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.
1 comment:
Atonement was a great flick; it looked and felt a lot like Pride and Prejudice… come to think of it, both movies have the same director, leading lady, both are based on books and both take place in England
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