What You Need to Know:  The tone of "Atonement" is fittingly bitter, though in a romantic sense. Even though there are a high level of emotional states in the story, the music keeps an organized, steady hand in how it plays behind the drama. The main theme of the score is what keeps the story arc linked together through the different times and places that the film takes us to. The theme is dark in tone and is accentuated by the piano work of Thibaudet. What makes this theme (and score) original, however, is how Marianelli uses the sound of an old style typewriter as an instrument within the body of music. At first, I was taken aback but soon thereafter I was completely on board with this original approach. He took a chance on it and it managed to work out just fine.

The highlight of "Atonement," is from a track that doesn't focus on the main theme at all, and that is the cue entitled "Elegy for Dunkirk." It's an emotional track that is layered beautifully in its intrumentation and use of choir, which is featured gently off in the background to give this cue a haunting effect. It's not just a showcase track from this film; it's a standout from the winter movie season itself (If anything else, at least purchase this one track from a digital distributor like iTunes because I really feel this one's a must-hear). The rest of the album doesn't reach these high levels again, and that's a shame. The score concludes in the same dramatic strokes that it began with, thus, it started to feel like more of the same. By the time it was over, I was left feeling a touch disappointed with its conclusion.

Overall, I would liken the style of the score to that of recent soundtracks like "Lust, Caution" or "The Painted Veil." In that sense, it's a bit predictable going in. However, the tyepwriter effect and the "Elegy for Dunkirk" track gives this score a bit of an edge from the standard classical music/original score hybrids that are emerging these days. Had there been a bit less usage of the main thematic elements than this score would have been an even greater success. As it is, the repetition does have a slight wearing effect on the overall feeling that one is left with after listening to this one.

Final Grade: "Atonement" is on its way to Oscar territory and Dario Marianelli will probably right there in the thick of it as well. And truthfully, I can't argue if his work is nominated for a Best Score because the album is very well made and captures the atmosphere of the film in a very honest manner. There is a beautiful yet saddening tone that is carefully crafted in this score and the composer should be credited for it; such conflicting terms are not such an easy blend to pull off, musically. Ultimately though, what gives this score the affirmative nod is the original technique used by Marianelli to include a typewriter percussion, the outstanding performances and the aforementioned highlight track, all of which really gives this album a boost.

Though I wasn't completely immersed by the score in it's entirety, I liked it just enough to recommend it your way.