Atonement

Well, we all know and accept that "the Academy" has an unrequited love affair with the serious film. Best defined as a period drama, complete with lavish settings and costuming; bonus points if it's based on something loosely described as literary, and starring really pretty people - Atonement fits the bill perfectly. Based on an Ian McEwan novel (that I loathed,) beginning at the gentrified country home of the well to do Tallis family and inevitably spreading to include the horrors of World War II and the beaches of Dunkirk; reeking with class disparity and sexual innuendo... this just about squeals, "Watch me - I AM EPIC!" It's little wonder that it was nominated for Best Picture.

Too bad. The story, set to the ingenious tapping of typewriter keys, is about the typical star crossed lovers - she's rich, he's the help - who are thwarted by the little sister who tells a rather unfortunate lie at a rather significant moment and spoils every one's fun. Then it's all a rather sad downhill slide into the abyss, of guilt and war. Uplifting stuff here. James McAvoy does a fair job as the noble servant, Keira Knightley looks stunning in 1940's attire (helps having no boobs to speak of,) and Saoirse Ronan rightfully deserved the nomination for Best Supporting for her Briony at 13. Vanessa Redgrave has a cameo near the end, and I dearly love Vanessa, but not even that could save this dismal mess.

So if you've just been too giddy and need a downer, enjoy this lovely little depressant and skip the cocktails. Unusually for an Oscar nominated film, Atonement has no official website, but you can check out Ian McEwan's here or another review here.