I went into Atonement not quite sure what to expect from the story. I knew it was based on a novel, that it was depressing, that it was a romance set at the dawn of WWII, and that a tragic misunderstanding set off the central story. However, those are all story points; as far as the film was concerned, I knew that Keira Knightley and James McAvoy play the two leads, but that was about it. Well, that and the fact that it has been getting some solid reviews across the board. I went in hoping to be enveloped in a tragic romance that would leave me walking out of the theater as if I had gone ten rounds with the heavyweight champion. Strange thing to hope for, right?
After seeing One Missed Call earlier in the day, I was in need of something cleansing and this would seem to fit the bill. What I got was a film that delivered the goods, but not quite to the level that I had hoped. Yes, it is most definitely a good film with a lot of talent involved, but be aware that it may not hit you the same as it has the masses, as seems to be the case with me.
Recently, I wrote about how I did not feel that a story, if it was well written, did not need to make any special connection with an audience. It was in reference to a film that I really liked but did not feel any connection to nor did I need to like the characters. It did not take long for a film to come along and throw a wrinkle into that line of thinking. Atonement is definitely a story that needs to connect with its audience. It sets to play with one's emotions, drawing you into the lives of these tragic lovers and the events that conspire to keep them apart.
Sadly, the film does not completely connect with me. I felt as if I was being kept at arm's length, never given the "in" needed to make me truly care about the characters. If I had been grabbed by this tale of love I would have liked it much more, obviously. Now, while I was not touched by the romance, there was a lot to like, more than I would have expected from a film of this sort. This will teach me to go in with any preconceptions!
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