Atonement

PASSSING THOUGHTS
The only thing harder than writing a screenplay with several levels is trying to write about a screenplay with several levels; all you’re doing is adding another level. This movie is layered not so much in terms of the plot or the individual storylines, but in all the production aspects that come together to achieve many things at once in each scene.

The first thing you notice is that the cacophony of a typewriter slowly finds a rhythm and becomes an integral element in the actual score. It comes in again several times throughout the film, which seems whimsical right up until the end when you realize it was actually telling a part of the story.

Besides that, there is a great deal of effort to show the early events of the story from a child’s perspective. As an audience, we are brought to the same conclusions as Briony is, only to have the story rewound and the events put into a proper context. It nearly plays as a comedy of errors until the moment when everything falls apart; immediately the empathy and understanding towards Briony is severed and she becomes something of a villain—albeit briefly. This effect is even more amazing later on when you understand the perspective from which the story is being told.

There are many other small discrepancies scattered throughout the film that are explained in the final act. Briony’s writing abilities, for example, might strike you as a bit too advanced for a girl of thirteen. Robbie and Cecilia’s reaction to Briony when she shows up at the apartment seem almost too harsh—justified, perhaps, but harsh. In fact, Robbie’s explosion and Cecilia’s coldness come across as something you’d see in a nightmare instead of real life. After learning the reason for this, that scene becomes a gut-wrenching revelation of how much guilt and anguish Briony feels about what she did.

Overall, director Joe Wright does a great job of using camera placement/movement, intimate close-ups, and beats to allow the actors to do their work. The dialogue is on-point, but the pauses and reactions say just as much, if not more. With only one exception, there are no jolting surprises or twists in the unfolding of the plot, yet it is not simplified either. As an audience, we are given enough to connect the dots without having to take our attention from what is actually being shown to us.

While it is easy to appreciate the production value and the performances during the film, you do not feel the full impact of the story until it’s all over. Though it is essentially built around love, the heart of the piece lies elsewhere. While many tragic romances spend the whole movie cultivating love only to have ultimately perish, this film gives you a sense that love is dying the whole time. There is another, perhaps greater tragedy, that creates the real emotional impact and drives the film beyond the scope of a traditional romance.

Essentially a story about telling a story, “Atonement” is yet another example of how a great novel can be successfully turned into a great film with the right vision, and with a commitment to what made the book great in the first place.

BASICS
Your Cup O’ Tea:
If you can appreciate romantic tragedy, deliberate pacing, and a focus on character development.

Steer Clear:
If you’re looking for an upbeat romance or don’t like feeling affected at the end of a movie. (James McAvoy, the actor playing Robbie, says the film “upsets” him; it has the same effect on an audience.) Also, be aware that there are a few, short scenes of both a violent and sexual nature; nothing shocking for adults, but perhaps unsuitable for children. NOT A “FAMILY” FILM.

Nothing New Under the Sun:
The movie has the tragic impact of “Titanic” and the love-in-time-of-war imagery of “Pearl Harbor”.

Buy or Rent:
BUY. If you have films like “Braveheart”, “Gladiator”, and other epics in your library, this movie will fit right in. It will not necessarily be something that you will watch often, but the quality and impact will be refreshing during a cinematic drought. The shift in perspective will not demand a second viewing, but it will most certainly encourage it. Also, there is a director’s commentary, which adds another incentive to revisit the movie.

FEATURES

-Scene Selection

-Subtitles

-Register DVD

-Feature Commentary:
Done by director Joe Wright.

-Deleted Scenes:
7 total, commentary optional. All the clips are finished in terms of audio and visual effects, but there’s little of interest here. There is an alternate, more graphic version of the start of a scene and a few slivers of additional dialogue. For the most part, these are trimmings, not cuts.

-Bringing the Past to Life: The Making of “Atonement”:
Approx 26 minutes. A very thorough exploration of how the movie developed and the decisions that were made to bring the pieces together. It doesn’t explore the “how” as much as the “why”, which tends to be a much more interesting angle. There’s no talk of casting, location selection (except a brief tangent about the house), or effects—the emphasis is on the story, the characters, and the collaboration. There are comments from the cast and director, as well as the original author, the screenwriter, and various members of the production crew. Good behind-the-scenes shots as well.
DUH! FACTOR: 1 out of 10

-From Novel to Screen: Adapting a Classic:
Approx 5 minutes. Essentially an elaboration on the decisions and thoughts that went into compacting a lengthy novel into a tight, concise screenplay. Definitely of interest to writers and anyone who has read the novel, but a bit too focused to have mass appeal. At five minutes though, it’s worth a gander.
DUH! FACTOR: 2 out of 10

Woulda Been Nice: If I could have something to say here. Though the features weren’t as extensive as some others I’ve watched, they left nothing to be desired.