Atonement (2007)

Got a hold of another best picture nominee - Atonement. The first half of the movie portrays life on a large estate in England, where a romance blossoms between the caretaker's son (played by James McAvoy), and the daughter of the estate (played by Keira Knightly). Tragedy strikes as the jealous younger sister witnesses the rape of one of her young friends, and bends the truth to falsely indict McAvoy's character of the deed. He is scurried off to prison, and ends up enlisting in the war during the buildup to World War II. He still pledges his undying love for Knightly's character, and longs to return home. As the young sister grows up, she realizes how horrible her fib really was, and how it has ruined the lives of two people she dearly loves. Atonement for her misdeed consumes her, but the trio are already caught up in the madness of the war - the two women working as nurses tending to the maimed and dying, and the young man stuck at the infamous Dunkirk where the British Army is pinned down by the German Panzers.

Quite an epic story. However, I was underwhelmed. The acting was good, and the plot was good too - but after McAvoy's character is sent away about half way through the film, it seemed to try and be too much of an epic, and lost a lot of its authenticity. I give the first half of the film a hearty recommend, and the second half a very mild recommend. Verdict: Good, not great. Definately not Oscar material - I am surprised it was nominated for Best Picture. Once, and Into the Wild were much better in my opinion.