- Actors: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Brenda Blethyn, Saoirse Ronan, Ailidh Mackay
- Directors: Joe Wright
- Writers: Ian McEwan, Christopher Hampton
- Producers: Debra Hayward, Eric Fellner, Ian McEwan, Jane Frazer, Liza Chasin
- Format: AC-3, Colour, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language English, French
- Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
- Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.85:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: R (Restricted) (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: Universal Studios
- DVD Release Date: 18 Mar 2008
- Run Time: 123 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (243 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0013XZ6X4
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 161,180 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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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
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Stagey but spellbinding!,
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This review is from: Atonement [DVD] (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!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful,
By
This review is from: Atonement [DVD] (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.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Almost Great,
This review is from: Atonement [DVD] (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 .
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