Atonement won the Golden Globe for Best Picture, which leaves me wondering what I'm missing and/or not understanding.
I saw the movie this past weekend. Throughout the movie's two hour duration, I found myself shifting uncomfortably and trying to read my watch in a darkened theater. When I walked out of the theater, I just thought to myself, "What the hell just happened?"
For one thing, I didn't know whose story it was. The first half focused entirely on Briony (Saoirse Ronan) and her writing. As for the love story,I understood that Cecila (Keira Knightly) and Robbie (James McAvoy) shared affections toward one another, but I didn't think they loved each other. Sure he writes a letter and they make love in the library for three minutes, but so what? There wasn't enough time spent on their relationship, so everything that proceeded Briony's lie, I didn't care about.
Speaking of Briony's lie, what was her motivation for it? The movie didn't portray her as evil and jealous until after she told the lie (accusing Robbie of a crime he did not commit). Did she love Robbie? Did she believe she was right? Did she just feel like it? I don't know.
And then, there was all these flashbacks and scenes that didn't make any sense (like the school girl massacre scene. Unless that was just saying how awful war is).
Yeah, the cinematography was gorgeous. But just looking good does not make a good movie.
Say what you want, but a good story does not leave the audience scratching their heads at the end. Anyone who reads this like the movie and get it? What am I missing?
