A slightly flawed work of art

Rating: 8/10 (19 February 2008)

As always with the Coen brothers a handcrafted, studious effort with acting of the highest order and a no-holds-barred critical view of America, summed up by one character in the film as 'It's a country that's hard on people'. My only reservation was that it was like watching a performance of 'Hamlet' in which Hamlet doesn't turn up for the final duel scene. Frustrating to say the least!
But the Coens are admirable in the Shakespearian way they mix humor with tragedy and scorn recourse to any special incidental music effects to enhance the sense of impending doom. They also take their time telling the story. Though I enjoyed it immensely, I would have liked 'Atonement' to have teased things out a bit more if only to give the characters more depth.