Customer Reviews

Atonement

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
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Well, it's so good to know, that once the great composers, such as John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Maurice Jarre, and so on, will be gone, the film music lovers won't be left with the void of silence. Dario Marianelli is one of the greatest hopes of film music today. His masterful Oscar-nominated score for Pride and Prejudice drew attention on him right away, and we are not dissapointed in him this time either. Marianelli's music for the beautiful romantic drama Atonement starring Keira Knightley and James MacAwoy, and directed by Joe Wwright(who directed P&P, as his brilliant first feature film) is nothing less than great. His themes are sweeping, and fluent, like a buquet of floating emotions. I particularly liked the use of an extraordinary percussionlike sound, a circa 1935-typewriter, which is, no dobt, a unique choice of the composer. Altogether I can state without regret, that Dario Marianelli's own musical style and presence in the world of modern film music is firm as a rock, and his Gloden Globe-nominated score for Atonement can aspire easily for a well deserved Academy Award for best original score in 2008.

Dario Marianelli is becoming a composer of such high quality, that it is pure listening joy to hear the composer of "Pride and Prejudice" now EXCEED that masterful work with his sweeping romantically lush soundtrack to ATONEMENT.To have the talent of French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet playing throughout a superior film is one thing,but to let the music simply stand alone for pure listening pleasure is the hallmark IMO of the superior film soundtrack.This is only one of two soundtracks that I feel worthy this year to purchase.Marianelli is heavy in the string department.His music puts a certain rhythm to the film and this swiftly paced soundtrack emulating typing and hurried footsteps is simply exciting.It is so easy to remember the film when I hear the soundtrack,but if I had heard the soundtrack first, then I WOULD have made a point to see the film.All in all,Marianelli is my man to which John Williams,Hans Zimmer,Howard Shore et al need to "pass the baton".
PAY WHAT YOU MUST! NOTE: this soundtrack WON THE GOLDEN GLOBE!!!!!!!!!

I loved Marianelli's movie score for the very successful 2005 version of 'Pride and Prejudice', but believe it or not, this score for the movie 'Atonement" is even better!!--------The first words that came to mind for me today when I listened to this classical instrumental score for the first time were, 'extremely lush'. The many primary cello and piano parts will just make you melt! Marianelli also has several unique creative surprises in these cues that will delight you. ----------The score definitely caught me by surprise, because I was playing it as backround music today and by track ten, 'Elegy to Dunkirk', I found myself weeping on the work I was doing!!---------------This is definitely one of those scores that can stand alone as a listening experience, so you can certainly buy it now without seeing the movie which is still in limited release as of this writing.--- I plan to listen to it many times today, and I have not seen the movie.----------You may want to buy it now at the initial 12.99 price which is lower than the initial price of his last score (P&P), or even if it goes up a couple dollars, because just like Marianelli's last major score, the price may go UP after everyone discovers how good it is. The cd I bought after the 'Pride and Prejudice' initial release, is STILL cheaper than the prices of that two year old score today, including the 'used' prices being offered ----------- At this point I would give this original score for 'Atonement' the Oscar for 2007 hands down! Remember, it already was nominated for the Golden Globe for best original musical score this year, so get yours before the price gets inflated! Edited Update: 1/8/2008----------------I just saw the movie itself, and without a doubt more than any other movie I have seen, the star of 'Atonement' IS the score!!-------Without it the movie would not hold together. This is a landmark score you cannot miss!------I am not one to give this kind of praise lightly.--------Update: 2\24\08, Wins Academy Award for best musical score as well as the Golden Globe earlier.-----Now that's even more incentive to give it a try!

"Atonement" is hands-down the best original film score of 2007. Dario Marianelli composed intense, dramatic, passionate music to enhance this amazing movie. This CD is an incredible collection of edgy classical music. All of the tracks blend together seamlessly, and there isn't a single bad song on this album. My personal favorites include "Briony," "With My Own Eyes," and "Come Back," which incorporate clicking typewriter keys into the music for an amazing effect. Other noteworthy tracks include "Love Letters," a sweeping romantic piano melody, and "The Half Killed," which is chilling and dramatic. This is a fantastic score, and if you are a fan of the film "Atonement" or are just looking for some great music to enjoy, you should definitely purchase this CD.

The musical score to "Atonement" is exactly what every person needs when they read the book! As a person who has read the book and seen the movie, the music is another flawlessly created device to further engulf the reader into the story. Naturally, pieces of this composition were disregarded during the movie, but listening to them now makes the story that much more appealing to read and watch again! Having the chance to listen to such pristine music allows an audience member to hear every device the composer can use to enforce a particular mood and provide even more detail to characters! If you loved the book and the movie, you will definitely love this album that creates a world unto its own! This is definitely worth listening to, even if you have not read the book or seen the movie!

Let me preface with this is my first review ever.
I watched the movie a couple of weeks ago and the first time I saw it, I sort of emotionally floated through it not exactly sure where it was going (I guess I should have read the novel first). After the denouement ending revealed the plot twist, I had to watch it again, this time understanding the symbolisms and subtle hints given in the movie. During my second viewing, I went through an entire tissue box with emotions. Especially during the scene at the Cafe. I have now watched the movie four times (yes it is that good).

Now, on to the soundtrack, I listened to the soundtrack a few days later and discovered that a large part of the emotion comes not only from the movie, but from the haunting score. If you have seen the movie, don't be surprised if you uncontrollably start tearing-up while listening to several of the songs. It is so hypnotic that it will stop you from what you are doing and visually pull you back to the movie (almost like in the film "Somewhere in Time"). I have listened to the soundtrack at least 20-30s times already and it will probably stay in my CD player until after the Oscars. If you have not seen the movie, listening to the soundtrack will surely compel you to do so.

Atonement's visuals are lavish, lush and yet have strong sense of melancholy. Dario's score is absolutely gorgeous. There are no "action cues" of timpani and trumpet bombast; instead he uses the rythmn of a typewriter and classical strings to imbue a sense of forboding. The score fits seamlessly into the movie in ways remeniscent of the Lord of the Rings Complete versions, from the repeated typewriter motif to the harmonica theme and of course the highlight of the score, Elegy for Dunkirk. If you like beautiful, innovative music in a different vein from most sweeping strings and blaring brass scores, this is one you will love.

What a beautiful piece of piano music. It takes you through this tragic love story with such sweetness and tenderness. It also whispers...Keep my love close to your heart where it forever remains.
Highly recommended to everyone.

Dario Marianelli beautifully captures the atmosphere that is `Atonement'. He understands the concept behind this novel/film and he masterfully creates the most beautifully intricate companion piece I've heard in quite a long time. He takes a stunning, seductive and mesmerizing score and then builds on it with very imaginative and complex creativity. The fact that he incorporates typing into the music (in ode to the fact that the perils of this film all stem from a little `story') is a flawless and admirable decision. Marianelli's score is probably the most beautiful and intoxicating musical piece I've ever heard; honestly.

The score opens with `Briony', which sets the pace for the rest of the score. It rises and falls and then swiftly runs into the somber piece `Robbie's Letter' which carries along with it a feeling of dread which then manifests itself when `Two Figures By a Fountain' begins with it's interweaving resemblance to `Briony'. It builds itself up until it explodes only to lead into the soft and breathtaking `Cee, You and Tea'.

I could go on and on but the point here is that each track is a marvelous compliment to the one before and the one after; all of them coming together to create a perfectly cohesive piece; united and courageous.

Tracks like `With My Own Eyes' expose a layer of fragility within a seed of corruption. As the typing rapidly increases we can feel the lie building within young Briony Tallis. In stark contrast we have the marvelously constructed `Farewell' which exudes longing and heartache, and while they differ so much they fit together so masterfully. The piano work in `Love Letters' is dreamlike and is elevated all the more by the breathtaking violins that accompany it.

Tracks like `The Half Killed' subtly rise in power and grace that about halfway through you are stunned at its immortal presence. It falls into the smooth flutes of `Rescue Me' only to be heightened yet again by the commanding `Elegy for Dunkirk' which brings to mind one of the most memorable scenes in the film. `Elegy...' weaves itself beautifully into `Come Back' which works itself back around to the memorable `Briony' before moving onto the beautiful `Denouement'. `The Cottage on the Beach' and finally `Atonement' beautifully close out this miraculous score.

The final track, `Clair de Lune', is performed by Jean Yves-Thibaudet and add a layer of authentic beauty to the collection, bringing us into the Tallis home and making us a part of their story.

As a whole Marianelli's score is beautiful, exotic, seductive, enticing, warm and fragile; a beautiful composition that compliments its source material by understanding it and working to become a part of it. This is truly a score that exemplifies everything the novel/film represents.

This is a really nice score. I enjoyed it even more than Marianelli's previous score for Joe Wright--Pride and Prejudice. This score has several great themes. One for the character Briony which is driving and includes a typewriter as a percussive instrument, which is an interesting addition that I rather like. There's a beautiful love theme heard twice on the album. A couple other cues have a theme used only once in the film. The track "the half killed" has a menacing feel to it, and "Elegy for Dunkirk" is the standout cue of the album. Both are spectacular tracks. Several times the use of something from the film is incorporated into the score. The typewriter is the obvious example, but in one scene from the film a harmonica plays a theme from the score and that solo harmonica makes it onto the end of one of the tracks, as does a church organ later on. In "elegy for dunkirk" a choir of soldiers sings a hymn which is incorporated into Marianelli's score masterfully. It's a very well thought out score and I would be happy to see it win an oscar.