Atonement

I watched Atonement last night. I've had it sat around the house for a while but, as usual, have been put off watching it by the fact that Keira Knightley a) only has one facial expression and b) can't act (the former may affect the latter).

I must say, however, that I was pleasantly surprised. Well, I say 'pleasantly'; despite stunning cinematography and an utterly fantastic score, there's very little pleasant about the film. Based on the Ian McEwan novel, it details how one lie by a young girl can have such an effect on three lives - that of her sister, her sister's lover, and ultimately, herself. Special mention must go to the acting - James McEvoy is as brilliant as ever, once again proving he's one of Britain's finest actors. And Saoirse Ronan was amazing - she portrays a frosty, precocious, hateful little English girl, despite being a wee Irish lass. It's hard to say she's good in it because I hated her character, but that, I suppose, is the sign of some seriously good acting (well, perhaps not; the urge to strangle teenagers is quite a common one). And yes, I'll say it - even Keira is good in it.

It's the way it is shot that surprised me most, though. After the oscar nominations, the cast, the marketing, I was expecting a fairly straightforward romance. It's not. It's languid, almost dream-like at points; long, drawn-out shots, unusual framing - and the single-shot Dunkirk sequence is amazing, one of the finest pieces of cinema I have seen in years.

It's a fantastic film; surprising, moving, brave and ambitious. It comes highly recommended.