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Quint takes a look at ATONEMENT and loves the blatant use of the C-word!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. I’m a little behind on my movie reviews and next week I’ll be out of contact, so I’m going to do my best to pump out a few reviews before the craziness of BNAT sweeps me up.
I figured I’d start on ATONEMENT and the work on THE GOLDEN COMPASS, THE BUCKET LIST and JUNO tonight and tomorrow. The below review doesn't really go into any spoilers you can't see in the trailer, but I went ahead and put a spoiler box on it in case you really want to be super fresh.
Who would have figured the word “cunt” would be such a crucial and prominent component to a classy period film like ATONEMENT? I sure didn’t, but I’m happy it is. I always like surprises, especially vulgar ones.
The flick is about a young man who is a hard worker, is charming and intelligent and who also happens to be wrongly accused of a crime. James McAvoy plays the young man who is in love with the daughter of a very wealthy family, played by Keira Knightley. The love is reciprocated, but is misunderstood by Knightley’s character’s little sister, Briony (Saorise Ronan). When a horrible crime happens on the grounds, Briony’s opinion of the young man leads directly to his implication in the crime.
I don’t know if Knightley’s just really good at making period dialogue sound natural and unforced or if director Joe Wright (who helmed Knightley’s previous costume drama, the surprisingly good PRIDE & PREJUDICE) knows how to guide her to do so, but I’m becoming a big fan of Knightley in these period films.
She’s radiant in ATONEMENT, a classic beauty whose attractiveness rests not just in her looks, but in her personality. She’s a real woman, not a caricature that’s just there to be eye-candy for the audience.
Then there’s James McAvoy, arguably the protagonist of the movie. I’ve liked McAvoy as an actor, of course, but his work in this was still surprising to me. His character is at once very simple and very layered. You know this guy. He’s a good person, pure of heart, but always true to himself. But within that familiar frame of a character McAvoy injects his own quiet charm and naturalism so you don’t feel like you’re retreading any number of similar “good guy accused” characters.
One of the reasons I was really down for checking out this movie was to see what young Saorise Ronan could do. Ronan was cast as the lead for Peter Jackson’s THE LOVELY BONES. I can now see what Jackson and Co. saw in this young actress. Her eyes are incredible, showing a surprising level of maturity for film acting. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul and they say that because of people like Ronan.
There’s a polished fakeness to many child actors, but Ronan’s talent is that she can express her thoughts subtly with her eyes. Her line delivery is well done, too, but seeing the thought process deep in an actor’s eyes is what makes film an art form. That’s the edge it has over theater.
Rounding out the cast are more great performances from Brenda Blethyn (as McAvoy’s kind-hearted mother), Romola Garai (as 18 year old Briony) and Vanessa Redgrave (as the elderly Briony). Each brings a bit of personality to the film, especially Blethyn who I really love as a character actress. She has very limited screentime here, but makes the most of it.
I have to underline the spectacular score by Dario Marianelli. I know some people don’t like a score that stands out, but I love a big score that I notice. I’m really damn tired of atmospheric score. I like a score that really propels the movie and Marianelli’s score is one of those.
He uses all sorts of non-traditional instruments, including typewriters, to drive the music and it’s a fascinating choice. Not only is it fascinating, but it’s actually really good music. So, kudos to Mr. Marianelli.
Also props have to go to Seamus McGarvey (WORLD TRADE CENTER, HIGH FIDELITY), the director of photography, for filming a beautiful flick. Ranging from quiet manor settings to war torn France, the film always looks gorgeous.
I don’t know if I have any more to say about this flick, other than I really enjoyed it. And it uses the C-word to awesome effect, so that automatically puts it in the running for Best Picture in my book. If only I was running the Academy…
Alright, so I’m going to try to knock out JUNO, THE KITE RUNNER, THE BUCKET LIST and THE GOLDEN COMPASS here in short order. Keep a look out for those reviews!
-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com
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Too late now alas...
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Just for shits and giggles.
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There's no question that she's always good and all, but you thought she was worth mentioning? Twice? She's on screen for less than a minute. Have they recut it for the US release?
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if there's ever a flashback to Diana's bulimic period in high school when she wanted to be a cheerleader.
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It's a term of endearment where I live, as well as an insult. I really cant say that I've even so much as batted an eyelid at the mention of the word.
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I saw this film on its general release here in the UK. What a disappointment. I realise how much Working Title/Universal would love this to scoop up oscars and other prizes, but it wont and here's why. The performances are pretty solid apart from one thing - the accents! Knightley and McAvoy are very good in this, but every time Knightley talks in that ridiculous faux upper class cut glass straight out of some old movie so called upper class accent I just couldn't stop laughing. Why oh why they decided to go with this is beyond me because it really distracts and it's unintentionally funny. The directing is too flashy, like the director is desperate to get noticed. Why we need a rambling tracking scene through the beaches of Dunkirk is beyond me other than to look flashy. Big point here too - it looks like the Germans have gone home for coffee and a nice slice of streusel cake because no ones strafing or shelling the beaches (which is what happened). Come on guys. If you're going to go to all that effort, at least be accurate. It looks like everyone's having a fine old time waiting in line for a boat. And the music. Oh how very clever that they weave in the sound of a typewriter with the beat. HOW DAMN ANNOYING more like! And then being yanked out of the time period at the end to 'explain everything'. Oh dear me no. This film is a real missed opportunity because it's a great premise that's been totally mishandled by a flashy director and a need to explain everything, like we the audience are stupid. It's enjoyable. It's worth seeing at a cinema, but it's not as good as it likes to think it is.
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Seriously. After the accusation the bottom falls out of the movie. Absolutely nothing happens for the next hour and a half except McAvoy in France pining for Keira, Keira in England pining for him, and the girl running around a hospital feeling like a dipshit for the trouble she caused. And the romance? Please. They had about two minutes before "I love you" and another five before he was hauled away. Love of a lifetime? Please. Overrated shit. The only thing I agree about is the score. Great use of the typewriter.Oh, and the twins. Funny, like two fat little red haired Seth Rogens.
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So the actors, score, and production value were great. But the STORY, the PLOT. Um....???? metaluna...you are right about the pointless beach shot...that, and everything else along the way is just filler. The whole movie is filler after the first act. I'm double posting because this movie really had nothing going for it and I just don't get Quint's love. Please, for the love of God, what did you see in this????
OKAY, BIG SPOILER AHEAD>>>>>>> SPOILER FOR THE END HERE: Older Briony (Vanessa Redgrave) says that she had to add made-up chapters and an ending to her autobiographical story because the true story was "pointless and no one would care." EXACTLY!!!!! She's pointing it out herself...the story is pointless and no should really care!!! And in fact the one compelling scene in the entire final 2/3 of the movie (when the three key people reunite) is really just a fake out "dream sequence." Ugh. Tripe. -
come on now!
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even wrote about it...winkwinkwink
Its a good movie. -
Atonement is one of the most over rated boring films I have had the misfortune of having to sit through. It moves at a snails pace, is utterly predictable, and frankly the use of the "C" word and the fact he didn't do the obvious (a bin anyone) just make it ridiculous.
I really disliked it, one great tracking shot does not a great movie make. -
Enjoyed the film right up until the ending, which was just bullshit
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and that is the word "DOUCHE" Dude is universally wonderful as an insult.. It's like the allspice of the english language... It just rolls off your tounge, "fucking douche." OK time for breakfast.
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I'm just sayin'
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or you thought it was lame, then you missed the point of the entire film. It's called Atonement, and it's about ATONING for one's mistakes. It's about Briony dealing with the fact she ruined the lives of people by being a petulant self-absorbed child, living in a fairytale world of her own devising. And her life-long struggle to make up for it.
It wasn't tying it up neatly for dumb audiences, it's the entire point of the story. Neatly tying it up would have been had it ended in 1944 after she apologised to them.
Also Metaluna, it's not a forced accent, people in England circa 1940 did speak like that. Deal with it. -
And love it when he gets pissed, even if it is at me, because he let forth a list a cool UK based curses....for fook sake, fookin hell, what a fookin cunt. I am just saying.
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I had a wet dream about her where she was blowing me and then she took off her skirt and told me that she was really a 14 year old boy with a 10" cock...I woke up screaming.
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well hun do you want a LOT of gay in you *kiss kiss*
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She didn't cut off his balls, only his cock.
Women in US movies always react badly to being called a cunt. See Meg Ryan in that Gulf War one. Her face just contorts when Lou Diamond Philips calls her one. -
You must have a lot more experience at looking at dicks and recognising what is ball and what is cock.
All I recall is that she had his wang in some form of scissor/secatur thing, and went snip. Didn't see no balls coming off here. -
And we all know what that means.
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Thanks for being a patronising git!
SPOILERS
I do understand that point, I have no problem with the film not being nicely tied up with a happy ending. I just felt it was a crap one. In what way did she atone? She wrote a story where she wasn't a selfish little shit. Big deal. I thought it was just a pretentious bit of bullshit. -
I don't care for period pieces and this one looks like the sort of period piece that comes once a month and stays for about a week. Also why is James McAvoy in Wanted? What was Jeremy Renner too expensive? Or is the character in the comic book suppose to be a tiny bitch?
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I mean, it's definitely a well-crafted piece an' all, and I'm not saying it's a bad movie. It just didn't really resonate with me.
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That's what this film is. An indulgent script full of indulgent characters, indulgently directed. The film and its characters are just not likeable, because they're too busy with self-gratification to engage with the people they're trying to involve, i.e. the audience. Didn't enjoy it at all. Only a half-step above Elizabeth: Revenge Of The Catholic Vampires.
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SPOILERS I understood the point completely. And as a premise for a story goes, I think it's a good one. The problem is that it works much better in print than it does in film. She's *writing* her atonement, but we're *watching* a movie. Had Briony been a filmmaker, perhaps the stunt would have been more effective. All the typewriters in the world injected into the score (which I agree is very cool music) didn't change the fact that shifting to old Briony was jarring and disappointing. I was *shown* the first the two acts of the film, and then I was *told* the last act. Reversing that one great scene as having never happened is not enough to convey the message that she was the one telling the story, and it felt like a lame cheat. And I also agree with the sentiment above that after a great character-driven, intimate first act, the remainder of the film feels disjointed. That tracking shot? Fucking incredible, but what the hell is it doing in this movie? Don't get me wrong - good movie. Just far from great for me. Just one guy's opinion.
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Why would anyone bore themselves with this movie?
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If you dont like that then go and fuck yourself you fuckery fuck fucks.
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Half-decent film, one great shot (and by god is it great). So to all the cunts I say "CUNT".
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...swear words have different effects in different countries as well as different regions. Just like "shag" isn't really a family word in the UK (but is just kind of a meh word here in the US), "cunt" is widely considered by society and media to be the worst swear word one can say that's not racially based.
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Indeed. Cunt and nigger are the two worst words you can say in America, I think they're just about at the same level of 'can get your ass kicked for speaking in public.' It doesn't make sense to me either. One time I jokingly said to a friend 'want some popcorn my nigga?' at the movies, and three homie g gansta types said they were gonna jump me after the movie. They never did, but then again, I pretty much ran to my car when the credits came up. Not sure where I'm going with this. Praise Jesus!
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In my village, not swearing is regarded as quite strange. As is any film that is not a blockbuster. Or any film with subtitles (even Brotherhood Of The Wolf doesn't go down well!(.
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And its a great film. Saw it an FSLC screening this week in NYC and it was IMO the best film I have seen this year. Even if you think its a "normal" period film, see it, it is not. Just see it.
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Sorry to offend (and I expect I offended many), being from where I am from I always find the fascination with the C-word, well, fascinating. It really is so prevalent in the South West of England that it's not an issue.
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I happen to love the word. (As does my wife, oddly enough. Make of that what you will.) I was just explaining why it's such a big deal to us.
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So the leading point in your review is how happy you are over the use of the C-word. Hmm. Nice. You sir, are an idiot. My god what in the hell ever happened to this website?
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I'm well aware of how people spoke in that time period having spend 3 years back in uni studying english language. The POINT is that it sticks out like a sore thumb and feels laid on like a trowel overfull with cement. It's awful and the film would have been a lot better if they'd reigned it in. Sorry if this is how you think english people spoke back then too but actually they didn't so much. Maybe in Noel Coward films yeh but in Atonement it's just silly and anachronistic, dated. And the ending is parachuted in like a brigade of marines after the last shot has been fired. This movie screams 'please let me win an award' like a precocious child in a nursery who wants attention. I was looking forward to this film but I was disappointed. It could have been so much better in more mature hands but it's a trite, showy mess. And the soundtrack sucks. If you look at something like 'English Patient' that has maturity and class in every department. Atonement just feels like a bad photocopy.
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Funny I went to University with a girl who actually speaks very much like that...even now.
I'm sorry that you lacked the objectivism to enjoy the film on its own merits rather than simply hating it for not conforming to your expectations of usual cinema.
Might I suggest you try reading the book. It might enlighten you further as to what the point was.
P.s. your argument was going well until you started a sentence with And and then said something 'sucks'. Poor show. -
Hate to break this to you- I was at University in the late 90's in the UK and it was filled with people that talk like that.
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perhaps you both lied your tits off or maybe you went to Oxford/Cambridge Uni in a time machine? No one talks like that now and frankly barely ever did except in your upper class wet dreams or in the movies. Those accents were extreme, made up for film and nothing like what you think you may have heard back in Uni from your toff trustafarian friends. I also have plenty of upper class friends and they don't talk anything like that. Sure, they talk 'posh' but it's a million miles from Atonement Noel Coward land. This film just reinforces some stupid myth that here in the UK we all talk like that. But that wasn't my point. It sticks out like a sore thumb in the film and why the hell should I read a book to 'get' the point of a film? If I had to do that, that's proof itself the film failed. If this film is being promoted in the states because of soemone in it using the C word then they must be desperate. I tried to like the film on its own merits, those merits being that the director is an unsubtle TV hack who needs to be reigned in creatively. Oh and I'm sorry, I stopped writing comments on blogs the way I would write a university essay, you grammar nazi. This film is a pile of poop. The end.
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I know what 'Atonement' is! It's working titles mad twin in the attic to the English Patient, in the same way that Thunderbirds was the polar opposite of um... something far superior. So in a nutshell, Atonement is about as good as Thunderbirds is in comparison to what it is also trying to be. So if someone asks how good Atonement is, mention Thunderbirds :)
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English Patient may have had maturity and class in every department, it was also as dry as Aunt Eunice's overcooked Butterball stuffed with sawdust and committed the cardinal sin of storytelling, namely being boring as all get-out. Really, the only standard EP set was self-indulgent, pretentious, glacially-paced twaddle. I'm not saying Atonement fares any better since I haven't seen it and I'm frankly having trouble imagining how successfully it can be translated to the screen, but c'mon, let's bury that bone already.
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and despite how it's being marketed i think this might bea faithful adaption.
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That's the review. I'm baffled as to why you would assume such a thing.
And God forbid that there be more than a few more accents in your home country that you've never heard. Jesus, I've lived a quarter-of-a-century and I haven't even cracked the number of caucasian accents in the San Francisco Bay Area alone. Perhaps your pride is hurting you. -
What other movies have you seen? Shrek 3? Fantastic Four 2? Things We Lost in the Fire? Georgia Rule? Seriously, I think those were the only movies below this one. Overrated crap. Even watching Jack Nicholson gratingly mug his way through Bucket List is more gratifying than watching McAvoy pointlessly wander the French countryside for an hour. All this movie is is a set up. Then, after the first act, the rest of the movie is showing the three characters lives, where that first act put them 3 or so years down the line. There is no story or narrative, just a tableau of life following some dumb cunt girl's bad decision.
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do you have to insult everyone who didn't have a problem with the accent?
I'm another Brit who didn't notice anything wrong with it.
You didn't like it? Fine, but don't start calling people liars, you sound like a prat. -
I went to a Scottish University. Sorry that they don't speak the way you want them to, in the land of darkest council estate or wherever you come from Metaluna.
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Dec 08, 2007 11:21:30 PM CST
More cunts need to be seen, spoken and used in sentences in more
by mrmysteryguest
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I'm glad that you and your wife enjoy the word (especially considering that Brit women still really hate it). Love the TB handle, the main character from one of my top 5 movies, hells yeah I like it, (got any decent clips?!).
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