Atonement - MY NOMINATION...

I just finished watching atonement and I will come right out and say it. This is the movie that is going to win. I would be very surprised if it didn't. Of the 5 movies nominated, the only one I have yet to see is "There will be blood" and I cannot imagine it to be better than what I just witnessed. Atonement not only appealed to me from a general perspective but also in a very close and personal manner. If there is one movie this year which combined drama, thrill, twists and emotion, this is the one. For those of you that know me well, you know the importance I place on truth and the importance I place on not using abusive language. This movie, better than any i've seen before, translated my fears into a worst case scenario and portrays them on screen in a smart and touching way.

Atonement is a story about lies, misconceptions and the repercussions of "white" lies. The story paces back and forth for a period of 5 years around the lives of Briony Tallis (Saorise Ronan, Romola Garai, Vanessa Regrave), Cecilia "cee" Tallis (Kiera Knigthley) and Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) The story starts with a young Briony, at a tender age of 13, aspiring to be a novelist/playwright. Briony witnesses her sister Cee making love to a poorer Robbie Turner, but incorrectly assumes that she was being molested based on her previous interactions with Robbie. In fact, Robbie and Cee earlier confessed their love for one another. Briony then further makes a wrong judgement and accuses robbie of a crime he did not commit, which in effect sends him to prison, and later to war. Move forwards four years into the future and you have an older Briony who understands the seriousness of her actions as a 13 year old. She desperately seeks for the forgiveness of her older sister and Robbie. I'll leave this story as vague as I can for this is one that just has to be experienced. It cannot be summarized in a plot synopsis.

The movie is directed exceptionally well with wonderful imagery and careful precision. The young Briony pulls off a performance to be reckoned with. Perhaps I am biased towards the movie for personal reasons, but all things aside, this is one movie you wouldn't want to miss. I am in somewhat of a hurry today and do not have time to give a full out review for this movie. But i will certainly get back to it soon. Here's the one quote that hit me..

(Right after Briony reads a letter that Robbie wrote expressing his desire to kiss Cee's "C*NT")
Briony Tallis, aged 13: Lola, can I tell you something? Something really terrible?
Lola Quincey: Yes please.
Briony Tallis, aged 13: What's the worst word you can possibly imagine?

In the meantine, I urge all of you to get out there and watch this one. My rating for this movie 4.5 out of 5...