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Movie Review: Atonement

Can Keira Atone For Priates?

It's the movie that everyone is talking about. Nominated for every award under the sun and starring the English rose herself (Keira Knightley) is - and I won't beat about the bush - the incredible Atonement.

Normally I'm the first to admit it: I detest period dramas. I was absolutely certain I was going to walk out within ten minutes or so. But I didn't. I was gripped by this pure masterpiece of a movie. This is The Piano for a new generation.

Oddly for today's movie world, however, this film isn't about the character played by either of the stars. Not exclusively, anyway. While Knightley and her co-star James McAvoy (The Last King Of Scotland) are in most of the scenes, the story is actually told from the perspective of Briony Tallis, the younger sister of Cecilia (Knightley), an aspiring novelist and playwright whose actions are the catalyst for the entire unfolding story.

Set in 1930s/40s wartime England, McAvoy plays Robbie Turner, the son of the Tallis' ex-housekeeper, who has been raised by the Tallis family as one of the siblings, and has just returned to the house from university. In a bizarre twist that will surely be made illegal at the next meeting of the thought police, Robbie is in love with his pseudo-adopted-half-sister Cecilia, while Briony has a crush on her pseudo-adopted-half-brother. Not that I'd ever insinuate that the great Ian McEwan (The author of the original book) has mental problems or a drug habit, but that's seriously "WTF?" - albeit while being intriguing and innocent enough that he gets away with it.

The plot kicks into action when Briony, out of jealousy of her older sister, accuses Robbie of a crime he didn't commit: The rape of 12-year-old Lola - again, WTF? Amidst all this, Cecilia and Robbie declare their love for each other. Briony bears false witness, and their lives are changed forever.

Robbie signs on for the Second World War to escape prison, a valid and preferable choice. Cecilia joins the war effort as a nurse, later followed by Briony. I won't tell you anymore. It'll ruin it. And I'd hate to do that, because this film is fantastic. One of the best ever made.

And I hate period dramas. So that should tell you something.

My rating: 10/10 - I don't give them out often, but this one earned it - and all the awards it's about to win -with bells on.

Coming Soon: Rambo

Heroes Never Die... They Just Reload

Or so reads the tagline of the lastest Stallone revisit to the 80s. Yes, John Rambo is back. And he's doing charity work. Kinda.

We rejoin the ultimate 80s action hero as he lives the quiet life as a fisherman in Bangkok, Thailand (Insert 'shooting fish' joke here) where he has happily retired after single-handedly destroying the entire Vietcong and achieving something that even JFK, Johnson, Ford and Nixon couldn't do.

Soon though, this quiet life is interrupted by a group of Christian human rights missionaries, led by Michael Burnett (Paul Schulze; Ryan Chappelle in 24) and Sarah Miller, (Julie Benz; Darla in Buffy/Angel and Rita in Dexter) who want to rent his boat to travel up the river to Burma. Burma, in case you don't know, is a bit like Vietnam. It's a war zone and a human rights nightmare.

After some consideration and advice from an old mentor, Rambo takes on 'his most deadly mission yet.' Taking on the entire Burmese military, led by Major Pa Tee Tint (Played by newcomer Maung Maung Khin) with only five mercenaries to help him out.

The film also features English actor Matthew Marsden (DOA: Dead Or Alive, Resident Evil: Extinction, Coronation Street) but doesn't, as rumoured, feature Lost's Matthew Fox. I have no idea why, but I'm betting he wishes he was in it, what with the writers having a laze around and all and holding up season four of Lost.

Will Rambo save the day, Burma, the world and the American way? I suspect he will. But I'll still be at the cinema watching to find out.

Rambo opens in the US on January 25th, the UK on February 22nd, and Japan on June 28th. But if you're really desperate to see it, you can fly out to Greece, Russia or Singapore and watch it on January 24th.

Coming Soon: MTV Announces 'Stop-Loss'

MTV Announces Stop-Loss; Ryan Phillippe To Star

MTV has announced the upcoming MTV Films production Stop-Loss, starring Ryan Phillippe (Cruel Intentions, Gosford Park, Flags Of Our Fathers) and Channing Tatum. (Coach Carter, A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints)

Phillippe, 34, will play Brandon King, a soldier returning to Texas after fighting in Iraq. Upon receiving a government mandate to return to action, King refuses to fight in this pseudo-political drama.

Judging on the trailer alone (Viewable at http://www.stoplossmovie.com/) this looks like a promising movie. Directed by Kimberly Peirce, (Boys Don't Cry) this is a movie that, if successful, could spell a return to form for both director and star, neither of whom has produced anything stellar in recent years.

Reviews from early screenings are very positive, although there are criticisms levelled that the plot is somewhat predictable, but if you head over to IMDB you'll be pleasantly surprised by what people are saying. This one is certainly on my 'must-see' list for 2008.

Stop-Loss opens in the US on March 28, the UK on April 11th and throughout the rest of Europe starting in France on May 7th.

Some Of My Movie Pet Hates (AKA About Me in C Minor)

I thought I'd better start this off with sort of an introduction to me. I know that sentence is poor journalism, and so is this one. But it's my blog, and I'll start it how I want and leave the professional stuff for the bits I actually think people will read.

I'm Kriss, I'm currently 22 and 3/4 and I live amongst the 'Dreaming Spires' of Oxford, England. And for those Americans who may be reading - espescially the Olsen Twins who did no research before writing 'Winning London' - no, that isn't in London.

I have two children, and they are, without question, better looking than yours. I'd post pictures, but some people on the internet are creepy, so you'll have to take my word for it.

I like movies. Everything about movies. I like to watch them, like to write them, like to make them and like to be in them. I'm in the IMDB. As a runner. But hey, at least I'm in there. I despise celebrity gossip, but it'll probably draw hits, so I'll probably post some.

Celebrities I like: Johnny Depp, Kiera Knightley (No, I'm not a Pirates obsessive, I hate those bloody movies), Patrick Stewart, Ashton Kutcher (He can't really act, but he's banging Demi Moore. And that deserves respect), Meryl Streep, Lindsey Lohan, Robert DeNiro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kylie Minogue, Mariah Carey, Brad Pitt, Marlon Brando, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe. Well, that's a few of them anyway.

Celebrities I hate: Britney Spears (Am I the only one that hopes she kills herself?), Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, Victoria 'Posh Spice' Beckham, Eddie Murphy (I know he was funny in Shrek, but the guy is an immense tool) and anyone who ever did reality TV with the possible exception of Jason Donovan.

Films I love: Anything Tarantino, anything Kevin Smith, and those dudes who made Superbad are on fire. I love loads of films, this is a film blog, for Christ's sake.

Films I hate: The Pirates Of The Caribbean trilogy, (Sorry Jerry, but they sucked. Get over it.) The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, ("All it was, was a bunch of people walking. Three movies of people walking to a fucking volcano" - Kevin Smith wrote a better review of those movies than I ever could.) and I currently really, really fucking hate St. Tinians. It's shit, Russell Brand is a total shit-for-brains wanker and there's no plot. When a film is so bad than Colin Firth can't save it, you know it was made by retards.

I like music, too. But I hate lists. Espescially writing lists. So I'm not going to list my favourite tunes. But I listen to a lot of Kate Nash. Her music is fantastic and she's gorgeous. What? I don't have to justify myself to you.