I watched a film called Atonement two nights ago. I was mildly interested in this one when it first came out - interested because I like Keira Knightley and Joe Wright, mildly because I'd tried to read the Ian McEwan novel the film was adapted from and failed. Ian McEwan is incredibly difficult for me to read, but the plot of this book was intriguing to me. When I watched the film, though, I only knew the skeleton details of the plot and for that I was glad.

Glad, you say? Oh, but why?

Well I will tell you.

This movie really surprised me. I knew that it was extremely well-reviewed and nominated for all sorts of awards, but that actually turned me off a little, and that's why I'm just now seeing it. I was concerned that it would be a reprisal of The English Patient*, a film that I still consider incredibly overrated and, frankly, kind of boring.

Atonement is no such a thing. Joe Wright is becoming one of my favorite directors because of his handling of setting. Yes, setting - believe it. He captures the beauty of every scene, but in a way that is realistic at the same time it is glowing and ethereal. He's the first director who's ever let us see a Jane Austen character sweat during a vigorous ball, and let the farm be an actual farm where a hog's balls are of great interest to his owner.

Keira Knightley and James McAvoy are amazing in this as well. I'll talk about James first, as he is lesser known than Keira, but carried a love story through with amazing power and depth. My favorite scene with him is when they meet again just before he goes off to war. It is a very awkward moment and he tries to play off indifference, but then she touches him, and he breaks apart, and he makes this sound...I can't describe the sound with a word, because it would undermine his masculinity, which is very much in place. They both really sold the love story in ways that were new and fresh, in my opinion.

Keira, as always, is magnificently beautiful. Without hesitation I would rate her as one of the top ten screen faces of our time. Perfection does not play a part in this category: it's character, and something iconical - I don't know. Hard to describe, but I think she has it and Audrey Tautou and George Clooney and Cate Blanchett. They're all beautiful in their own way, but striking, and archetypical.

Anyway, back to Keira. Beautiful, yes, and there is a green gown that has been rated as one of the historical screen gowns (like Audrey Hepburn's dress in Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Marilyn's white dress from The Seven Year Itch, and Scarlett's red gown from Gone with the Wind). But while she was wearing it, I was so distressed by her drastic weight loss that I kept getting distracted by meal planning for a dinner over at my house. Special guest: Keira.

Here's the menu:

1.) We'll start with a creamy, caramel flan. I like to have dessert first every once in a while.

2.) Cobb Salad, with extra eggs and avocado.

3.) Creamy beef stroganoff over egg noodles, with some fluffy fresh bread and butter.

4.) For a vegetable, yams with honey.

5.) We'll end with coconut cream pie. Two desserts, why the hell not? It's my party.

6.) For an after dinner drink, I was thinking about Bailey's and cream. And maybe a chocolate milkshake for during dinner.

I'm not saying this to be catty. I really do worry about these actresses who starve themselves as well as over-exercise. You actresses can eat and still maintain a slender figure, especially if you're as petitely built as Knightley is and have unlimited funds for personal training.

Seriously, Keira, some sandwiches with mayo and extra cheese. It can only help you.


*I am speaking only of the film version. I read the novel after I watched the movie, and it was an amazing book. In fact, it pointed even more emphatically at the flaws in the movie.