first look: atonement

"Atonement"
dir., Joe Wright
2007

With an overcrowded summer at the multiplexes, fall doesn't look short on must see films either. Kiera Knightley has been drawing some of the best reviews of her still growing career with The BBC describing her performance as "sterling" and grounds the film's raw power. James McAvoy is also receiving strong notices for which I have no doubts because of my recent discovery of his refreshing charm in "The Last King of Scotland", a film that he was unjustifiably overlooked for such an unshowy, convincing performance.