ATONEMENT — *** — Keira Knightley, James McAvoy; rated R (profanity, violence, sex, vulgarity, gore, partial nudity, drugs);
A few carelessly chosen words and actions haunt the characters in "Atonement," a handsome adaptation of Ian McEwan's best-selling novel.
The same goes for the film itself, which has to pick and choose which parts of McEwan's book to depict and then makes a few changes based on those selections. There's a particularly unsatisfying final segment, which forces Vanessa Redgrave into the role of an expository narrator of sorts.
On the whole, though, "Atonement" is a well-acted and reasonably engaging period piece. And it suggests Keira Knightley is at her best when she's in "costume dramas" such as this.
Here she reunites with director Joe Wright, who helmed the 2005 version of "Pride and Prejudice," for which she received an Academy Award nomination. Knightley stars as the wealthy Cecilia Tallis, who has had a long-simmering romance with Robbie Turner (James McAvoy), the hard-working son of the family's housekeeper (Brenda Blethyn).
But these two would-be lovers have never acted on their attraction, at least not until a rather smutty "love letter" penned by Robbie is accidentally delivered to her.
Unfortunately, Cecilia's impressionable younger sister, Briony (Saoirse Ronan), has also read that letter and is horrified. And perhaps biased by the letter, Briony later accuses Robbie of sexually assaulting a young cousin (Juno Temple).
The title "Atonement" refers to the older Briony's attempts to make up for that false accusation. It also looks at the resulting personal struggles of Cecilia and Robbie when he is freed from prison to serve as a soldier during World War II.
Wright's second theatrical film was well-shot by Seamus McGarvey ("World Trade Center") and boasts a strong cast. Knightley is arguably the biggest name, and she is quite good as Cecilia. But the maturing McAvoy equals her. His Robbie is easily the most appealing character here. Meanwhile, newcomer Ronan impresses as the younger version of Briony. (Romola Garai and Redgrave play older versions of that character.)
"Atonement" is rated R for crude sexual language (vulgar slang terms, profanity and other references), strong war violence (mostly explosive mayhem), simulated sex and other sexual contact (including a sexual assault), brief gore, brief, partial male and female nudity, and drug content (painkillers and other pharmaceuticals). Running time: 128 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com