So I finally saw Atonement tonight. Just finished watching it actually.

And it pretty much broke my heart. I mean I figured it didn't have a an overly happy ending, considering it got nominated for an Oscar  (these days seems a movie has to insanely depressing in order to be up for an Oscar), but this really was heart-wrenchingly sad.

*SPOILER ALERT*

I had always kind of figured that Robbie died, but the whole scene in Cecelia's apartment really threw me for a loop. I was expecting him to die after that, not to find out that he died in France. And then the fact that Cecelia died too. That killed me. I couldn't imagine living with myself after all of that if I were Briony.

There were some things I didn't quite understand though. Like the whole thing in the orchard where Robbie stumbles across all the dead girls in the black dresses....WTF? That just seemed completely random. And also the moment that Briony has in the hospital with the dying French soldier. I didn't understand what that was about either. Was that just to reinforce to Briony the reality of life? That as a child she had no understanding of the consequences of her actions? I was also confused by everyone's complete willingness to believe the words of an small child in regards to the whole rape thing. Maybe I just don't completely understand the mindset of 30's England, but it seems to me a child would be the least responsible witness. I do understand the blaming of a servant even though the rich man committed the deed. That sort of thing still happens today. I think I just don't understand why they were all so willing to believe Briony, even before she handed over the letter.

One of the things I liked best about the movie was how they would start off with Briony's POV and then go back and show how things really happened. It made understanding how a child sees the world much clearer. Though being twenty-one and not living under a rock, I really didn't find the scene in the library all that scandalous. Kinky, yes. Scandalous, no. But I can see how a child would interpret that whole thing. I also really enjoyed James McAvoy as Robbie. I mean I'd love James McAvoy if he just sat on screen and read the phone book, but he was intensely engaging as Robbie. I'm so gald someone realized this boy, excuse me, MAN has talent and saved him from being Mr. Tumnus-esque characters for the rest of his life. I sort of fail to see how some people thought Keira Knightley warrented an Oscar nod for this, other than perhaps her ability to wear green silk really, really well. I mean she was good, but not THAT good.

Overall it was a really touching movie, but just very, very sad. I don't think I'll be watching it again anytime soon, because honestly, it make sme kind of sad. I think that's the kind of movie I'd have to watch when I'm really happy and lock in a drawer when I was falling down. Don't get me wrong I loved it, I'm a romantic, I'm a complete sucker for this kind of story. It just is not something I'd want to watch again and again and again, like say, Iron Man.