Atonement (2007)

Director:

Joe Wright

Writers:

Ian McEwan (novel)
Christopher Hampton (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 January 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

You can only imagine the truth.

Plot:

Fledgling writer Briony Tallis, as a 13-year-old, irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit. Based on the British romance novel by Ian McEwan.

Plot Keywords:

Child Abuse | Twins | Remorse | Countryside | Barn Owl

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 21 wins & 63 nominations

Cast

Ailidh Mackay	...	Singing Housemaid
Brenda Blethyn	...	Grace Turner
Romola Garai	...	Briony Tallis - Age 18
Saoirse Ronan	...	Briony Tallis - Age 13
Julia West	...	Betty
James McAvoy	...	Robbie Turner
Harriet Walter	...	Emily Tallis
Keira Knightley	...	Cecilia Tallis
Juno Temple	...	Lola Quincey
Felix von Simson	...	Pierrot Quincey
Charlie von Simson	...	Jackson Quincey
Alfie Allen	...	Danny Hardman
Patrick Kennedy	...	Leon Tallis
Benedict Cumberbatch	...	Paul Marshall
Peter Wight	...	Police Inspector

Also Known As:

Reviens-moi (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for disturbing war images, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

UK | France

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Hong Kong:IIB | Malaysia:U | Taiwan:PG-12 | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:15 | Japan:PG-12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Brazil:14 | Singapore:M18 | France:Unrated | Australia:MA | Germany:12 | UK:15 | Argentina:16 | Norway:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Sweden:11 | Finland:K-13 | USA:R (certificate #43417) | Canada:14A | Ireland:15A

Filming Locations:

Aldwych Underground Station, Aldwych, Holborn, London, England, UK

Company:

Working Title Films

Trivia:

Local government in Redcar gave permission for a bandstand to be erected and for a shipwreck to be placed on the beach for authenticity. A number of houses along the beach front were painted to suit the era. The cinema, which looked the part already, merely had an advertisement painted on the side of the building to complete the set dressing. Everything was undone after filming was complete and Redcar seafront now looks like a normal seaside town again.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The BEF was a professional army and was not staffed with conscripted prisoners.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Briony Tallis, aged 13: I finished my play.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The O'Reilly Factor: (2008-01-22)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

my review

Well, from the trailers I could tell this would be an epic film before I was even able to see it. I managed to attend a gala screening of the film last night and I thought it was amazing. Despite my constant dislike to Keira Knightly, I was unable to disapprove of her acting in this film. She has improved massively since the first pirates film. The film itself has an intriguing plot line which keeps you hooked throughout. The film includes humour at the start and fascination by the end. I loved watching this film and I enjoyed the smartness of the story. The film is cleverly done with jumps in time and different perspectives of events throughout which will leave you understanding the motives of each character more. The music is composed beautifully, the orchestral tunes accompanied with the clatter that a typewriter makes creates a beautiful piece of music that fits perfectly with the film itself. I have since begun to read the book, the only thing that the film lacks is the character depth that a book can write about but a film simply can't explain. I feel that the film shows what happened but the book is able to explain a little more as to why the events occurred. Overall the film was beautiful, brilliant and emotional.