Atonement (9.2/10)

I was genuinely shocked by how much I liked this film. It ended up being my plane movie, the kind I usually get unusually locked into, and this one really delivered. The performances across the board were excellent, and the story, paired with its ending, was incredibly powerful and satisfying. It’s definitely a slower-paced drama, so that’s something to be aware of going in, but I was fully engaged the entire time. What stood out most to me was the love–hate dynamic between many of the characters. Their complexity runs deeper than it initially appears, and watching those layers unfold made the experience even more rewarding."This sweeping English drama, based on the book by Ian McEwan, follows the lives of young lovers Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightley) and Robbie Turner (James McAvoy). When the couple are torn apart by a lie constructed by Cecilia's jealous younger sister, Briony (Saoirse Ronan), all three of them must deal with the consequences. Robbie is the hardest hit, since Briony's deception results in his imprisonment, but hope for Cecilia and her beau increases when their paths cross during World War II."