atonement
There was not a whole lot of new stuff in the theater, kids. So I decided to give Atonement another chance.
Compared to all the other major Oscar-nominated films, Atonement initially left me underwhelmed, and a bit disappointed. I guess I was expecting it to sweep me away... I just felt like it was random and depressing. This time, it was a little better... maybe because I knew what was coming, and ***spoiler alert*** was a bit more prepared for the big giant bummer of an ending. I still didn't think it was the greatest movie this year (or even in the top ten), but I did notice a few new things.
First of all, that score! Especially in the beginning, it's really cool and frantic. It's dominated by this intense typewriter sound, especially when little Briony (our yellow journalist) is on the scene. The score also sets the mood effectively in some early scenes with Cecilia; it evokes the restless quiet she feels in the middle of her privilege.
Second... how spoiled/snobbish are Cecelia and Briony??? Especially with the way they talked to the servant, Danny. (And the fact that ***another spoiler alert*** Cecelia automatically suspected Danny of the story's pivotal rape.)
Third... I did like the cool interjection of real WWII footage of the evacuation to Dunkirk. It added gravitas to an otherwise silly story.
Still, give me The Diving Bell and the Butterfly or No Country For Old Men any day. That was gripping drama.
Compared to all the other major Oscar-nominated films, Atonement initially left me underwhelmed, and a bit disappointed. I guess I was expecting it to sweep me away... I just felt like it was random and depressing. This time, it was a little better... maybe because I knew what was coming, and ***spoiler alert*** was a bit more prepared for the big giant bummer of an ending. I still didn't think it was the greatest movie this year (or even in the top ten), but I did notice a few new things.
First of all, that score! Especially in the beginning, it's really cool and frantic. It's dominated by this intense typewriter sound, especially when little Briony (our yellow journalist) is on the scene. The score also sets the mood effectively in some early scenes with Cecilia; it evokes the restless quiet she feels in the middle of her privilege.
Second... how spoiled/snobbish are Cecelia and Briony??? Especially with the way they talked to the servant, Danny. (And the fact that ***another spoiler alert*** Cecelia automatically suspected Danny of the story's pivotal rape.)
Third... I did like the cool interjection of real WWII footage of the evacuation to Dunkirk. It added gravitas to an otherwise silly story.
Still, give me The Diving Bell and the Butterfly or No Country For Old Men any day. That was gripping drama.
February 4, 2008 at 1:44 PM
I'm in full agreement with your reaction to Atonement, though I only gave it one chance. And I don't intend to give it another, especially based on what you said after the second time around.
February 4, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Yeah. It really just wasn't any good. I keep wanting it to be good, though, because I feel like the story has potential. Maybe I'll read the book.
February 4, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Ditto to the both of you, and kudos to your thoughts on the score - I feel the exact same way. Really took note of it and loved the tippy-tap (Soundtrack Geek would be so proud of us).
Still, I wouldn't go see it again. You must be reaaally desperate.
February 5, 2008 at 10:25 AM
I was a bit desperate, you're right. :-D But I did want to give it another fair shot, as there seem to be so many others who really liked it.