Having not enjoyed Pride & Prejudice, I suppose I was expecting not to enjoy "Atonement," much to my chagrin my expectations were met. As fate would have it, my girlfriend wanted to see this film, and I wanted to see her happy, so we took a look.

At the outset of this review, let me balance my negative experience with her positive one. She quite enjoyed it. Further, we ran into two friends at the theatre and they also enjoyed it. So, it looks like I was the odd man out. Nonetheless, I'm the one with the film review site, so you're stuck with my opinion.

Long slow shots without dialogue pepper the production. Often, the camera silently pans a character walking twenty, thirty, sixty feet without a word. Similarly, up close face shots indulge the screen far longer than I'd find point for. So long, in fact, that I remember talking to myself to fill the emptiness, "Why is this shot still on screen? Is there some intense emotion that's supposed to be swelling inside my chest? A lump welling in my neck? If other people are getting it, I'm sure not." That said, the cinematography was quite spectacular – it's the editing here I'm talking about. The sound director should also be complemented for taking those empty spaces in the film and giving them as much life as possible. The clicking of the typewriter tapped right into the percussion of the score – this is an excellent touch. I loved it. But, it could not make up for what I was missing from the script and pace.

One main character trudges across the European countryside as an accidental soldier, I could find little story point to him being there – except as a vehicle to be away from his love. I preferred to have more reason than that. Further, there's almost no character development at all to the lovers and very little description to Keira Knightley's character. I'm a sucker for a good love story, really, but I wasn't sold this love – and that's probably why the long shots felt so empty for me.

In large part that sale may have been hampered by the sheer number of impossible coincidences that mount on the first day of events in the film's setting. (Read at your own risk, these are spoilers for the first 30 minutes only) A) The shocking letter is written. B) The letter is intercepted by young girl. C) Lovers kiss for the first time. D) Lovers love for the first time. E) The very same young girl who perchance intercepted the letter, also perchance stumbles upon the lovers loving. F) House guests 1&2 run away. G) House guest 3 is criminalized. H) The very same young girl who both perchance intercepted the shocking letter, and stumbled upon the lovers loving also perchance, haps across the criminalization while in progress. I) The lovers are torn apart by circumstances beyond their control. All on the same day.

Sort of interesting ending though.

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