Atonement, like its central character, wastes a lot of time and as a result accomplishes little. It is rated “R” for sex and violence. It is a visually stunning film and well acted – particularly by James McAvoy as Robbie.

Nevertheless it seems like a ten page script stretched to fill two hours. Endless shots of people on a beach, in a chair, or marching through corridors fill this film, time that could have been more effectively used to develop a coherent plot.

The story concerns a girl, Briony (played at various ages by ­­­­Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, and Vanessa Redgrave), upset by her sister Cecilia’s (Kiera Knightley) attraction to the housekeeper’s son, Robbie, which leads her to falsely accuse him of a crime. This action destroys all their lives; most of the film focuses on the characters’ efforts to recover what was lost by her act, but virtually ignores the actual crime.

However, we aren’t given enough backstory to care what happens to these people. We are told, for example, that Robbie and Cecilia have long been falling in love, but in all the film’s flashbacks none show this development. Thus, when Robbie asks Cecilia how he can hope their love will survive , and all we’ve seen is a three minute tryst in the library, we echo his doubt rather than affirm her hope. However, the plot’s biggest betrayal comes with its conclusion, asking us to be content with a Dallasesque “Bobby Ewing in the shower” ending. If you can only dream about making atonement, make your dream better than this one.

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