Atonement

The good news: Atonement looks absolutely stunning. The bad news: It doesn't get a US release until December. Arg!!!!! Atonement debuted in Britain today to universal acclaim; it gets a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating based on its 14 mostly British reviews. The Guardian said "there are moments - delirious, languorous, romantic moments - when this film appears to have the lineaments of a classic."

The film is based on Ian McEwan's acclaimed 2002 novel, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, an honor he earned yet again this year for his novella On Chesil Beach. Aside from Harry Potter, Atonement is my favorite novel so far this decade, an epic World War II romantic tale about how the lie of a barely adolescent girl can forever change the lives of those close to her. The book, and I hear the film too, ends with a delicious twist.

The movie stars Oscar nominee Keira Knightley and James McAvoy (The Last King of Scotland). Joe Wright, who helmed the lovely but light 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice, which also starred Knightley directs. Clearly, this is the most obvious early shoo-in to get a Best Picture Oscar nomination. That the early reviews are all stellar bodes well for it, as well as Knightley, McAvoy, and Wright.