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(About Our Ads) "ATONEMENT" (2007) (James McAvoy, Keira Knightley) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Extreme Heavy Moderate Heavy Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild Minor Moderate Heavy Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Extreme Extreme Moderate Moderate Heavy QUICK TAKE: Drama: Star-crossed lovers find their romance shortchanged by a lie that has unexpected consequences for all involved with or affected by it. PLOT: It's 1935, and Briony Tallis (SAOIRSE RONAN) is a precocious, 13-year-old English girl with a creative flair. Yet, she's displeased when her displaced cousins -- twins Pierrot (FELIX VON SIMPSON) and Jackson Quincy (CHARLIE VON SIMPSON) and their older sister, Lola (JUNO TEMPLE) -- don't seem best suited for her play. Accordingly, she turns her attention to her older sister, Cecilia (KEIRA KNIGHTLEY). She's a socialite who hangs out with her brother, Leon (PATRICK KENNEDY) and his chocolate factory friend, Paul Marshall (BENEDICT CUMBERPATCH), when not carrying on a secret love affair with Robbie Turner (JAMES McAVOY), the son of the family's housekeeper, Grace (BRENDA BLETHYN). Having already caught them having sex in the library and secretly reading his sexually graphic note to Cecilia, Briony forgoes her earlier crush on him in favor of viewing him as a sex maniac. Thus, when she comes upon a man raping or having sex with Lola, Briony lies that it was Robbie, just to get back at him for earlier rebuking her secret crush. He's arrested, imprisoned, and time passes by. Four years later, Robbie has been released from prison to fight in WWII, but all that's left of his regiment is him and his comrades Tommy Nettle (DANIEL MAYS) and Frank Mace (NONSO ANOZIE), who are making their way through the bombed out remains of Dunkirk. At the same time, Cecilia has cut off all ties with her family and is now working as a hospital nurse, much like Briony (ROMOLA GARAI), who's now 18 and looking to atone her earlier misdeed. As she tries to find the two to ask for forgiveness, the lovers try to carry on their distant romance, an act recalled much later by a much older Briony (VANESSA REDGRAVE). WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Those who are fans of epic romantic dramas and/or anyone in the cast just might. Otherwise, it doesn't seem likely. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For disturbing war images, language and some sexuality. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: JAMES McAVOY plays a young man, the son to the family's housekeeper, who's having a secret sexual fling with Cecilia. He smokes, drinks, briefly uses strong profanity, and must deal with the repercussions of Briony's lie, including false imprisonment and then time served in the military with all of its associated horrors. KEIRA KNIGHTLEY plays a young, rich woman who's having a secret fling with Robbie (including having sex), and smokes and drinks. Following her little sister's lie about Robbie and the subsequent repercussions, she tries to keep their romance alive, albeit at a sporadic and distant rate. ROMOLA GARAI plays an 18-year-old hospital nurse who wants to make amends about the past lie she told that destroyed the lives of her sister and Robbie. SAOIRSE RONAN plays Briony as the precocious but spoiled 13-year-old girl who purposefully lies about Robbie attacking Lola, all due to unrequited crush on him. DANIEL MAYS and NONSO ANOZIE play Robbie's remaining military unit comrades who accompany him through the confusion and chaos that reign in the aftermath of the Battle of Dunkirk. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated drama. Profanity consists of at least 18 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue (some of it explicit) is present, as are two views of a sexual encounter (with movement and sounds), another encounter or rape (the fact that the two involved later marry suggests more of the former than the latter), while a woman is seen in a wet, clingy and partially see-through, full-body slip. Violence includes a possible rape (see above), the aftermath of unseen war violence and an unrelated flood, the shooting of various horses and some fighting/struggling. Some of those scenes display graphic wounds, while those scenes and moments of potential peril might be unsettling for some viewers. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, while characters smoke and/or drink (a lot of the former, brief drunkenness from the latter). Tense family material includes a falling out among siblings, as well as some abandoned children. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, some handheld camera footage occurs in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Cecilia's brother, Leon, and his friend, Paul, have whiskey. Later, they and Cecilia have more drinks. Leon has a drink. Paul walks up with choc-tinis (chocolate martinis). We see wine on a dinner table. Robbie and his soldier companions have wine. Seeing a war torn area, Robbie states he needs something to drink. We then see drinking and drunkenness, and Robbie later carries a bottle of wine. We see some intoxicated struggling. BLOOD/GORE We briefly see an older, bloody wound in Robbie's chest. Robbie slowly walks through enemy terrain in the fog when he comes across many dead, clothed, and slightly bloody schoolgirls on the ground. We see a dead body on the ground, as well as a person with a bloody bandage around their head. A soldier vomits. As a wartime nurse, Briony reacts to the smell of a used bedpan. Various wounded soldiers come into the hospital where Briony works, and we see varying degrees of bad wounds (some blood, one man missing an arm, bad burns, one with crude and large stitches down a long wound on his back, etc.), while one man vomits up some blood. Briony is then told to sit with one wounded man who asks that she loosen the bandage around his head. She does and then sees the large and deep hole in his skull (that man then dies). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Cecilia jokingly gossips about what sounded like someone having pubic hair from their ears. Briony opens Robbie's sealed note to Cecilia and reads it. Briony is upset with Robbie after catching him having sex with Cecilia (due to Briony earlier having an unrequited crush on him). Briony comes across an older man raping or having sex with Lola in the rear entry position (the fact that the "victim" and "attacker" later marry casts some doubt on the act as rape). Despite knowing it wasn't him raping or having sex with Lola, Briony lies that Robbie was the man she saw (and gives his earlier, sexually graphic letter intended for Cecilia to her mother), thus leading to his arrest, later imprisonment, and the end of his relationship (at least then) with Cecilia. In the past, Briony purposefully goes into some water, thus forcing Robbie to save her. As Robbie and others walk through a war-torn area filled with many troops, they pass by people systematically executing horses (shooting them in the head, with at least one horse seen going down from that). Several men push another around, with Robbie's friend intervening and pushing one of them to the ground. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" and/or "Blood/Gore" may be unsettling or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. Everyone goes looking for the twin boys when they run away from home. Robbie and other soldiers up in an attic or loft are nervous upon hearing people below them, and thus ready their weapons (knife, pistol, and rifle), but they turn out to be helpers who've arrived with supplies for them. Robbie slowly walks through enemy terrain in the fog when he comes across many dead, clothed, and slightly bloody schoolgirls on the ground. In the past, Briony purposefully goes into some water, thus forcing Robbie to save her. As Robbie and others walk through a war-torn area filled with many troops, they pass by people systematically executing horses (shooting them in the head, with at least one horse seen going down from that). Various wounded soldiers come into the hospital where Briony works, and we see varying degrees of bad wounds (some blood, one man missing an arm, bad burns, one with crude and large stitches down a long wound on his back, etc.), while one man vomits up some blood. Briony is then told to sit with one wounded man who asks that she loosen the bandage around his head. She does and then sees the large and deep hole in his skull (that man then dies). We see a tunnel filling with water that then killed many people (and we then see various bodies floating in the now completely filled tunnel). GUNS/WEAPONS Handguns/Rifles/ Machine guns/Unseen bombs: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others and some horses, and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details. Robbie and other soldiers up in an attic or loft are nervous upon hearing people below them, and thus ready their weapons (knife, pistol, and rifle). War planes fly over Robbie and others. Various soldiers carry rifles and machine guns. We hear distant war explosions in several scenes. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "F*cking hell," "The French f*cking hate us," "F*ck me," "F*cking disaster," "And threw me to the f*cking wolves," "Sh*t-hole," "You're pulling my t*t" "Sorrry" (said in a drawn-out, exaggerated fashion), "You idiot," "I don't know what the hell he is doing..." "Jolly nice slacks," "You're a real brick," "It's ghastly," "Incredibly bloody, stupid thing," what sounded like "Blew them to buggery," "Governor" and "I almost jumped out of my skin." In the past, Briony purposefully goes into some water, thus forcing Robbie to save her. JUMP SCENES A goose suddenly flies by Briony when she's out hunting for her runaway cousins at night. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A moderate amount of ominous and suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) Some men repeatedly use the "f" word in a song they sing. PROFANITY At least 18 "f" words, 1 "s" word, 4 slang terms for female genitals ("c*nt," seen typed, once backwards), 1 slang term for breasts ("t*t"), 2 hells, 1 bollocks, 2 uses of "Christ," and 1 use each of "For God's sakes," "Jesus Christ" and "Oh God." SEX/NUDITY Looking out the window from a distance, Briony sees Cecilia strip down to her full-body slip in front of Robbie, climb into the adjacent fountain, and then come out, soaking wet, in her clingy slip that's now partially see-through (but from a distance). Cecilia doesn't look happy about this, and Briony gets the wrong impression about what's occurred (as we later see the same scene again, from a different perspective that explains things -- listed next). We see Cecilia and Robbie in a tug of war over a vase that then breaks, with a piece falling into the fountain. Cecilia strips down to her full-body slip and gets into the water (we partially see her bare butt as she does so), retrieves the piece, and then comes out in the clingy and wet slip (that's partially see through, but the view is closer this time, thus partially showing her bare breasts, pubic hair, and bare butt -- the latter as she walks away). We see Cecilia's brother, Leon, in a tub, but don't see anything beyond bare shoulders. Frustrated about what to write to Cecilia about how he feels about her, Robbie goofs around by typing that he kisses her "c*nt," "Your sweet, wet c*nt." He then writes something else, but then mistakenly puts the first note in the envelope that he later hands to Briony to give to her sister. Briony later opens that note and is shocked by the sexually graphic wording, and then shows that to Lola, commenting on Robbie thus being a "sex maniac." Cecilia jokingly gossips about what sounded like someone having pubic hair from their ears. Briony walks in and stares in shock upon the sight of Robbie having sex with Cecilia up against a bookcase (her legs and arms spread, but there's no nudity or movement as they're frozen upon hearing her come in). We see the shape of Cecilia's nipples under her dress. We see the beginning of the sex scene from above featuring Robbie and Cecilia. They end up passionately kissing against the bookcase, with heavy breathing, the straps of her top coming down and the bottom of her dress coming up, her undoing his pants, then him thrusting, her leg up alongside him, and we hear their sounds, but they freeze when Briony enters. All of the above includes various close-ups and many cuts between camera angles and such. Cecilia's mother comments on hot weather leading to loose morals. Briony comes across an older man raping or having sex with Lola in the rear entry position (the fact that the "victim" and "attacker" later marry casts some doubt on the act as rape). Cecilia wears a backless dress. A soldier talks of someone getting "blown" (presumably meant sexually). Robbie writes a letter to Cecilia, commenting on being the one who made love to her in the library. We briefly see some soldiers run by down to the beach in just their underwear or swim trunks. A comment is made at a wedding about avoiding fornication. Robbie and Cecilia do some passionate, clothed kissing while standing. SMOKING Cecilia smokes more than 5 times, Robbie smokes a number of times, Paul smokes at least twice, Briony once holds an unlit cigarette, and many minor and miscellaneous characters smoke in various scenes. TENSE FAMILY SCENES There's talk of Cecilia and Briony's cousins whose mother ran off with someone (thus the kids are staying with their family). Lola grabs one of her brothers by the ear when he talks of their parents' divorce. Lola cries over her brothers thinking she's the one keeping them there. Years after Briony lied about Robbie raping Lola, Cecilia isn't talking to her family, and is working as a nurse in a hospital during the war. Briony visits Cecilia who isn't happy to see her due to that past lie. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The human desire for atonement. The effect that lies have on others as well as the liar. World War II. We hear that an older woman has vascular dementia. Briony comes across an older man raping or having sex with Lola in the rear entry position (the fact that the "victim" and "attacker" later marry casts some doubt on the act as rape). VIOLENCE Lola grabs one of her brothers by the ear when he talks of their parents' divorce. Briony comes across an older man raping or having sex with Lola in the rear entry position (the fact that the "victim" and "attacker" later marry casts some doubt on the act as rape). Robbie's mother repeatedly beats a police car with something upon the arrest of her son. Robbie slowly walks through enemy terrain in the fog when he comes across many dead, clothed, and slightly bloody schoolgirls on the ground (the results of unseen violence). We hear the sounds of distant war explosions, and Robbie and his two soldier companions then walk through a bombed and burned out area (the results of unseen violence). As Robbie and others walk through a war-torn area filled with many troops, they pass by people systematically executing horses (shooting them in the head, with at least one horse seen going down from that). We see some brief fighting among soldiers. We see various dead and wounded soldiers (the results of unseen violence). Several men push another around, with Robbie's friend intervening and pushing one of them to the ground. We see some intoxicated struggling. We hear distant war explosions. We see a tunnel filling with water that then killed many people (and we then see various bodies floating in the now completely filled tunnel). Reviewed November 19, 2007 / Posted December 7, 2007