Whats more impressive is how wright and cinematographer seamus mcgarvey translated the books very literaturebased. Atonement the american society of cinematographers. Atonement is a 2007 romantic war drama film directed by joe wright and based on ian mcewan s 2001 novel of the same name. Its one of his longer books added to which the book is a very sort of interior piece.
Based on the novel by ian mcewan, atonement presents three periods in the life of. Fledgling writer briony tallis, as a thirteenyearold, irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sisters lover of a crime he did not commit. In the 2007 film, adapted from ian mcewans novel, james mcavoys. The director decided that the scene, which was planned as a montage sequence with 40 different set ups, would now be covered in a single steadicam shot. Behind the scenes of the five minute complex long take. Aug, 2017 behind the scenes of the five minute complex long take from the film atonement by tihomir.
I thought it was all shot by a steadicam operator walking with the actors but i was surprised that it wasnt that easy. Joe wrights atonement features stunning photography, and this is most evident in an amazing single shot that lasts for more than. Many films have featured stunning long takes, but few pack the emotional punch that atonement s dunkirk shot. Set in three time periods, 1935 england, second world war england and france, and presentday england, it covers an upperclass girls halfinnocent mistake that ruins lives, her adulthood in the. With keira knightley, james mcavoy, brenda blethyn, saoirse ronan. Set in three time periods, 1935 england, second world war england and france, and presentday england, it covers an upperclass girls halfinnocent mistake that ruins lives, her adulthood in the shadow of that mistake, and a reflection on the nature of writing.
How and when did you meet atonement director joe wright. Joe wrights atonement features stunning photography, and this is most evident in. Atonement is a 2007 romantic war drama film directed by joe wright and starring james mcavoy, keira knightley, saoirse ronan, romola garai, benedict cumberbatch and. Atonement, the film and the novel, can be considered a dual media success. When atonement helmer joe wright told his main camera operator, peter. May 01, 20 in the case of this long steadicam shot.
Mar 05, 20 this clip, shared by filmschoolrejects, uses scenes from david finchers fight club, quentin tarantinos kill bill and joe wrights atonement to show how the smooth glide of a steadicam. Rocky was one of the first films to use a steadicam, specifically rocky running up the steps halloween 1978 used panavisions panaglide. Atonement brings the long tracking shot back into focus. I read some of the book, however, only to the part where the accusation was made against james mcavoys character, robbie. Atonement is a 2001 british metafiction novel written by ian mcewan concerning the understanding of and responding to the need for personal atonement. See more ideas about atonement, film and atonement movie. I knew that it would take every ounce of my technical and physical steadicam nous from the. Robertson in one long steadicam shot, and with photography being. The scene required five takes, and the third take was used in this movie. Atonement is a 2001 british metafiction novel written by ian mcewan. Sep 21, 2001 in his latest book atonement ian mcewan brings the british novel into the 21st century, says geoff dyer. I thought it was all shot by a steadicam operator walking with the actors but i was surprised that.
This clip, shared by filmschoolrejects, uses scenes from david finchers fight club, quentin tarantinos kill bill and joe wrights atonement to show how the smooth glide of a steadicam. Steadicams have totally liberated the tracking shot. Atonement the extraordinary range of atonement suggests that theres nothing ian mcewan cant do. Focus has already set this film up for a 2011 release. The movies fiveminutelong, singletake centerpiece is a potent antiwar. Atonement is as good a film as one could imagine having been made from a great work of contemporary fiction, says joe morgenstern, while the alternate victorian universe of the golden compass. Jun 05, 2012 one of the greatest steadicam single shots in film history. Joe and i met about 15 years ago in london, when i was shooting music videos and documentaries for oil company films. However, this was only one of a series of carefully crafted sequences that we, as a camera department with myself as the main camera operator, were asked to create in response to joe wrights powerful and uncompromising vision. Nov 28, 2007 wright stages a tricky, seamless, fiveminuteplus single shot steadicam tour across that battlewrecked beach with a gallantry that aims for terriblemajestyofwar cinematic ambition but settles. Ian mcewans awardwinning bestselling novel atonement was already in development at working title with producer robert fox and director richard eyre. The movie was beautifully made, with great and majestic scenery, and the severalminute steedy camera shot through the evacuation camp in dunkirk. The shot would cover a longer distance than any steadicam shot. Atonement may be elegant, but its far from stuffy, and its contemporary edge comes to the fore in a magnificent fiveandahalfminute, continuous steadicam shot on the shores of dunkirk, the scene of britains embarrassing retreat.
As some of you suspected, the 5 12minute long shot on the beach at dunkirk came about from necessitywright would have had to. The uniqueness of it is that its seven minutes long and all taken in one glorious steadicam shot. Dec 29, 2007 cuarons children of men 2006 featured several lengthy shots, including a steadicam and craneaided shot during a shootout. In the ian mcewan novel from which the movie was adapted, the scene is described. Wright stages a tricky, seamless, fiveminuteplus singleshot steadicam tour across that battlewrecked beach with a gallantry that aims for terriblemajestyofwar cinematic ambition but settles.
With thousands of extras, trained horses, an abandoned ship, and hours of rehearsals, wright and his steadicam operator peter robertson. With thousands of extras, trained horses, an abandoned ship, and hours of rehearsals, wright and his steadicam operator peter robertson choreographed the stunning journey the camera would take. In bound for glory, its used for a scene where woody guthrie walks through a work camp. After 10 years, atonement still casts a spell focus features. Ian mcewans exquisitely crafted novel atonementwhich was. The experience of reading a book and seeing a movie may have only one thing in common they are both leisure pursuits.
He directed some music videos and a short film called the end that i shot for him. It starts with the camera tracking a medium shot at eye level of the men talking as they walk towards the camera. One has to completely bow to the fact that when orson welles did the touch of evil shot, he didnt have a steadicam. Atonement, shot by seamus mcgarvey, bsc, lends stunning visuals to a novels. Atonement opens in 1935, at a stately manor in the english countryside. In the middle of atonement, a 5 12minute shot unfolds as robbie, a british wwii soldier james mcavoy, comes upon frances dunkirk beach, where the final point in the british retreat. Have i just explained in a dozen words why it will be nominated for best picture. The film stars james mcavoy, keira knightley, saoirse ronan, romola garai, benedict cumberbatch, and vanessa redgrave, and chronicles a crime and its consequences over the course of six decades, beginning in the 1930s. The steadicam operator peter robertson reportedly collapsed after filming the epic oner on the dunkirk beaches in atonement, although the reports were exaggerated. On shooting, steadicam operator peter robertson shot the scene by riding on a small tracking vehicle, walking off to a bandstand after rounding a boat, moved to a ramp, stepped onto a rickshaw, finally. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. This is atonement 2007 long take by myfavouritefilms on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.
Aug 29, 2007 atonement rarely has a book sprung so vividly to life, but also worked so enthrallingly in pure movie terms. Atonement the onetake dunkirk shot explained by steadicam. Aug 24, 2007 the team did three takes, and were trying for a fourth when the steadicam operators legs gave out. In atonement, i actually felt embarrassed for the filmmakers while watching the shot you could literally feel the strain of it as it died on screen, not unlike a headless.
One of the greatest steadicam single shots in film history. Through lyrical shrubbery and vines a memorable elegance emerges from this book. Atonement includes an astonishing fiveminute tracking shot conveying. To get the praise of the author of the book was really something special. Usa today has he first look at saoirse ronan in hanna shell play raised from childhood to be the perfect assassin by her excia man father eric bana in rural finland. Atonement puts the focus on the long tracking shot the boston. D irector joe wright gives us an astonishing panoramic fourminute steadicam shot of dunkirk. I always look forw ard to his books, and this long ish novel, i thought, might be the ideal distraction from the gathering conviction that a piece like amblers the nightcomerswhich deals with the quiet, deadly power struggle in indonesia betw een moderate and fundamentalist moslems would. Atonement is a generally stunning film, but its dunkirk long take is its high point. As some of you suspected, the 5 12minute long shot on the beach at dunkirk came about from necessitywright would have had to do 40 setups in one dayit was written as a montage. Watch how steadicam makes every movie cooler cinemablend. The team did three takes, and were trying for a fourth when the steadicam operators legs gave out. The camera then cuts to its continues tracking shot using a handheld steadicam for the duration of 5 minutes. Atonement rarely has a book sprung so vividly to life, but also worked so enthrallingly in pure movie terms.
Nov 30, 2007 atonement is a far more challenging film in terms. Atonement is epic storytelling without apology wsj. There are elements of gunshots, animal cues, pyrotechnics, vehicles, special effects, and more that all. Why dont we do it as a single steadicam shot and everyone laughed. Behind the scenes of the five minute complex long take from.
On shooting, steadicam operator peter robertson shot the scene by riding on a small tracking vehicle, walking off to a bandstand after rounding a boat, moved to a ramp, stepped onto a rickshaw, finally dismounting and moving past the pier into a bar. One has to completely bow to the fact that when orson welles did the touch of evil shot, he didnt have a steadicam, said wright. Cuarons children of men 2006 featured several lengthy shots, including a steadicam and craneaided shot during a shootout. It was combined with a camera shooting at 1 frame per second to produce the backgrounds for the speeder chase in return of the jedi. And in the end, i knew it was probably the best shot id ever done. Ian mcewan is the author of a number of novels and short story collections for adults, including first love, last rites, winner of the somerset maugham award, the comfort of strangers, which was nominated for the booker prize, amsterdam, winner of the booker prize, and his latest novel, atonement, which was also nominated for the booker prize and is a new york times bestselling title. The new project would be another classic british romance from a great book.
This shot made a big impression on the film industry in 1976. The onetake steadicam dunkirk shot in atonement may well prove to be the emblematic scene that the film will be remembered for. Adapting atonement puts hampton back in oscar race. Clarence brown mention must be made of the tracking shot, low and along the length of a dining table sumptuous with food in the eagle 1925, rudolph valentino. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of atonement by ian mcewan. The film reunites ronan with joe wright, who cast her for an oscarnominated role in atonement. Authored by ian mcewan and published in 2001, atonement is an awardwinning fiction.
James mcavoy as robbie in atonements haunting dunkirk. Analysis of scenes of atonement film research paper 1839 words. The whole opening michaels pov is told through the use of a steadicam. In his latest book atonement ian mcewan brings the british novel into the 21st century, says geoff dyer. The book is beautifully written, with vivid characters and believable and horrific situations. In her book atonement, judith harris escorts us through a garden of poetry. But, as bevan reports, richard took on another movie and had a stage commitment as well. Dec 07, 2007 atonement opens in 1935, at a stately manor in the english countryside. Atonement is as good a film as one could imagine having been made from a great work of contemporary fiction, says joe morgenstern, while the alternate victorian universe of. I did not want to ruin the movie experience and ending for myself. I reread the passage from the book and its a really lyrical.
Whats more impressive is how wright and cinematographer seamus mcgarvey translated the. Director joe wright gives us an astonishing panoramic fourminute steadicam shot of dunkirk, a memorable moment to match the balloon. Atonement gave us the definitive depiction of dunkirk 10 years ago. Watch the art of steadicam, a video compilation by refocused media celebrating the great steadicam tracking shots of almost 40 movies from kubrick to pta.
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