Atonement ***SPOILERS WARNING***

[Decobelle]

As words appear on the screen in various images and we see the various scenes, I think it becomes rather clear the sound is of a typewriter.

I agree! I knew what it was right away - I was thinking of younger folks, and whether there are kids (either now or in the near future) who might not know the sound of a manual typewriter...

 

[texasgirl]

Excellent movie! It was a little different than I expected, but I really enjoyed it. The costumes were great, Kiera looked lovely, perfect shape for those 30s dresses! The story is suspenseful in parts, a tad slow in others, but overall it was intriguing. Highly recommend!!!

 

[Lauren]

I hate the costumes. Don't think I could sit through the movie without twitching, no matter what the plotline. Costumes can make or break a movie for me, and these are so 2007's take on the 1930's it's ridiculous.

 

[BeBopBaby]

I saw Atonement last night. This has to be one of the most heart-breaking and beautifully made films that I've seen in a long time. The scene where the British forces are fleeing Dunkirk on the beach had me in tears because it was so horrifying, yet magnificently filmed in one long, beautiful shot without any cuts. I feel like I've been through a wringer after watching that movie because it was so sad, yet so gorgeous at the same time.

 

[sweetfrancaise]

I hate the costumes. Don't think I could sit through the movie without twitching, no matter what the plotline. Costumes can make or break a movie for me, and these are so 2007's take on the 1930's it's ridiculous.

Well, I did hear that the costume designer was aware of the real/imagined fashion in the movie, that English aristocracy never dressed as 'glamorous' as Knightley and the rest of the cast are in the film. But the costumes are like that on purpose, and as Jaqueline Durran says in this article:

"When we first started talking, Joe was clear that he didn't want it to look pristine or to have the patina and age you usually associate with that era. When you look at photos of upper-middle-class British families from the '30s, they look rather scruffy, clumpy and lumpy.

"That's real, but it's not what we wanted because the film isn't based on reality. It's more of a dream, a remembered past, a child's distant memory of a perfect day before everything went horribly wrong."

 

[Lotus Leroux]

Just saw the movie and enjoyed it very much. I read the book years ago and it was nice to see the story played out on the big screen. Such beautiful stuff to look at!

 

[Lauren]

Well, I did hear that the costume designer was aware of the real/imagined fashion in the movie, that English aristocracy never dressed as 'glamorous' as Knightley and the rest of the cast are in the film. But the costumes are like that on purpose, and as Jaqueline Durran says in this article:

"When we first started talking, Joe was clear that he didn't want it to look pristine or to have the patina and age you usually associate with that era. When you look at photos of upper-middle-class British families from the '30s, they look rather scruffy, clumpy and lumpy.

"That's real, but it's not what we wanted because the film isn't based on reality. It's more of a dream, a remembered past, a child's distant memory of a perfect day before everything went horribly wrong."

Thanks for the quote- that plays definitely more into the image I was seeing. More like a modern look back than actual period pieces.

Don't get me wrong, I think the clothes are gorgeous- just not really historically accurate, and I'm at fault for being too much of a critic to really enjoy it based on the believability of the garments- movie watching as I know it will never be the same *le sigh* kind of like when a cinematographer or director or actor watches, it's harder to get into the story when you're obsessed with the portion of the process that you've become familiar with. [huh]

But serious kudos to her for the gorgeousness of the gown based on her vision.

 

[happyfilmluvguy]

Miss Knightley's green evening gown, Mr. McAvory's tuxedo, and the white dress worn by Saoirse Ronan are on display at the Arclight theater in Sherman Oaks along with a few props from the film. I don't know how much longer they will be there, though.

 

[sweetfrancaise]

The Arclight in Hollywood has some costumes as well, including McAvoy's uniform. Really cool to see!

 

[slicedbread]

does anybody have an idea as to the fate of the men's costumes??? I want to get my hands on them!

There was a fantastic windowpane, creamish suit with a beautiful belted back suit in there...I WANT.

 

[ShortClara]

I finally saw this. I greatly enjoyed the first half of the move. Then, they ran out of story and it began to drag because nothing new was really happening. He wanders about the war, she wanders about nursing, sister regrets. OK. Got it. If there's no plot, end the movie. I feel like they could have chopped 30 minutes off and made a tighter movie.

James McAvoy was just wonderful - he made it for me. Such depth, such playfulness, such pain. Very very good. Keira was, as usual, a bland walking clothes hanger, but al least it wasn't really about her too much. The sound direction deserves an Oscar. And I want to move to the English countryside and lounge by the pool in Summer! *sigh*

 

[Caledonia]

Very glad to hear the great write ups! I though the book was abysmally slow and dull which was a great disappointment as I generally like Mr McEwan's work, and the concept of the book was great.

However, as the overall opinion of the film seems to be that it's a masterpiece I bought it today, and am about to slouch through to the fire with a little glass of something and give it a go. Glad to hear you all liked it or I'd be feeling a bit daft!

 

[scotrace]

Saw it last night. An excellent film that I can't get out of my mind. The score is the very best ever, in terms of integrating it into the fabric of the story, though you don't get that fully until later.

An amazing film, one of the best I've ever seen.

 

[AmateisGal]

Saw it last night. An excellent film that I can't get out of my mind. The score is the very best ever, in terms of integrating it into the fabric of the story, though you don't get that fully until later.

An amazing film, one of the best I've ever seen.

Totally agree with you, Scotrace. It is beautiful in every aspect, IMO - the costumes, the setting, the lighting, the music...absolutely stunning. I didn't like the ending, but I do tend to like happily-ever-after's much more.

 

[hepkitten]

I though the book was abysmally slow and dull which was a great disappointment as I generally like Mr McEwan's work, and the concept of the book was great.

I also thought the book was slow, and considered putting it down. But his writing is so incredible, I stuck with it. For me, the ending redeemed all.

We never got out to see this in the theater, and now that it's on DVD, Netflix tells me there's a wait to get it...after reading the reviews here, I see why! Ah well, anticipation is sweet...

 

[alexandra]

I saw this film on a date. It left me feeling emotionally void and bankrupt at the end. Then on the car ride home my date and I had an hour long moral debate on the film- I on the side of the little sister and he on the side of Keira Knightly. Drama ensued.


All in all, I enjoyed the film. I wouldn't watch it again because it seems like the kind of film you only watch once, but I disagree with people who have said that the film had no plot at the end. I saw it as an the progression and emotional build up that made the end of the movie as powerful as it was. If you just cut to the end and said "Well sucks for them I guess!" it would be diluted.

 

[AlanC]

My wife and I rented it and watched it last night. I give it an overall thumbs up, although I do suspect it could have been tightened up somewhat. As always, I appreciate Keira Knightley in any film in which she chooses to appear.

Then on the car ride home my date and I had an hour long moral debate on the film- I on the side of the little sister and he on the side of Keira Knightly. Drama ensued.

Exactly what about the younger sister's actions did you support?

 

[alexandra]

It's not that I supported what she did, it was more that I couldn't condemn her so easily when I could easily understand her point of view and her actions.

 

[Tony in Tarzana]

Is the dialogue audio supposed to be that soft? It was virtually inaudible on the DVD I got from Netflix, yet the previews for other movies on the DVD had normal volume.

 

[Vegan_Kitty]

I understand (I'm sure you'll correct me on details) that the Dunkirk scene was around the Saltburn/Middlesbrough coastline area. Well that's 'not' a million miles away from me and I would have loved to have made the journey down for a day!

My only consolation is that Keira wasn't there, and if I was going to be an extra, well...the dinner party would have been a nice one to have got an invite to!!

.

Yes indeed it was filmed in Redcar (im originally from Middlesbroguh) and there are still buildings that are painted to look like bombed buildings

It was really weird in the cinema watching the film, when it got the Dunkirk scenes me and my partner (he is from Saltburn) were just like, oh look theres the cinema, oh theres the steel works etc etc, it took away the Dunkirk glory.