|
|
|
Atonement
(2007)
This film is technically flawless, stunning even, but it lacks
emotional resonance, and it's this that dooms it to being more style
than substance.
A 13-year-old girl named Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) misunderstands
the complexity of the adult world when she witnesses sexual activity
between her older sister Cecilia (Keira Knightley) and housekeeper's
son Robbie (James McAvoy). When her cousin Lola (Juno Temple) is
raped, Briony is convinced that Robbie is responsible, which sets in
motion several tragedies.
Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons, Mary Reilly) adapts Ian
McEwan's novel into a screenplay that director Joe Wright (Pride &
Prejudice) turns into a series of pretty images, but something
important is missing from the equation. A story about passion and
tragedy needs to engage you emotionally far more than this one does,
and no amount of excellent production values can replace that. One
glaring flaw is the relationship between Cecilia and Robbie isn't
properly established, another is the narrative trickery in the third
act that renders the recounting of earlier events unreliable, which
again distances the audience from the film. Wright's direction also
seems too showy at times, particularly the Dunkirk scenes. The
powerful sequence of soldiers waiting for rescue ships just feels out
of place here.
Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey (The Hours, World Trade Center)
uses his tools in this production the way a master painter might.
From a rural English manor to London under siege to war-torn France,
McGarvey treats us to one gorgeously lit scene after another. It's
some of the absolute best cinematography seen on the screen in 2007.
Production designer Sarah Greenwood (Pride & Prejudice, Starter for
10) and costume designer Jacqueline Durran (Pride & Prejudice)
provide sumptuous sets and costumes that convincingly recreate a
bygone era. Dario Marianelli (Pride & Prejudice, V for Vendetta)
adds a classy, understated score.
Ronan, a young actress with a bright future, is splendid as the
intelligent but uncomprehending Briony. Romola Garai and Vanessa
Redgrave also make their presences felt as the same character at later
stages of her life. McAvoy delivers another fine performance as
Robbie, but Knightley is bland as Cecilia. She doesn't have much
chemistry with McAvoy and she isn't able to bring any dimension to her
character beyond looking pretty. Temple is excellent as manipulative
teenager Juno. The rest of the cast is solid, including Harriet
Walker as the matriarch of the Tallis family, Patrick Kennedy as
Cecilia and Briony's older brother Leon, Brenda Blethyn as Robbie's
mother, Benedict Cumberbatch as Leon's visiting friend Paul, and Danny
Mays as one of Robbie's fellow soldiers.
Atonement is nice to look at and offers some good performances, but
there's no emotional connection and nothing deeper under the surface.
As a whole, the dramatic elements are disappointing in comparison to
the impressive technical elements.
|
|
|
|
All contents ©
2004-2009 Thoughtsonfilm.com |
|
|
 |
Director:
Joe
Wright
Writer: Christopher
Hampton, Ian
McEwan
Starring: James
McEvoy, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, Vanessa Redgrave
Distributor: Focus
Features
Runtime: 130
min
Rating: R
Release Date: December
7, 2007
|
|
 |
|
