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Amazon.co.uk Review
Atonement reunites Keira Knightley with her Pride & Prejudice director, Joe Wright, for the movie based on Ian McEwan’s book of the same name. The result? Once of the most widely acclaimed pictures of 2007.
Atonement tells the story of Cecilia Tallis (Knightley), and the housekeeper’s son, Robbie Turner (played by the increasingly prevalent James McAvoy). Set during the heat of 1935, their coming together and the ensuing drama brings in Cecilia’s thirteen-year old sister, Briony, whose actions prove to have far-reaching repercussions.
With a terrific cast and superb direction from the aforementioned Wright, it’s utterly understandable as to how Atonement has earned itself such praise. Diligently told, with some superb photography, Wright is blessed by terrific central performances by Knightley and McAvoy, both of whom have never been better. His trick also is to get the pacing of the film bang-on, taking his time to build up and layer events before he looks for any kind of pay off.
As a result, as Atonement heads into its latter stages, it proves itself as a top quality drama, with a real emotional punch. Furthermore, it’s one of the increasingly rare breed of films that sticks in your head for days after.
As a result, for once, it really is worth seeing what critics the world over have been raving about: Atonement really is something very special indeed. --Jon Foster
DVD Description
On the hottest day of the summer of 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis sees her older sister Cecilia (Kiera Knightley) strip off her clothes and plunge into the fountain in the garden of their country house. Watching Cecilia is their housekeeper's son Robbie Turner (James McAvoy), a childhood friend who, along with Briony's sister, has recently graduated from Cambridge.
By the end of that day the lives of all three will have been changed forever. Robbie and Cecilia will have crossed a boundary they had never before dared to approach and will have become victims of the younger girl's scheming imagination, and Briony will have committed a dreadful crime, the guilt for which will colour her entire life.
From the director of Pride & Prejudice and based on the novel by Ian McEwen comes "the best British film in years" – Sunday Times.
"As close to perfect as a movie can get" – Daily Mirror.
"An Essential" 5 Stars - Empire
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I personally found this a spellbinding movie, though I understand why critics would object. The literary origins are retained through the artifice of a structure essential to conceal the twist in the plot. The downside is that the film is somewhat stagey and stylised, though the author conceals shocks brilliantly. You are somehow aware of the artifice throughout, the reasons for which become apparent at the end.
The country house scenes look very chocolate box, and could easily have been the start of a familiar romantic drama of the Camomile Lawn ilk, but all is thrown into disarray in rapid succession by the use of a taboo word, an act of witnessed passion, the violent rape of a young girl and a false accusation.
What follows is the unfolding drama and the story of the atonement, told in several chapters and centred around the character Briony at three ages - 13, 18 and 77. To give each credit, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai and Vanessa Redgrave each give a sparkling turn and look precisely like an older version of their younger selves. Ronan in particular makes a magical job of competing for screen time with the likes of McAvoy, Knightley, Cumberbatch, Kennedy and Walter - and frankly, wins hands down most of the time!
The finest set piece is however Dunkirk. There is a single, intricate shot weaving in and out of the huge and complex array of activity on the beach as McAvoy's Robbie and his two companions try to find their way around. This is masterly film-making and worth the price of the DVD on its own.
The denouement is left in the hands of Vanessa Redgrave, and what a smashing job she makes of it too. Fragile yet playful, wistful yet leaving no doubt of the sincerity of her regrets, this is a fine performance.
McEwan seems blissfully happy with the translation of his novel, and why not? It seems from what people say to have stuck closely to the script in the capable hands of Christopher Hampton. The story is opened out but remains very true to its historical mores and morality. If anything, this makes it even more claustrophobic. Perhaps Hampton could have listened less to McEwan and followed more closely his own instincts to create a vivid big screen vision of McEwan's novel, it could have achieved the golden 5 stars, but even so - pretty darned good!
The country house scenes look very chocolate box, and could easily have been the start of a familiar romantic drama of the Camomile Lawn ilk, but all is thrown into disarray in rapid succession by the use of a taboo word, an act of witnessed passion, the violent rape of a young girl and a false accusation.
What follows is the unfolding drama and the story of the atonement, told in several chapters and centred around the character Briony at three ages - 13, 18 and 77. To give each credit, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai and Vanessa Redgrave each give a sparkling turn and look precisely like an older version of their younger selves. Ronan in particular makes a magical job of competing for screen time with the likes of McAvoy, Knightley, Cumberbatch, Kennedy and Walter - and frankly, wins hands down most of the time!
The finest set piece is however Dunkirk. There is a single, intricate shot weaving in and out of the huge and complex array of activity on the beach as McAvoy's Robbie and his two companions try to find their way around. This is masterly film-making and worth the price of the DVD on its own.
The denouement is left in the hands of Vanessa Redgrave, and what a smashing job she makes of it too. Fragile yet playful, wistful yet leaving no doubt of the sincerity of her regrets, this is a fine performance.
McEwan seems blissfully happy with the translation of his novel, and why not? It seems from what people say to have stuck closely to the script in the capable hands of Christopher Hampton. The story is opened out but remains very true to its historical mores and morality. If anything, this makes it even more claustrophobic. Perhaps Hampton could have listened less to McEwan and followed more closely his own instincts to create a vivid big screen vision of McEwan's novel, it could have achieved the golden 5 stars, but even so - pretty darned good!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It is a delightful film, well paced, with a beautiful background, strong emotions and remarquable actors. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend it. I found it just as enjoyable as the book it was adapted from.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Joe Wright's adaptation of Ian McEwan's beautiful novel is a passionately romantic account of how childhood feelings, betrayals and misunderstandings lead to the collapse of adult relationships. It is a film which has all many of the hallmarks of classic British movies; a hot summer in a country mansion; the ravages of war and class tension.
It is a lavishly directed film; the choice of shots superb. The close ups of Briony as she delivers her evidence without pause or hesitation; the views of the evacuation of Dunkirk shot in a beautiful warm summer's glow allowing the whole scenario a surrealsitic quality. The pace of the film and the changes in tempo are impressive. The music which is sentimental and romantic underscores the irony of the failures of love which the film reveals.
I enjoyed the quality of the acting this work, particularly in the claustrophobic country-house scenes at the start. The brevity of the adaptation did mean that some characters did feel rather lightweight and I missed the characterisation that the novel was able to develop.
The last scenes of the film do however leave a feeling of dissatisfaction; as an audience we have been asked to accept a premise only for it to be swept away- it's not that the ending doesn't work only that it makes you question the validity of all you have seen before.
The sense of doubt and uncertainty is annoying because this is a fine film .
It is a lavishly directed film; the choice of shots superb. The close ups of Briony as she delivers her evidence without pause or hesitation; the views of the evacuation of Dunkirk shot in a beautiful warm summer's glow allowing the whole scenario a surrealsitic quality. The pace of the film and the changes in tempo are impressive. The music which is sentimental and romantic underscores the irony of the failures of love which the film reveals.
I enjoyed the quality of the acting this work, particularly in the claustrophobic country-house scenes at the start. The brevity of the adaptation did mean that some characters did feel rather lightweight and I missed the characterisation that the novel was able to develop.
The last scenes of the film do however leave a feeling of dissatisfaction; as an audience we have been asked to accept a premise only for it to be swept away- it's not that the ending doesn't work only that it makes you question the validity of all you have seen before.
The sense of doubt and uncertainty is annoying because this is a fine film .
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
atonement
i really enjoyed the film especialy the ending,i was not
expecting that one.
it was my first experience of blue ray and the clarity of
the picture was amazing.
expecting that one.
it was my first experience of blue ray and the clarity of
the picture was amazing.
Published 4 months ago by albee
No way as good as the book-read the book first!!!!!
This is a pretty near to the book adaptation of the story of atonement but somehow it just doesn't translate so well into film there is to me something intangible lost in the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ladyg
Atonement - A superior and moving romance
This sumptuous film follows the story of Robbie (McAvoy), who through the good offices of his employer has the qualities of a gentleman, and the love of Cecilia (Knightly), his... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Victor
A very good buy
I consider myself as a war film fan. Some that I have bought have been rubbish, this one however is excellent in the way that it brings to life london in WW11. Read more
Published 7 months ago by BarryV
''Lives Up to the Hype'' - Atonement (DVD)
I'd heard a lot of very good reviews about this film when it first was released in cinemas, and then onto DVD. Read more
Published 7 months ago by ''Rebel Flower''
Atonement - Style over Substance
I agree with previous comments that this is a very stylish film. It's very pretty to look at but somehow loses the soul that you need to really connect with the characters. Read more
Published 11 months ago by National Treasure
The worst ending ever
The film is okay up to half way, but even then I'd totally understand why someone would think it was tripe. Read more
Published 11 months ago by F. Granville
Good Enough for Me!
When it comes to adapting a novel for the screen, the most important element for me is to stick to the plot, themes, and keep as much of the original dialogue as possible. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Rochester
You'll need tissues
After using some clips of the film at school, I decided to buy it since it looked great. I was right to do so. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Clozet
Historical Accuracy Right Out Of The Window!!
Oh dear! I had been informed that the Dunkirk scenes were superb, so imagine my astonishment when I heard words put into the mouth of a naval officer to the effect that 'We lost... Read more
Published 13 months ago by G. Hewitt
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