- Title: Atonement
- IMDB: link
Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) is the kitchen helps son and in love with Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightley) the head of household’s daughter. Cecilia is a stuck up rich brat who plays hard to get, but conforms to her one true love in the end, Robbie. Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan), the youngest daughter has a huge crush on Robbie and finds herself in a very jealous predicament, in return she lashes out and lies about whom she caught accosting her cousin in the woods.
Briony’s lie sends Robbie away to war and trashes his name forever making it impossible for Robbie and Cecilia to be together. Cecilia leaves the family estate and makes a go of it on her own as a nurse for the effort, running into Robbie one last time before he is sent off to the front, they agree to find one another after and marry.
Briony (Romola Garai) grew out of her impish childhood and into guilt and a need to correct all that she had wrong. Believing she was paying for her lies, she signed up as a nurse to help the wounded in an effort to ease her mind. She hunted down her sister, Ceclilia, but was never forgiven.
As time spans the war ends and Robbie walks back to salvation so he can return home to his one true love. Wounded and having very limited time left, he finds the ship to return him home destroyed and has to wait for a rescue. Falling asleep in a bunker never to awake. At the same time, Cecilia is hiding under ground in a subway station trying to make it through the bombing; not only is her chance for true love crushed but her life.
Briony (Vanessa Redgrave) become an author and lived a full and healthy life. Her last novel she wrote on behalf of Cecilia and Robbie, giving them both a happy ending.
I can respect the work put into this film and the beautiful costumes and cinematography, but overall I was left unexcited and somewhat bored. I can also appreciate the perfect balance of acting talent between the ever so hot James McAvoy and Keira Knightley. I’ll even give the film credit for find the perfect 3 actress to play Briony Tallis from 13-years of age to old, between Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai and Vanessa Redgrave, I could easily see where it could have been one person. I can’t disregard the quality aspects to the film, just can’t get my mind around the way it was put together.