All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Average User Score: 8 (77 sources)

Submit Movie Review

Review this film

Tell the world what you think of Atonement

Your Score:

reset score

Write Your Review:
When writing your review, remember to keep the language clean.

Submit Review Cancel

afc1331

-1

Agree (0)

Disagree (0)

This movie is absolutely breathtaking. It follows the book almost to a T, except for the end, and it is simply perfect. The acting was sensational and the love story itself was spectacular. Keira Knightley breathes live into the character of...
[+] Read Full Review

This movie is absolutely breathtaking. It follows the book almost to a T, except for the end, and it is simply perfect. The acting was sensational and the love story itself was spectacular. Keira Knightley breathes live into the character of Cecilia and James McAvoy is stunning as a lovestruck young man. Not to mention, every single actress that plays Briony at every age is simply phenomenal, pulling together all of the character's emotions as if they were one person themselves. It was absolutely perfect.

[-] Minimize Review

Report Abuse

Posted dec 4, 2008 5:33 am pt

vamp-luvr

-1

Agree (0)

Disagree (0)

I deffinately liked it. It was very confusing to follow and kept you guessing til the end. But it was a tearjerking ending. I'm sure everyone wanted it to turn out well for C. and Robby.

Report Abuse

Posted aug 27, 2008 1:07 pm pt

ashleyyy541

-1

Agree (0)

Disagree (0)

Nothing comes easily in Atonement. It's a tragic love story with a very moving ending. It was defiantly a confusing story line to follow and I think the writer,actors and any other professional on set really captured McEwans story plot. The movie...
[+] Read Full Review

Nothing comes easily in Atonement. It's a tragic love story with a very moving ending. It was defiantly a confusing story line to follow and I think the writer,actors and any other professional on set really captured McEwans story plot. The movie is hard to forget and I found myself thinking about it for days after not being able to shake it out of my head. It does have strong, crude language and minor sexuality but what movie doesn't these days? whether you don't like romance movies or you do, it's a must see movie.

[-] Minimize Review

Report Abuse

Posted mar 27, 2008 7:26 am pt

MovieMan2

-1

Agree (2)

Disagree (0)

Atonement, to me, has got to be one of the best peices of British filmmaking I have ever seen.

Atonement is bueatifully shot, but it's fantastic, realistic imagery never sidetracks from it's genuinely moving story.

...
[+] Read Full Review

Atonement, to me, has got to be one of the best peices of British filmmaking I have ever seen.

Atonement is bueatifully shot, but it's fantastic, realistic imagery never sidetracks from it's genuinely moving story.

What is really special about Atonement is that it comes from a character's perspective which is Briony. The film really focuses on Briony on the way film, and, in a way, since she is a writer in the film, she is writing out Cecelia and Robbie's fate, and how comes to realize her misunderstanding is complemented by great acting and a truly great story.

Overall, Atonement was arguably one of the best films of 2007, and some great acting and clever perspective storytelling truly pioneer it forward.

[-] Minimize Review

Report Abuse

Posted feb 23, 2008 10:28 pm pt

la_survive

-1

Agree (1)

Disagree (0)

I found Atonement to be an interesting and quite complication film which was easy to watch. It is based on the novel by Ian McEwan and I have to say that although I enjoyed the film, I am much more looking forward to reading the book. There are...
[+] Read Full Review

I found Atonement to be an interesting and quite complication film which was easy to watch. It is based on the novel by Ian McEwan and I have to say that although I enjoyed the film, I am much more looking forward to reading the book. There are times in the film that you can just see that the book would explain things much better, so I look forward to reading it when I can find the time.

Atonement begins in 1935 on a British country estate. Keira Knightley's character, Cecilia has realised that she is in love with the son of the housekeeper, Robbie Turner, who is played by James McAvoy (and isn't he a cutie!). Unfortunately, after witnessing something she doesn't understand, Cecilia's little sister, Briony, makes an unfounded (and untrue) accusation, the fallout from which changes the course of Robbie's entire life, extending through WWII and beyond, and ultimately also affecting in every way, the life of her sister.

I really enjoyed the acting in this film. It is a very moody, slow film, and the acting was perfect in that sense. I also have to say that I am really becoming a fan of Keira Knightley. The more I see of her on-screen, the more I like her as an actress. She does seem to be getting better and better.

However, having read some other reviews, I have to agree that while the cinematography is lovely, and the sets are great, I did feel a bit detached from the whole thing. I couldn't quite get into the drama and pain of the film, which is a shame, because it is very sad and normally I woudl be having a cry the whole way through!

I loved the score, I thought the music was very unique and quite perfect for the way the film is shot. It is a complicated story, so I hope that the book will make more sense to me. Ulitmately, the story is about guilt, consequences, growing up, taking responsibility for your actions and decisions, and, sadly, the fact that some actions can never be made up for; the consequences are so far reaching and so devastaing that all that can be done is to try and live with your choices yourself.

So, a good movie. I always recommend movies, it is rare that I don't find at least a few things in a movie that I enjoy. However, I also recommend reading the book, which is what I plan to do!

[-] Minimize Review

Report Abuse

Posted feb 20, 2008 8:19 pm pt

NoOneIsAlone

-1

Agree (2)

Disagree (1)

Atonement is one of those films that is hard to forget. The film itself is wonderful, with very good actors (Knightley somehow manages to stand out) and the plot of this movie really gets to you. I believe that this is one of the best films of...
[+] Read Full Review

Atonement is one of those films that is hard to forget. The film itself is wonderful, with very good actors (Knightley somehow manages to stand out) and the plot of this movie really gets to you. I believe that this is one of the best films of 2007, but I do agree that it shifts too much between war and romance, and kind of leaves you out of place for a while, but overall not a bad movie.

[-] Minimize Review

Report Abuse

Posted feb 5, 2008 4:58 am pt

FilipHolm

-1

Agree (1)

Disagree (0)

Atonement is nominated for Best movie in the Golden Globe awards. Most of the actors make wondeful performances, and the directing is unbelievable, it´s pure movie magic, and Joe Wright should win the oscar for best director this...
[+] Read Full Review

Atonement is nominated for Best movie in the Golden Globe awards. Most of the actors make wondeful performances, and the directing is unbelievable, it´s pure movie magic, and Joe Wright should win the oscar for best director this year. Great script and an ending hat touches. I have to disagree with BrookllynBoy94, because the second half is as good, if not better than the first. Atonement is one of the years best.

[-] Minimize Review

Report Abuse

Posted jan 13, 2008 1:35 am pt

Fruntxas

-1

Agree (1)

Disagree (1)

Amazing how it can get such good critics...
The first part dedicated majorly to the Romance is cool. After that it turns completely to a war movie. The story itself is awesome although i don't like the screenplay very much. Terrific ending...
[+] Read Full Review

Amazing how it can get such good critics...
The first part dedicated majorly to the Romance is cool. After that it turns completely to a war movie. The story itself is awesome although i don't like the screenplay very much. Terrific ending also. Never saw it coming.
Keira can do a whole lot better than that :(
The student (Ronan says Keira is her role model) surpassed the master in this one!

Not worth the movie ticket but good to see @ home.

[-] Minimize Review

Report Abuse

Posted jan 6, 2008 11:19 am pt

BrookllynBoy94

-1

Agree (1)

Disagree (2)

Atonement is the love story that was never meant to be seen. It tells the story of Cecilia (Kiera Knightley) and Robbie (James McAvoy). The first part of the story, which I did like, takes place in the country house owned by Cecilia's family....
[+] Read Full Review

Atonement is the love story that was never meant to be seen. It tells the story of Cecilia (Kiera Knightley) and Robbie (James McAvoy). The first part of the story, which I did like, takes place in the country house owned by Cecilia's family. Robbie is the housekeeper's son. On a hot summer day, Cecilia's sister, played by Saorise Ronan who gives a spectacular performance as Briony, misunderstands a number of events that take place throughout the day between Cecilia and Robbie.

In the evening when on eof the houseguests is raped, Briony is convinced it is Robbie. By the end of the day, Briony will ahve ruined Cecilia's and Robbie's lives. Robbie is ent to prison but there love lives on.

Then the stroy picks up three years later during the Dunkirk Evacuation. Robbie is now a soldier in World War 2. Him and Cecilia meet in Frnace to have dinner. The scene is very akward and unpleasent. Briony, giving up an oppurtunity to go to Cambridge, now works as a nurse. We find out that this is a form of redemption for Briony, after finding out that it actually wasn't Robbie. The rest of the film plays out rather quickly. Atonement is too short and too long at the same time. This movie falls very short of Oscar contingency. Though I did admire both McAvoy's and Ronan's performances, I did not admire the film. It is very dull and very cheesy. Knoghtley practically gets no screen time. Like i said, I very much enjoyed the first half of the film at the country House. But then the film takes a wild trun for the worst and is completely off track. Nominate McAvoy and Ronan, dump the film.

[-] Minimize Review

Report Abuse

Posted dec 27, 2007 11:27 pm pt

• [+] Newsweek
  
  100
  No two-hour film could ever capture all the riches of McEwan's masterly novel. But Wright and Hampton's Atonement comes tantalizingly close, while adding sensual delights all its own.

  by David Ansen | Read Full Review »
• [+] Rolling Stone
  
  100
  Nothing in Joe Wright's screen version of Ian McEwan's dense, internalized 2001 novel of secrets and lies should really work, but damn near everything does. It's some kind of miracle. Written, directed and acted to perfection, Atonement sweeps you up on waves of humor, heartbreak and ravishing romance.

  by Peter Travers | Read Full Review »
• [+] Variety
  
  100
  Rarely has a book sprung so vividly to life, but also worked so enthrallingly in pure movie terms, as with Atonement, Brit helmer Joe Wright's smart, dazzlingly upholstered adaptation of Ian McEwan's celebrated 2001 novel.

  by Derek Elley | Read Full Review »
• [+] Empire
  
  100
  Gorgeous cinematography, a lilting score and near-faultless performances, under Wright's assured direction, make this the first contender for next year's Best Picture Oscar.

  by Helen O'Hara | Read Full Review »
• [+] Washington Post
  
  100
  Nothing comes easily in Atonement, especially its ending, which, both happy and tragic, is as wrenching as it is genuinely satisfying. How fitting, somehow, that a novel so devoted to the precision and passionate love of language be captured in a film that is simply too exquisite for words.

  by Ann Hornaday | Read Full Review »
• [+] Wall Street Journal
  
  100
  A singular achievement -- romantic, sensuous, intelligent and finally shattering in its sweep and thematic complexity.

  by Joe Morgenstern | Read Full Review »
• [+] Chicago Reader
  
  100
  Atonement is that rare combo: a good movie based on a good book.

  by J.R. Jones | Read Full Review »
• [+] Chicago Sun-Times
  
  100
  This is one of the year's best films, a certain best picture nominee.

  by Roger Ebert | Read Full Review »
• [+] New York Post
  
  100
  What might seem like showing off in another movie is dazzling storytelling here, packing in an hour's worth of human misery.

  by Lou Lumenick | Read Full Review »
• [+] Los Angeles Times
  
  100
  This is one of the few adaptations that gives a splendid novel the film it deserves.

  by Kenneth Turan | Read Full Review »
• [+] San Francisco Chronicle
  
  100
  An unforgettable examination of a host of dark impulses.

  by Mick LaSalle | Read Full Review »
• [+] Charlotte Observer
  
  100
  The result is a film that has "Masterpiece Theatre" production values but not an ounce of dust upon it.

  by Lawrence Toppman | Read Full Review »
• [+] Baltimore Sun
  
  100
  Through unexpected and cathartic twists, this movie leaves you with atonement and redemption.

  by Michael Sragow | Read Full Review »
• [+] Miami Herald
  
  100
  The interpretation is so painstaking and moving that almost every moment delivers a shuddering jolt to the head and the heart.

  by Connie Ogle | Read Full Review »
• [+] The Onion (A.V. Club)
  
  91
  The generous, sharp performances, especially Garai's, deepen the story's emotional impact, as does Wright's assured, frequently astounding direction.

  by Keith Phipps | Read Full Review »