Yesterday (Dec. 7) was the first day of "Atonement" limited release in the United States, in order to be able to see it for the first time The style of the film, I was a lazy guy who caught up early in the morning, with the biggest blizzard since the beginning of winter, bumped on the subway for more than an hour, and finally rushed to the AMC Century in downtown Chicago 20 minutes before the opening of the film. cinema.
Because I have already done my movie watching homework before, I chose this largest movie theater in Chicago to enjoy this movie that I have been looking forward to since the summer. However, the release of this foreign film (British) in the United States is not as dynamic as I imagined. As of yesterday, only small-scale media screenings were held in Los Angeles and New York. In addition, the strike by the American Screenwriters Guild has led to Although all the main creators of the crew went to the United States to promote it (directors Joe Wright and James McAvoy also attended the Q&A session after the Los Angeles audition. This content has a video on YouTube, and both of them are very typical people with a sense of British humor. , So it’s very interesting to hear them interpret this movie), but because it’s impossible to promote it on TV (such as entertainment news, talk shows, etc., which is the most important way for ordinary Americans to learn about new movies and decide whether to watch them), So that the film's exposure rate in the United States is not high. Take yesterday’s AMC Century Cinema as an example. It and another landmark theater are the only two theaters in the entire Greater Chicago area where "Atonement" is shown. But when I look around the entire movie hall, there is even an Atonement poster board No, but the posters and models of "Dark Matter: The Golden Compass", which was drawn by the same day, are overwhelmingly decorating the movie theater like magic. So till now, I still feel very sorry that I could not find the poster of Atonement in the cinema to leave a picture:(
Without further ado, let’s talk about this movie. I feel that American audiences (especially young people) still don’t buy this kind of British-style romantic movies. I bought tickets for the first show of the day. I found that except for me, the other people are gray-haired grandpas and grandmothers, sometimes middle-aged people, and the whole audience is less than 50 people according to my estimation. It is estimated that it is due to working hours (Friday). Right, so I picked up the best movie-watching seat, and sat down to wait for the movie to begin.
To be honest, when the lights of the whole projection hall went out and the light blue focus title appeared, I was still agitated. At heart). But when the typewriter "click" sounded throughout the movie, I was completely immersed in it. Maybe because it’s the first time I watched it, I feel that the time goes by so fast. The two-hour movie doesn’t feel like a bit of procrastination, but it doesn’t give people time to think. As a result, some small areas are not very clear after watching it, because the movie is Time clues alternate, reality and imagination (mainly Briony’s imagination) are narrated, so it doesn’t matter if you don’t see it too clearly the first time, isn’t this just giving an excuse to go to the cinema for the second time, haha.
Speaking of the style of the entire film, I think the review article in the Los Angeles Times summarized the most precise: "It's like a work by Merchant&Ivory." (If you are not familiar with this label, the "Room with a View" I should be able to give you a hint.) Director Joy Wright continued his painting style in the 05 version of "Pride and Prejudice", which is as clean as an oil painting. This is in the first half of the film-a British country house in the 1930s. Incisively and vividly reflected in the depiction. This exquisite technique is even reflected in the 5-minute long shot of Dunkirk's retreat that embodies the cruelty and despair of World War II. The endless picture depicts the hopeless and fearless atmosphere of the entire war, which makes people breathless, but you don't feel a trace of blood and terror to stimulate your eyeballs. The dramatic ending deepens the tragic force of the play.
The performance of the actors, I would like to say that James and Saoirse Ronan, who plays 13-year-old Briony, are definitely worthy of oscar buzz. I wouldn’t be surprised if any of them is nominated for this year’s Oscar or even won. Especially Saoirse, her performance is absolutely eye-catching. It is not a natural expression of child stars in front of the camera, but is really "playing" this precocious and sensitive girl, especially she and James only A rival scene of, that kind of emotional crush's general behavior after her, I think it laid a key foreshadowing. And Romola Garai, who plays 18-year-old Briony, (if you have watched "Inside I'm Dancing", you should remember the blond MM
Siobhan who takes care of Rory and Michael in it. This is the older sister. I feel grown up here. Isn’t it that beautiful in the movie, or is it about makeup, to compare with Keira?) She is a key figure throughout the second half of the plot in Atonement, her confession and her desire to achieve self-salvation through her own works The performance is still very dynamic. As for Keira, it can only be said that she completed her task without success, and she felt that her appearance in the movie was too short. I really don't know if this will affect her competitiveness in the best actress. There is no doubt about her beauty in the movie, but it is limited to her face, her figure is too thin, but the green skirt still suits her very well.
What I have to mention is the original sound of the movie, which can really be called a classic, especially the introduction of the sound of an old typewriter, which renders the tension and anxiety of the movie just right. And the music in the war must mention that shocking chorus, I am embarrassed to say that I started to cry here. . . Of course, at the end of the film, I still have to remind all the delicate sisters to prepare more tissues. Anyway, according to my observation, in the second half of the film, you can basically hear the uncles, aunts, grandparents, and sobbing. NS. Of course I am no exception (who makes myself a person with shallow eye sockets?), my eyes are still red after going out of the cinema.
In short, Atonement can definitely be regarded as one of the best movies of this year, and it is worth watching repeatedly in movie theaters. The mainstream media in the United States still commented on it very well, and many media have given it the highest viewing star rating. Here is a look at its box office in the United States and its performance in the next awards season. I feel that this year’s best film should also be produced in it, "No country for old men" and "There will be blood". Of course, Daniel Day-Lewis’s hope of winning the actor with "There will be blood" should be better than the movie. The best hope is bigger. (I watched the trailer of "There will be blood" in the trailer before the opening of Atonement. Daniel's performance was really shocking!)
Anyway, that's it for movie watching notes. Now I have started to watch Ivan’s "Atonement: a Novel", and I feel that the feeling of reading a book and watching a movie is not the same, but now when I read the characters in the book I already have a sense of involvement with the characters. If I read Robbie, I think of James. , Although the appearance of Robbie and James in the book is still very different (as for how they are different, let me sell them first, and then report to everyone after reading the whole book). It is estimated that after reading the book, Atonement should be expanded in theaters, and I will check it out at that time, hoping to discover new things and new feelings.
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