ATONEMENT

"Come back to me"

As British Government politically tussles with Adolf Hitler and his Nazi regime, the Tallis family prepare for the return of their eldest son by having a black tie dinner party. For 13 year-old Briony (Ronan) it was the chance to reveal her latest play but as her sister Cecilia (Knightley) and gardener Robbie (McAvoy) continued to act strangely towards each other, Briony was more interested in discovering why. On the night of the party, her snooping puts her in a position to see something she really shouldn't have and with her imagination running wild, Robbie is accused of a despicable crime he didn't commitment. Five years later Briony is riddled by guilt about what she did and is desperate to make amends but Robbie is now fighting the Germans in France and Cecilia has left her family behind.

If there is one thing that the British film industry can do extremely well is period drama but can 'Atonement' combine the pomp and circumstance of upper class living with the devastation and despair of the Dunkirk withdrawal during Second World War to produce a classic movie?

Based on Ian McEwan's novel and directed by Joe Wright, 'Atonement' is a movie that recreates the feeling of classic cinema. Forbidden love, mistaken identity, wrongful prosecution, enduring love and the guilt of trying to put things right all combine with the blistering summer of 1935 and Allied forces withdrawal at Dunkirk in 1940 to produce one of the best British movies for a very long time.

The story of the love of a society heiress and the gardener who are torn apart by her younger sister is one that will stay with you for a very long time. Starting during one of the hottest British summers on record, the opening act introduces us to the Tallis family and their country estate. As the heat increases and they prepare a dinner party to celebrate the return of the eldest son of the family, thirteen year-old Briony is preparing to reveal her latest play with the help of her increasingly bored cousins. Her sister Cecilia is busy avoiding gardener Robbie, who she hasn't spoken to since they returned from University. After the death of Robbie's father, the Tallis family took him in and paid for his education. Now a part of the family, something isn't right between Cecilia and him and Briony has noticed this but when Robbie asks her to deliver a letter to her sister, she reads something that should have never have been sent. A series of events follow and it concludes with Robbie been arrested for a despicable crime and Briony is the witness that has him arrested. Five years later and Europe is in the grip of war. Robbie is fighting for his life in Northern France, Cecilia has left her family behind and joined the war effort as a nurse and Briony growing maturity has made her realise that watch she read and witnessed when she was thirteen might not have been what she told the police. Riddled by guilt, she is desperate to make amends and bring her sister and Robbie back together again.

With a storyline that cries out drama and passion, 'Atonement' is made all the more stunning by the stunning cinematography and a compelling score. Each shot is beautifully realised, recreating the era with great skill and authenticity. You could take any frame and put it on your wall as a piece of art. The score by Dario Marianelli, who was Oscar nominated for director Joe Wright's last movie 'Pride & Prejudice', drives the movie along and sets the tone for the drama that is ensuing on screen.

The film would be nothing without performances to draw you into the story and the characters. Working with Joe Wright for the second time, Keira Knightley follows up her performance in 'Pride & Prejudice' with another fine turn as Cecilia. The object of Robbie's affections, Cecilia is a strong character, driven by her passion and love for the man she knows was wrongly accused. This is another role that gives the actress chance to show that she is more than a pretty face and a performer that should be taken seriously. James McAvoy is quickly becoming one of Britain's best actors working today. As Robbie, he shows real passion during the first act, longing in the second and anger and redemption in the third, showing a real range to his performance as the wrongly accused man, punished for been in love. Again McAvoy shows he is an actor of real depth and skill and one that will soon be graced with many a golden statue. Saoirse Ronan and Romola Garai are also superb as the thirteen and eighteen year-old versions of Briony, each of them giving very difference performances ranging from supreme confident and surety to guilt-riddled desperation, longing to make amends. These are two talented, young performers who drive the film along.

'Atonement' is a piece of classic cinema. Riddled with passion and drama and driven by superb performances and stunning photography and sound, this is a showcase for what British filmmaking can achieve and sets the standard for everything that will follow.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1 with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the movie is presented well.

BONUS FEATURES

Deleted Scenes (7.35 mins)
Entitled 'Briony rips poster', 'Emily speaks to Jack', 'Cecilia and Leon on terrace', 'Dunkirk: Alternative Start', 'Walk through the fields', 'Under the bridge' and 'Ice factory', these deleted scenes are accompanied by commentary by director Joe Wright

The Making of Atonement (26.54 mins)
Director Joe Wright, novelist Ian McEwan, screenwriter Christopher Hampton, producer Paul Webster and actors Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai and Vanessa Redgrave take you behind the scenes of the making of 'Atonement'. The featurette looks at adapting the novel, creating three versions of Briony, the tragic romance of the piece, the locations, recreating Dunkirk and working with the director. This is a good watch and covers most aspects of the film's production.

Novel to the Screen (5.05 mins)
Director Joe Wright, novelist Ian McEwan, screenwriter Christopher Hampton, producer Paul Webster and actors Keira Knightley and James McAvoy talk about the complexities of the novel and adapting for the silver screen.

Feature Commentary with director Joe Wright
The man at the helm talks passionately about his follow up to 'Pride and Prejudice'. In an informative commentary, Joe Wright covers every aspect of the film's production, talks about casting, locations, adapting the novel, the three different time periods and reveals some stories from behind the scenes. This is a good track that fans of the film will enjoy.

Trailer
A preview of 'Elizabeth: The Golden Age'

OVERALL

The DVD treatment for 'Atonement' is good and one that fans should enjoy. While it would have been better if there was a featurette about the recreation of Dunkirk but the rest of special features and the commentary make this good value.

DVD

The English Patient

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2007