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Atonement - The Movie
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Robbie
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Jan 27, 2008 07:16AM

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I have to say though, although I understand that they were trying to keep some continuity with the 3 actresses who played Briony, it's kind of strange that Briony wouldn't change her hair style in 64 years.
It was so funny... after the movie I went in to the bathroom and hearing people's comments about the ending was hysterical. One ol' biddy was going on and on about how terrible it was. And they didn't like the way it went back and forth in time to show the different perspectives, either, which is a part that I loved.

I would total agree with you Sarah, I thought that the change perspectives was wonderful. It is so rare to see that in a film, but I thought that it added so much depth to the viewer's understanding.

I haven't watched it, but I've read that McEwan is one of the executive producers so I guess he must have some say on it.

Please can someone tell me if the book is better than the movie or vice versa?
Regards
Steven Preece
Author of
Amongst The Marines
and
Always A Marine

This is probably one of the most faithful adaptations I've ever seen.


SPOILERS!!!
The end of the movie doesn't take place at Briony's birthday party. Instead Briony (Vanessa Redgrave) is giving an interview about her latest - and final, because she's dying - book, Atonement. The interviewer asks her how autobiographical it is and she says it's wholly autobiographical, and she didn't even change the names. The only thing she changed was the scene where she goes to visit Cecelia because in reality, that never happened, because Robbie and Cecelia both died in 1940 (then there are a couple of short flashbacks to show how it happened). But, she asks, what hope is that to give a reader? Since she never was able to give Robbie and Cecelia their life together in reality, she wanted to give it to them in fiction. It's her only chance at atonement and her gift to their memories. Then as she speaks in voice over, you see Robbie and Cecelia at the coast cottage that they'd talked about in their letters.
So I'd say the only differences are no birthday party, the made-up scene with Robbie and Cecelia at the beach, and the fact that Briony was able to publish the book in her lifetime.

I did find the Briony haircut bit pretty funny, as well, Sarah.


I haven't read the book yet, though i'd been ransacking all bookstores in my hometown. Sigh.


http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2008...


Meghan, that was very sweet, thoughtful and lovely. Thank you :)
Actually I'm reading this book now (borrow from a friend)
Once a again, thank you... :)

Director Joe Wright is "often described as "meticulous", he seems to have overseen every aesthetic choice in Atonement, from the wallpaper of the Tallis family home ("ripe, pattern over pattern") to the shape of the mole painted on the character Briony's face, a visual innovation that isn't in the book. "It's a device to tie together the three actresses playing her [Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai and Vanessa Redgrave]. I also liked the idea that she was marked since birth, and that the mole looks a little bit like a teardrop."

Hi Meghan! Miss ya!!!! :)

Not at all surprised that this got Best Score, though I think it could have gotten Best Cinematography as well.
Meghan - thanks for the details on the mole. that's pretty interesting.

I finally saw this over the weekend. What a beautiful film. And I have to say I loved the green dress Keira Knightley was wearing - so gorgeous.
The movie really brought the characters to life for me. The scenes in the fountain and the library were very hot and much more exciting than in my imagination - lol.... But I don't think you really get the full kick in the gut that you do in the novel. Overall I really like the movie - it was lovely eye candy!
The movie really brought the characters to life for me. The scenes in the fountain and the library were very hot and much more exciting than in my imagination - lol.... But I don't think you really get the full kick in the gut that you do in the novel. Overall I really like the movie - it was lovely eye candy!

I know that she has to do some of that as her character was very observant and watchful, so maybe the young actress is just that good! In that case, bravo!
So I finally got to watch this movie over the weekend, and loved it. My fears that it will dwell heavily on the fact that Briony once had a crush on Robbie and make it look like she accused him out of shallow jealousy was unproven. I went with my little sis, who hasn't read the book, and she liked it as well. Like many of you, I also loved the cinematography and typewriter musical effect. The continuous one-shot scene with the soldiers at the beach was amazing -- I wonder how many takes it took to get it right?
Romola Garai seemed to me a bit too old to be 18-year-old Briony -- not to mention she's bigger than Keira Knightley. But excellent cast in general. Of course both my sister and I now have a crush on James McAvoy. "I love you, come back!"
Romola Garai seemed to me a bit too old to be 18-year-old Briony -- not to mention she's bigger than Keira Knightley. But excellent cast in general. Of course both my sister and I now have a crush on James McAvoy. "I love you, come back!"