| Overall Grade: |
C |
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| Story: |
D |
|
|
| Acting: |
C+ |
|
|
| Direction: |
D+ |
|
|
| Visuals: |
A- |
|
|
Great Visuals, Miserable Story
by Jersey Joe (movies profile)
Jul 4, 2008
15
of
15 people found this review helpful
There are many aspects of "Atonement" that I found disappointing. Going in, I thought the film was going to be a glossy, but predictable story. I figured it was boy and girl fall in love, get torn apart through a misunderstanding, suffer through the war and the only suspense would be whether they are able to get back together after the war. That's not the story. As predictable as that story is, it was better than the one in the film itself.
Hollywood has recently decided that two people who are hot for each other represent true love on the screen. There is no chemistry between James McEvoy and Keira Knightly. There is a moment and then there is a misunderstanding, then there is sex and then he's carted off to the army. McEvoy's woes are brought about by his character's own stupidity and therefore, I could not empathize.
I won't give away too much of the plot because it is badly flawed and I don't feel like rewriting it. I found the title "Atonement" to be ironic given the twist or surprise that the story throws at the audience toward the end.
The film is beautifully shot. The war scenes are confusing madness and the English countryside is a great canvas for filming whether the scenes are inside or outside. But that beautiful scenery cannot make up for a story that did not convince me that the two lovers were in love as much as they were merely hot for each other. It also doesn't make up for some truly stupid moments that are needed to push the story in its direction. Finally, excellent photography cannot make up for a film that doesn't understand the point it's trying to make. |
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