Movie/DVD Review: Atonement.

While some have compared Atonement to The English Patient in tone, tempo, temperament and time, I found director Joe Wright and writer Christopher Hampton's Atonement surprisingly underivative, despite their obvious parallels. It took the British romantic drama template and added fresh twists.

The unexpected, unconventional ending did not necessarily make it gratifying. Given the main character's search for atonement, however, this nonHollywood-type conclusion underscored even more poignantly humanity's oft hapless zeal for resolution or atonement.

Elegently written, acted and lensed, the film will never be confused with Norbit or its ilk.