Atonement

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Atonement

R

2007

2h 3m

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

218 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

This sweeping English drama, based on the book by Ian McEwan, follows the lives of young lovers Cecilia Tallis and Robbie Turner. When the couple are torn apart by a lie constructed by Cecilia's jealous younger sister, Briony, all three of them must deal with the consequences. Robbie is the hardest hit, since Briony's deception results in his imprisonment, but hope for Cecilia and her beau increases when their paths cross during World War II.

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Critics Consensus

Atonement features strong performances, brilliant cinematography, and a unique score. Featuring deft performances from James MacAvoy and Keira Knightley, it's a successful adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

08/23/2018

It is an elegant and sophisticated film, one that never condescends or shirks from the complexity of the novel and its grand themes - war, love, sex, memory, betrayal, redemption - but it's also strangely unfeeling.

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Christopher Orr

The New Republic

09/22/2008

Atonement is a film out of balance, nimble enough in its first half but oddly scattered and ungainly once it leaves the grounds of the Tallis estate.

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Alonso Duralde

MSNBC

05/01/2008

2/5

[U]ltimately, the movie amounts to rolling lawns, lovely costumes, and characters that simply fail to resonate.

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Cameron Meier

MeierMovies.com

Sep 9

5/5

Best film of the 21st century.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

09/07/2024

5/5

…Atonement might look from its glamorous shell like the usual British fantasy about WWII romance, but has something tougher, more meta and more timeless inside…

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Andrew Collins

Radio Times

05/30/2024

5/5

Atonement transcends the expectations of its country-house setting, via the privations of war, to deliver a knockout twist that works better on the screen than it did on the page.

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Kathy V.

@RT64332554 Apr 24

Too much war scene filler. Would have liked it much better if it played out in real and not a fantasy she made up in her book. I give it a meh. S. . Ronin, seen her in quite a few things, didn't really look like her and Keira knightly always talks too fast in movies. I hope the book is better.

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Mariana T

@M.Tezeta Mar 1

What a story, what aesthetics, what characters... but I'm speechless when it comes to Briony, who made me brazenly question guilt and innocence. I wanted to know more: more about Cumberbatch's chocolate factory, more about the cousin, but here they get away with it, and the others have an unsatisfying ending. Until the end of the war also represents the closure of the love story. But beyond this painful story, each of the cinematic elements (visuals, music, everything...) combine perfectly to create an impeccable aesthetic. How can you not be enveloped by the summer atmosphere and then by a desperate war that contrasts sharply with the previous style?

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Izzy B

@banny2003 Jan 19

A beautiful film and a heartwrenchingly tragic plot. Unfortunately it doesn't do the book justice in terms of depicting the complexities surrounding deceit and loss. Nice effort tho

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Shyodo T

@Shyodo Jan 12

It is a beautiful movie about love But mostly tragic and therefore sometimes painful to watch Only for the strong hearted

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Sahil T

@Sahilfayaz Dec 12

One of those movies that sticks with you

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FR f

@theferra69 Dec 10

Goodmovie, emotional, and with plot

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Joe Wright

Director

James McAvoy

Robbie Turner

Keira Knightley

Cecilia Tallis

Romola Garai

Briony - Age 18

Saoirse Ronan

Briony - Age 13

Brenda Blethyn

Grace Turner

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Synopsis

This sweeping English drama, based on the book by Ian McEwan, follows the lives of young lovers Cecilia Tallis and Robbie Turner. When the couple are torn apart by a lie constructed by Cecilia's jealous younger sister, Briony, all three of them must deal with the consequences. Robbie is the hardest hit, since Briony's deception results in his imprisonment, but hope for Cecilia and her beau increases when their paths cross during World War II.

Director: Joe Wright
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Paul Webster
Screenwriter: Christopher Hampton
Distributor: Focus Features
Production Co: Relativity Media, StudioCanal, Working Title Films, Universal Pictures
Rating: R (Language|Disturbing War Images|Some Sexuality)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 7, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $50.9M
Runtime: 2h 3m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)