Atonement? More like A-groan-ment!
Atonement is a movie that starts out engaging and ends up off-putting. The visuals of the first (let’s say) section are shimmering and colorful and somehow detailed enough to be realistic. And Keira has never looked better. The scene in which she and James McAvoy get physical up against the bookshelf is some hot, hot stuff. And then the little blonde girl tells a lie and James goes to prison. And then… and then… and then I have no idea what happens. It’s like a totally different movie. Gone is the compelling narrative structure and rich eye candy. This movie has so many jumps forward and backward in time it’s like a poorly written episode of Quantum Leap. And don’t even get me started on the “twist ending” that seemed to have audience members unanimously reevaluating their place in the universe. It comes off as yet another unnecessary layer of confusion. Does this chick ever tell the truth?
I agree, but you have to admit that the scene where Briony is talking to the dying soldier was pretty gripping.
Comment by Anton — March 20, 2008 @ 1:23 am
Definitely. You know it’s gonna get bad, but you’re still totally unprepared for when a chunk of his head just falls out. Yeesh.
Comment by Benny — March 21, 2008 @ 6:39 pm