Drama Rated PG-13
“…the most cinematic elements of the novel are the weakest parts of the movie.
“…another example of a writer engaging in fictional wish fulfillment.
"There are more status symbols hanging from this family drama than a department-store tree has ornaments."
Drama Rated R
“Family dysfunction has its own language, with its own loaded rhythms and insinuating inflections, and writer-director Noah Baumbach is proving to be the movie master of just such linguistics.
There is a lot of yearning going on in Atonement, and not all of it is confined to the actors on the screen. The movie itself, adapted from the Ian McEwan novel, aches to be an Oscar-friendly romantic epic, even if its best moments are the more intimate, delicate drawing-room scenes. Keira Knightley, reteaming with
“…like being trapped in a closet with your greatest regrets.
“…more whimsical and charming than you would ever expect from a picture about suicide.”
“Marquez’ material is endearing when read, but it can be embarrassing to watch.
Barely released, this Iraq war drama should have been a major career step for Jessica Biel, who plays a physically and mentally damaged veteran struggling to adjust to life back home. Biel is very good – panicky, confused, believable as a woman warrior yet still vulnerable. The rest of the cast, though, is downright embarrassing,
“…makes you long for a pretentious, arty student short. Because those are only about eight minutes long.
