another review
somehow, i managed not to read ian mcewan’s atonement since it’s publication. the excellent novel unfolds during a summer’s day in 1939, at the rich tallis estate, when young briony watches her sister strip and jump into a fountain while the gardner watches. she draws her own conclusions, and consequences follow. the war is on the doorstep, and over the next years, the damaged lives continue as the three main characters (robbie the gardener, briony the younger sister who is also a writer and cecilia the older sister) try to move on.
i will rectify that error sometime in the next six weeks, probably on the flight to canada. however, last night i did see the movie.
what i liked:
some excellent performances, particularly by james mcavoy, the young briony (love her glares), actually all briony’s were excellent.
the cinematography was excellent, enhancing some truly chilling, erotic and suspenseful scenes. the use of playing back/forward was also effective.
brilliant use of the typewriter for sound accompianament. at times you felt that robbie, who was indeed fortune’s fool, was a moth caught in those relentlessly pounding typewriter keys.
i don’t know the technical term, sound editing possibly, but whatever it is, this movie had it. the clink as the ceramic hit the bottom of the pool. the dying gasp of a match.
there are moments of extreme poignancy to this movie.
i would like to see james mcavoy get a nomination, and several nominations for the movie. keira knightley is being touted and promoted to get an academy award nomination (she already has the golden globe nomination), but i won’t feel like she has been cheated if she doesn’t take home oscar.
the kids are happy on the playground. today is the last day of hols, and i gave them the choice of hanging out with mummy at the park or going to a friends for lunch with other helpers…they chose going to the friend’s. i am v. unpopular, even with my kids. little rotters.
this should be the last review for a while.
