he fails to do justice to the novel. The latter part doesn't matter, as each adaptation deserves to be taken on its own merits, but it doesn't manage to be quick enough at points and the film chooses to centre on the romance more than the real central character, Briony. As such, she suffers a bit.
However, Joe Wright must be commended for his fine work on this film. He lifts the film from what the script is and introduces a lavish visual style to every frame, genuinely interesting directorial touches and, whilst this film is by no means perfect, he shows great potential. He evokes the heat of the English summer, the passion of the central relationship and the horror of the Second World War with apparent ease. The result is a film that is genuinely heartbreaking and breathtaking.
The film is assisted by a supremely good ensemble. James McAvoy is the standout. He is spectacular as Robbie Turner and takes the weight of this film on his shoulders and carries it off superbly. The lack of awards consideration he's received is scandalous. Keira Knightley delivers her best performance to date, but is still somewhat outshone here. Saoirse Ronan is brilliant, as is Romola Garai and Vanessa Redgrave, all in the role of Briony.
The visual style is near perfect. The cinematography is stunning, as is the costume, the production design and the make-up. However, the score is quite astounding. Dario Marianelli produces some ingenious music that incorporates the strangely lyrical sound of the typewriter with a superb orchestral score and emotive piano solos.
All of these elements contribute to an excellent film. It is also helped by some quite extraordinary sequences, most notably the four and a half minute long tracking shot of the beaches on Dunkirk that shows the horror of that retreat and is breathtaking, but there are four or five of these moments. It is a flawed film, but it is a fine one. A film that doesn't have to be seen, but should be seen. Wright shows himself to be a promising director and McAvoy appears to be a tremendous actor. But, ultimately, this film shows the visual power of cinema and its potential, even if this is not a perfect example of it.