i pick this for the oscars!

i’ve always read reviews that discuss how ‘compelling’ or ‘amazing’ it is and, in most cases, shrug it off with a casual glance-by. the same formula was inappropriately coupled with the reviews for atonement. i had a pedestrian interest in the film after first taking notice of it but i continuously put off actually viewing it because it appeared slow and dragging.

wrong!

the movie, actually, is amazing. based in pre-world war II england, it is the story of two lovers, torn apart due to a violent misunderstanding early in the film. the movie is an adaptation of the novel, of the same name, by ian mcewan. kiera knightley [pride and prejudice, bend it like beckham] and james mcavoy [the last king of scotland, macbeth] are the leading romantic duo and the remaining cast are virtual unknowns that, paired with knightley and mcavoy, create the most moving and powerful cast i’ve even seen portrayed.

to describe the movie without ruining it [or to even fully chronicle it at all] is nigh-impossible. this post could just be a random scramble of words that could all easily apply to the dramatic love story; touching, beautiful, epic, magnificent, magical, endearing, tragic, lovely, endearing, breathtaking and perfect would all be words on the list. the acting is precise to a tee, every line, every movement is significant and played out amazingly. to pay less attention to any actor/actress of this alluring magnum opus would be an injustice. the screen play, written by christopher hampton, is flawless. this, however, is a dim candle compared to the articulate lighthouse of cinematography and direction.

joe wright [director of pride and prejudice] has a long and promising career ahead of him, already creating a classic such as this, just his second major release film. in particular films it’s quite standard to overpass the direction in it, a role generally overlooked by the general public. i admit, i don’t always take notice to it, a lot of the films notoriety is up to the actors, the graphics, the lines. joe wright made me notice, frame by frame, the beauty which he was capturing. he is exquisite at what he does and every shot is alluring.

it’s strange yet splendid to see a film that captures so many elements at once. whimsy, love, tragedy, longing; just to name a few. the movie never loses your attention as soon as it starts; it’s paced with an amazing timing that is suspenseful and playful, challenging the viewer to watch [and enjoy] every second of it.

to further down myself with cliches, i have not ever experienced a viewing that created a paradigm shift for myself. this movie did that to me. it made me appreciate specific sections of my life that i did not before, it created a powerful and classic movement in my way of viewing things.

FUCK! that has never happened to me before. i love this movie. it’s so splendid and lucid, with quick and meaningful dialect, epic scenery, and heart rending repercussions.

bottom line: this is, by far, on my top three lists of movies i’ve ever had the pleasure to sit through. watch it. it, hopefully, can affect you, move you, address you on a personal level. it’s my personal pick for oscar “best picture.”

the movie is comparable to: falling in love, heartwarming tear jerking nights, falling asleep in the mid-summer nights with a soft and careful breeze caressing your feelings with it’s touch.