Zack Mandell is a movie enthusiast,
writer of movie reviews, and owner of Movie Room Reviews which
has great information on movies and actors. He writes extensively about the
movie industry for sites such as Gossip Center, Yahoo, NowPublic, and Helium.
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| Atonement (2007) |
Atonement is a well written,
beautifully performed period film that was first released in 2007. It was
adapted from the novel by the same name, written by Ian McEwan, and released
in 2001. Atonement begins by painting
a picture of life in the joyful English country side of 1935. Having recently
recovered from the horrors of World War I, Britain is experiencing a calm that
is soon to be shattered by the start of World War II.
The
drama begins after Briony witnesses, and improperly interprets a shared moment
between Cecilia and Robbie through an upstairs window. Briony begins to think
of Robbie as someone he’s not, and her secret crush on Robbie clouds her
ability to see things for how they really are. The film does a great job of
demonstrating this by showing this scene first through the eyes of Briony, and
then from the perspective of Robbie and Cecilia. What Briony interprets as a
rude, aggressive advance on Robbie’s part is actually the first expression of
mutual interest, or love, Robbie and Cecilia share on screen.
The
innocence and joy of those involved is soon to be shattered. After their first
charged episode of on screen interaction between Robbie and Cecilia, Robbie
returns home and sets out to write Cecilia a letter. He writes, and re-writes
the letter, finally producing two versions, an appropriate letter, and another
that’s suggestive to say the least.
Although
he doesn't intend on giving the second letter to Cecilia he mistakenly grabs it
on his way out the door. Through an act that can only be described as bad luck,
Robbie gives the letter to Briony to give to her sister Cecilia. Being incapable
of self-control, Briony reads the letter and finds it disgusting, but at the
same time becomes jealous over Robbie’s affection towards her sister.
For
the morally inclined the movie takes a plunge during a library sex scene between
Cecilia and Robbie that Briony secretly views through a half-opened door. It’s
awkward and uncomfortable, but a necessary happening for what comes next. A
friend of the family, Paul Marshall (Benedict
Cumberbatch) rapes Briony’s teenage cousin Lola (Juno Temple) in the
woods, and although Briony is witness to the crime, she lies and says Robbie
committed the crime.
The
movie ends with an elderly Briony writing a book titled “Atonement”. Although
Cecilia dies in a tunnel during the bombing of Britain, and Robbie dies on the
beach at Dunkirk, Briony tries to restore some level of happiness between
Robbie and Cecilia through her fictional story telling. If they couldn't have
happiness in life, perhaps they can have it in death?
The Final Analysis
Atonement has quite a few emotional
ups and downs. For the majority of the film I wanted Robbie and Cecilia to get
a break and live happily ever after, but the movie never gave me that. I’ll
admit this film definitely had a more depressing ending than I am used to
seeing, but it was nice to experience something a little more realistic than
the idealized love stories movies tend to present.
The
scenery and score are both wonderful, and help add to the overall sensual
nature of the film. There are a few scenes that left me feeling awkward and
uncomfortable so I wouldn't suggest watching this movie with your kids.
Lastly,
although I've never read the book, the film adaptation of Atonement is phenomenal. If the book, like they always say, is truly
better than the movie, then the book is definitely worth a read!
