Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Out on DVD: Atonement!

I finally saw Atonement about a month ago and thought it was very well done. The dvd is out today and I couldn't resist getting it.

Atonement was directed by Joe Wright, who directed my favorite version of Pride & Prejudice and starring Keira Knightley (from the same P&P) and James McAvoy. It is quite a tragic love/war story all about perceptions.

If you haven't heard about it, here is a short synopsis from Amazon.com:

the story centers around the love story of highborn Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightley) and housekeeper’s son Robbie Turner (James McAvoy, in a star-making turn), in England shortly before World War II. Despite their class differences, they are powerfully attracted to each other, and just as their relationship begins Robbie is tragically forced away due to false accusations from Cecilia’s younger sister Briony (Saoirse Ronan). She has a crush on Robbie, too, and after reading a private letter he sent to Cecilia, and then witnessing the first expression of their mutual love but mistaking it for mistreatment, her resentment grows until it leads to her telling the lie that will send Robbie away. Soon World War II breaks out; Robbie enlists and is posted to France, Cecilia is a nurse in London, and Briony, now age 18 and aware of what she has done, tries to atone for her actions--but none of them will be able to get back what they have lost.
This film is rated R.

After I saw the film I read the book by Ian McEwan and had an even deeper appreciation of the movie. It stayed very true to the novel and the casting was superb. The cinematography and musical score were gorgeous. I wish I could live in the house a part of the movie was filmed in!


6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I rented Atonement this morning.. I can't wait to wait it. Even more so that the Director is the same from P&P.

Lady Jane said...

I really like his style of directing. And Brenda Blethyn, who played Mrs. Bennet perfectly, is in it, along with Keira. I hope you like it.

Anonymous said...

Isn't it beautiful? I watched it yesterday and plan to watch it again soon. I love James McAvoy he is SO amazing!

Anonymous said...

I have heard that is wasn't good. SO it is???? My book should arrive from Amazon any day now. Should I read the book first??

I just read a good book Tara Road which takes place in Dublin. 648 pages and I finished today whew!

Anonymous said...

Atonement was a pretty good flick; it looked and felt a lot like Pride and Prejudice… come to think of it, both movies have the same director, leading lady, both are based on books and both take place in England

Lady Jane said...

I still haven't watched my dvd! Hopefully this week.

Miss Paula, I liked it when I saw it, but when I read the book I understood more and liked it even more. So, I would read the book first. It was very well done!

I LOVE P&P and I really like Joe Wright's style and Keira Knightley. I found it interesting to spot the similarities in style.