Hit Me with Your Best Shot: Atonement

Atonement is one of those movies filled with dozens of gorgeous and iconic shots - I'm sure that silhouette of a soldier on the poppy field or Robbie looking at the bodies of dead schoolgirls will get several mentions here. I looked at a bunch of screenshots from the movie, some truly startling, unforgettable images - like Robbie and Cecilia frozen in passion against the bookshelf (echoed again as we see her dead body floating in the tunnel), Cecilia engulfed in flames as Robbie is being taken away or Briony peeking through red curtain. There is so much symbolism hidden in this rich, wonderful and absolutely heart breaking movie. But I chose the shot highlighting a moment, a scene and a performance that I think goes largely under appreciated.

Breaking Emotions: Tears + Surprise

This week MettelRay shared another two emotions - tears and surprise. This time I'm gonna do both.

5 films that fooled me.

It's April Fools, world's most cruel holiday. My mother played a prank on me two times already. Since I have a tradition here of writing special things for days like that one here are five films that I'm not ashamed to admit fooled me completely. I mean I went like this:

It's not only that I did not see those twists coming, it's that even though I probably should see them coming I was completely astonished by things turning out like that in the film and my jaw completely dropped. I'm sure "The 6th sense", "The Others", "Black Swan" and "Shutter Island" would got me too, but I knew the twist before seeing them. Others like "The Usual Suspects" I didn't much like because I did not find the movie to be this exciting. Here we go, spoilers included so watch out:

Scene of the Week: Atonement

Atonement

directed by Joe Wright

The scene: In a culmination to Briony's atonement she visits her sister, Cee and her boyfriend Robbie, whom she falsely accused of rape many years ago. Briony talks to Cee and Robbie passes her by, without recognizing her. Briony looks over to another room and sees disheveled sheets on the bed, suggesting passion between Cee and Robbie, Briony will never know because of the set of events she put in motion and the consequences for her conscience. After Robbie realizes who she is he yells at her asking her if she realizes what war is and what horrors he saw there, all because of what she did. As he launches on her in fury, Cee comes between them and gently asks Robbie to come back to her, bringing him right into state of peace just by her own proximity. Shocked and scared Briony gazes through window and sees old, lonely woman. Her own future.

Soundtrack Wednesday - Atonement

Artist: Dario Marianelli
Song: With My Own Eyes
Movie: Atonement

Atonement

(123 min, 2007)
Plot: Fledgling writer Briony Tallis, as a 13-year-old, irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit. Based on the British romance novel by Ian McEwan.
Director: Joe Wright
Writers: Ian McEwan (novel), Christopher Hampton (screenplay)
Stars: Keira Knightley, James McAvoy and Brenda Blethyn
 

Come Back

"Love seeketh not itself to please, nor for itself hath any care, but for another gives its ease, and builds a Heaven in Hell's despair."

- William Blake

War. The most devastating force, shredding any source of hope to pieces, slaughtering, bathing the surroundings in blood from the beginning of the world. Where innocent die, where all that is good vanishes, where bravery and heroism are nothing comparing to destruction and havoc left behind.

Love. The emotion that builds the importance, filled with passion, lust, the feeling that has been pushing people towards the most extreme actions from the beginning of our race. The force that inspires the best and also the worst in people.

„Atonement” is one of the most devastating movies ever made. Not only because war abolishes love and leaves nothing but guilt and crashing pain behind, but also because viewer's emotions are cruelly treated by the story, by the director and most of all by the construction of the film.
The movie has 3 main characters – Cecilia, young, beautiful, rich girl, Robbie poor but ambitious man in love with her and Briony, Cecilia's sister, gifted storyteller and a girl of amazing imagination. A chain of coincidences, badly misinterpreted events and Briony's young age and lack of experience leads to the separation of Cecilia and Robbie, right after they both realize they love each other. Crime, prison and war enter. Briony's accusation, as the girl gains perspective slips farther and farther away from the truth, as young lovers separation keeps them distant. Cecilia waits for Robbie, Robbie waits for war to end and Briony waits for atonement and absolution, sadly, the latter is not destined to be granted to her.