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Saturday, November 22, 2008

17th November 2008

The first 1 hour of “Atonement” was boring. It wasn’t that interesting at all for me. In fact, there were moments where I was so lost and had no idea what was going on, or rather, I know what’s going on but I just wouldn’t believe that the storyline is actually that simple. I wanted something more complicated I guess.

Basically “Atonement” is a love story between 2 souls – Cecilia and Robbie. However, due to naivity and jealousy, Cecilia’s sister, Brioni, told a lie about a crime that Robbie did not commit, which caused Robbie to be sent to jail. Brioni had a crush on Robbie and she was just 13 when she saw her sis n Robbie had sex in the library. She thought that he was a sex maniac. I guess she doesn’t understand what was going on and she was also partly angry that Robbie chose her sister instead of her. So, later when her cousin was raped, Brioni, who was coincidentally the witness, pointed the finger at Robbie.

Brioni grew up to understand the consequences of her lies. She had prevented the happiness that her sister, Cecilia and Robbie had supposingly deserved. She wanted to atone for her mistakes, her lie, her sin, but it was too late.

The movie I would say is not that bad if you actually struggle through the first hour. After the first hour, towards the end, things become clearer and you’ll understand why the movie is in chunks – flashback here and there. Sometimes, certain scenes are slotted in, and you just have no idea why the scene suddenly appears at the moment.

At the end, you’ll understand that the movie is actually a true story told by Brioni Tallis in her final book – Atonement. The last scene sees Brioni in an interview, talking about the book. In the book, she wrote about her regrets of what she had done to her sis and Robbie. The couple didn’t get the happiness that they dreamed of – both died early and separately. Brioni basically had lived her whole life in misery because she knew, she caused the pain and the separation of a couple that is in love. Therefore In her book, she gave both of them a happy ending, she said, the happiness that they deserved. That’s how she tries to compensate.

Her quote from the movie, which I loved so much is …
“What sense of hope or satisfaction could the readers derived from an (sad) ending like that? So in the book, I wanted to give Robbie and Cecilia what they lost out on… I like to think this isn’t weakness or evasion…but a fine act of kindness…I gave them their happiness….”

By the end of the movie, you’ll know which part of the movie are fiction, made-believe by the author and the parts that actually happened – the truth. So it sort of unraveled the “frizzles” I had in my head regarding the storyline.

In fact the few minutes at the end of the movie, during the interview with the old Brioni is my favourite part of the whole movie. The old lady who played Brioni is fantastic… she is so brilliant in that part. When she speaks, her blue eyes reflects the sadness and remorse… it’s so expressive that just hearing her talk and say those beautiful words makes one feel her pain.

Yes, she may not be an angel because of what she did, but then again, everyone makes mistakes one and everyone had lied before for their own interest. I’ll be the first to raise my hand in admittance that I too had told lies due to my own selfishness. Of course her lie was in fact more serious but she did bear the consequences of living a life so agonizing. The guilt that she felt, I guess was some sort of punishment.
“Forrest Gump” opens with its signiture score, so beautiful and lovely to the ears. I find myself constantly repeating the opening – not to see the feather fly but rather to hear the music. Anyway, yes, it’s the end of 2008 and only now did I watch this critically acclaimed movie.

So sorry all “Forrest Gump” fans, but haha I guess I expected too much from it so, after watching it, I wouldn’t say it is as brilliant as it was known to be. I mean, it’s a good movie, in terms of storyline. Maybe cinematographically, it’s brilliant. The story is just, hmmm….simple but I guess inspiring to those who feel different, like Forrest. I guess “Forrest Gump” is how the Chinese TVB drama – “Fei Mau” got its English name – “Forrest Cat.” Did you know that the series is called “Fat Cat” (though “Fei Mau” means fat cat) but rather “Forrest Cat”? “Forrest Cat” is also about a man who is a bit slow (you know what I mean) like Forrest Gump. “Forrest Cat” however is funnier if u ask me haha.

I must really give credit to certain scenes though. The sceneries in the movie are very beautiful indeed. The most memorable one would be the beautifully captured reflections of the mountains in the lake while Forrest was running. Also the techniques used to combine the current Tom Hanks with those former US Presidents and John Lennon were really something.

So, now i know that one should watch movie with no expectations. When you have no expectations, you will tend to enjoy it more haha. Whatever it is, i have no regrets watching "Forrest Gump".

I can't wait to watch "Mamma Mia". I love musicals and this is one i know i have to watch. Thanks so much lydia for lending it to me...

Til next time ya...

_tammy the awesomist_

p/s: it's Zouk KL by the way ahha....and my harddrive...=( sorry yy, eugene, kf, lydia n nic...i know it's my fault

With Lots of Love & Hugs & Kisses & Chris Richardson's scent from BabyT ;