Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Atonement

Written as part of the Hit Me With Your Best Shot series hosted by Nathaniel at The Film Experience.

Watching Joe Wright's Atonement for the first time since seeing it in theaters in 2007 - and for the first time since reading Ian McEwan's novel - what impressed me most was how effortless everything felt. For all its formal rigor - it is as meticulous and careful as Briony Tallis's signature stiff walk - everything flows so elegantly, and feels as easy-breezy-beautiful as Keira Knightley smoking a cigarette.


But the film runs so much deeper than that, at every possible level. Jacqueline Durran's costumes (even beyond THAT stunner of a dress). Dario Marianelli's note-perfect score. Christopher Hampton's smart screenplay. Seamus McGarvey's lighting, framing, and camera movement. It's nearly impossible to believe that this was somehow considered an also-ran in the awards race in its year ("awards bait" MY. ASS. A well-made film is a well-made film).

As strong as the film is, though (that Dunkirk sequence, even beyond the justly famed long tracking shot, is just jaw-dropping), I always felt at a remove from it, something that was perhaps necessitated by the very literary coup de grĂ¢ce which ends the novel, which is nearly impossible to translate to film.


I say "nearly", because the film has an ace up its sleeve in Vanessa Redgrave's performance. Hampton finds probably the only way to make that ending work on film, but even still the whole thing rests on Redgrave's shoulders, and sturdier shoulders you simply will not find, no matter where you look. Without her, the movie falls flat on its ass.

But even then, she's given an incredibly solid base to work with thanks to Saiorse Ronan's smart, exquisitely directed performance. The film's first third is its best, largely because of how effectively Wright and McGarvey are able to frame everything simultaneously from a child's point of view AND the point of view of the adults whose actions she cannot help but wrongly interpret. Well, not actually simultaneously, but you understand what I mean. They allow us to get inside of the heads of people on both sides of the story almost infuriatingly well. Like in my best shot:


The first time we see it, it's incredibly easy to see it as Briony does, even though we're able to figure out what is really going on quite easily. And then, we rewind to see what happened from Cecilia and Robbie's perspective, and it's almost too hot for its own good. Seriously. This scene should be studied, WILL BE studied for ages as a master class in how to shoot, cut, and score a sex scene. The whole thing is bloody well perfect, putting over exactly the hot, breathy rush of secret, almost-public sex. But this one shot feels forbidden in a way that is almost scary, with the way he has her pinned with her legs spread, and the way one of her hands is gripping his hair but the other is wide open in his clutches. It is simple but complex, it's absolutely gorgeous to look at, it works on multiple levels - it is a perfect example of everything the film does so elegantly, effortlessly well.

I'm also pleased to say the film works much better for me now than it did back when I first saw it. And I almost picked this shot as Best, just because of how stunningly composed it is:

10 comments:

  1. I chose a variation on your second image but it was a toss up with the library shot. I almost love the aftermath of that library shot more... at least in how expressive the acting is the absolute discomfort and shame and also violation of being caught. I love their awkward exit of that room.

    agreed that this movie is better now than it was then or maybe it just helps to be older when you watch it?

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    1. UGH that exit from the library is so awkward and uncomfortable, and heartbreaking, knowing what's coming.

      I don't know about being older. I think it's more about expectations? Atonement was sold as this grand epic romance, and it kind of is, but it's mostly not. Watching it knowing what you're getting allows you to appreciate what it's doing more, I think.

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  2. You know, I've known about this movie since its release but I've never actually seen it. I might just have to now, your review has really sold it to me :)
    - Allie

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    1. It's a great film. Really. Exquisitely done on so many levels. Especially if you like Keira Knightley and/or James McAvoy, and would like to see Saoirse Ronan's origins.

      Although you will probably walk away hating Benedict Cumberbatch, so...

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  3. There's so many great shots in this movie I'm not sure if I'd be able to pick one. It would probably involve Keira's green dress though. Great post!

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    1. It was REALLY hard to pick just one shot. My shortlist was about half a dozen, and I usually only have 1 or 2 from which I make my final decision. Besides my runner-up, there was the part of the Dunkirk shot with the chorus singing on the bandstand, the shot with Briony looking at the London skyline, Vanessa's head in her hands, and practically anything with Keira in that green dress.

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  4. I saw it in the theatre and I am going to say it.....I call it Aboredom. OK I said it. Fisti knows and probably wants to slap me for thinking this way(all in jest). I went with 3 other people and 2 fell asleep and the other was looking at me and saying...this is dull. Now, the story is amazing but I felt it was soooo dull but I did love Redgrave's performance. I might give it another shot to see if I am wrong in my own feelings towards this film

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    1. I've heard that criticism before and I can understand even though I don't agree.

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  5. This film has generated some of the absolute best articles in the history of this feature. Your paragraph explaining and analyzing your pick for best shot is breathtakingly good.

    Anyway, I wandered over here to thank you for dropping that comment about the book over at my place - that's an incredible detail.

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    1. That is quite the compliment coming from such a routinely great writer as yourself! And you are most welcome for the detail about the book. It is quite an incredible coup de literature (I don't know if that's a phrase that means anything or if I made it up but either way it works).

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