Atonement (2007)

So before I watch this movie, I would just like to preface it with the fact that I have only watched two romance movies. I didn’t like the Notebook because the girl in it is super abusive and there were so many communication issues that I was just getting mad. The other was 13 Going On 30 and the only thing I liked about that was Mark Ruffalo. Going into this movie, I’m just excited because Keira Knightley and James McAvoy are both really attractive. Otherwise I know nothing about this movie. I’m gonna make the prediction that their relationship is forbidden or bad in some way since it’s called Atonement.

Before I completely bash this movie, I would like to state for the record that McAvoy and Knightley are incredible actors, and they both play their parts very well. The music is also really good, but it’s a tad bit dramatic for the situations depicted. I also just don’t like romance movies in general despite being a female with a boyfriend. As is my problem with most novels and movies involving relationships, I feel like there’s a great story in place, but they choose to focus on the wrong aspect. Like in Divergent where the whole toppling the government thing takes a backseat to their romance; I really hate that.

Basically the plot of the movie is that Cecelia (Knightley) is a rich girl who falls for the housekeeper’s son, Robbie (McAvoy). After a series of misunderstanding Robbie’s actions from Cecelia’s younger sister Briony (Saoirse Ronan), she thinks that he assaults one of their cousins, Lola (Juno Temple) even though he’s innocent. Robbie is essentially given the choice to either stay in prison or fight in World War One.

A list of romance cliches that this movie uses:

• Misunderstanding
• Won’t admit they’re in love until it’s too late
• Rich girl falls for poor guy
• Forbidden love
• War movie with angst-y relationship

Despite all these cliches, I actually did enjoy this movie; mostly because it focused on the hardships of war and how it affects soldiers away from home and the ones they left behind. It’s a very powerful story about a little girl coming to terms with her lifelong regret and telling the story of her sister’s romance that never truly began. There’s no redemption, no forgiveness, and no happy ending. For me, I think that’s beautifully poetic and does a much better job portraying how love really works in the imperfect world that we live in.

To read Taylor’ review of Kyra’s movie, Batman & Robin, click here.