A classic in the making

I'm in two minds as to what should be written about this. Here's a movie that has won the Golden Globe Award for Best Film – Movie or Drama and is an early contender for the 2008 Oscars and I'm not sure what to say. There were moments where I was convinced that there was nothing beyond it and moments where I felt that it was nothing more than a glorified version of The Notebook.

Leave James McAoy (Robbie) and Keira Knightely (Cecilia) aside, the star for me was the thirteen-year-old Briony played by Saoirse Ronan. Her eyes spoke volumes and her movements added to her fanciful nature and eccentricity. Romola Garai who plays an older Briony pales in comparison. Her performance is still brilliant, but not as effective nor as memorable as the younger actress. Keira Knightely is not one of my favourite actresses and though she does prove her prowess in Atonement she still seems to me to have that slightly waspish and wooden façade which in my mind is the main reason for only Oscar nominations and never wins coming her way. I loved the way Robbie typed out his letters. That level of involvement is not to be seen in most of the younger actors.

The storyline of Atonement is where the film holds most of its impact. Essentially the film is about a lie that Briony tells, and how it affects the lives of her, Cecilia, and most importantly of all, Robbie. It's a bit confusing if you've watched or seen any of the trailers and that's probably one of the reasons it's not in my list of must watch movies. Whilst the movie can be seen as a love story from outside the real concentration is to do with Briony and the impact of her words. There are plenty of scenes from Dunkirk but they play second fiddle to the issue at hand. That's pretty much all I can and will say of the storyline. A lot more happens over the course of the movie, and a lot of stuff that you think will happen doesn't, and things you think won't happen will. The ending is a prime example of this and to be honest I didn't see it coming. The way the movie is directed is also something note. The beautiful colours of the summer house are amazing, but the way the camera moves around the house makes it even better. But the direction will be remembered for one scene in this movie, and it's in Dunkirk.

I mentioned this previously for the performance in that scene, what I failed to mention is that the shot is a continuous shot that lasts five minutes as we see the chaos of Dunkirk. From horses being shot to a man hanging from a Ferris wheel, the sequence is shown in all its glory. It really is a powerful moment, and probably the one scene that got me closest to tears, purely because of the singing in the background, it is shocking just how amazing this sequence truly is.

One thing I need to put down on paper is the score. The typewriter is a stroke of pure genius and adds trepidation to the movie. Based on the books by Ian McEwan, most of the reviews hold that Atonement is a perfect movie.

It is being dubbed a movie with pretty much no flaws whatsoever. Superb performances, beautiful direction, a script and storyline to die for. It is unlikely any film will top this for a very long time, this is something that will go down in cinema history as being a classic, and it highly deserves its inevitable status. I am however, not too sure.

Tagline: You can only imagine the truth.

He said/She said: Dearest Cecilia, the story can resume. The one I had been planning on that evening walk. I can become again the man who once crossed the surrey park at dusk, in my best suit, swaggering on the promise of life. The man who, with the clarity of passion, made love to you in the library. The story can resume. I will return. Find you, love you, marry you and live without shame.

Watch it if you liked: The Notebook.

Movie Hall of Fame: Yes

Atonement, Juno, There will be Blood, No Country for Old Men, Micheal Clayton
Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson, Ethan and Joel Coel, Tony Gilroy, Jason Reitman, Julian Schenabel

George Clooney, Viggo Mortensen, Tommy Lee Jones, Johnny Depp, Daniel Day Lewis

Cate Blanchett, Ellen Page, Mrion Coutillard, Julien Christie, Laura Linney
Best Supporting Actor
Casey Affleck, Javier Barden, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Hal Holbrook, Tom Wilkinson

Tilda Swinton, Cate Blanchett, Saoirse Ronan, Amy Ryan, Ruby Dee
Winners to be announced on Sunday, February 24.