::: George Christy ::: From the Beverly Hills Courier

James McAvoy emerges as a romantic leading man in Joe WrightÕs Atonement, an elegiac triumph of filmmaking, adapted from Ian McEwanÕs bestselling 200l novel. ÒIf McAvoy isnÕt the next Jeremy Irons (forget Jude Law, already),Ó writes People MagazineÕs Leah Rosen, Òthen the sun has indeed set on the British Empire.Ó While co-star Keira KnightleyÕs an established leading lady at 2l, it was James who fueled the talk of the impressed industry audience during the Focus Features post-premiere reception planned by the studioÕs Carlotta Florio at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre. Focus FeaturesÕ enthusiastic James Schamus introduced Working TitleÕs Eric Fellner, who brought Joe Wright on stage, who then welcomed his leading players Keira and James, along with the filmÕs pivotal Saoirse (pronounced Saar-sea) Ronan, Vanessa Redgrave and screenwriter Christopher Hampton. We were missing another pivotal player, the wonderful Romola Garei, who was filming in London. I, for one, am grateful to Eric Fellner and partner Tim Bevan for producing films of consistent quality that include Joe WrightÕs Pride & Prejudice with Keira Knightley, About a Boy with Hugh Grant, Paul GreengrassÕ United 93, Richard CurtisÕ Four Weddings and a Funeral, and next yearÕs Definitely, Maybe with Ryan Reynolds and Abigail Breslin. Also on their agenda is Imperial Life in Emerald City, based on a Washington Post article about the Iraq war. Eric and Tim lately produced the stage musical, Billy Elliot, with its score by Elton John, with Eric departing to Australia for the opening, after this stopover for the Atonement premiere in Los Angeles. Oscar prognosticator Tony Angellotti foresees Atonement as a likely Oscar nominee for Best Picture, along with UniversalÕs American Gangster, Paramount VantageÕs The Kite Runner, and MiramaxÕs No Country for Old Men. AtonementÕs nuanced adaptation by Christopher Hampton builds with an emotional strength Ð the actors credit Joe WrightÕs insistence on their three weeks rehearsal that melded their ensemble performances before filming. Much mentioned by the fashion press is costume designer Jacqueline BurranÕs alluring, emerald green, Art Decoesque evening dress worn by Keira, and the lush period detail of England before World War II and during the war is astonishing. The cast bunked at the varnished Stokesay Court estate in Shropshire where the filming occurred. However, James McAvoy preferred to bunk elsewhere, so as not to become too comfortable with his ÒoutsiderÓ role as the Cambridge-educated housekeeperÕs son in the manorial Shropshire trappings. Suspenseful and bewitching, Atonement, which received seven Golden Globe nominations, is the story of frustrated passion that, due to a childÕs cruel lie, is cursed. Not to be missed. Nor should the absorbing novel be missed, aptly described by the New York Observer as Òmagical É a love story, a war story, and a story about stories, and so it hits the heart, the guts and the brain É McEwanÕs eerily convincing É when his writing is at his best, heÕs invisible; and heÕs never less than elegant and precise ... Atonement is the work of a novelist at his peak power.Ó Joe Wright is nesting in the Hollywood Hills while helming The Soloist, about a schizophrenic, homeless celloist starring Jamie Foxx, who dreams of performing at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, with Robert Downey Jr. in the role of L.A. TimesÕ Steve Lopez, who profiled the soloist in one of his columns. On hand again with Joe is his trusty repertoire of artists, including cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, costume designer Jacqueline Burran, production designer Sarah Greenwood, composer Dario Marianelli. About living in Los Angeles, Joe muses that heÕs adjusting Ð ÒwasnÕt it Oscar Wilde who said the only foreigners in America are the Americans?Ó Many may remember James McAvoy as the young doctor in The Last King of Scotland, having received an Oscar nomination for his supporting role. Scottish-born James lives in North London with actress spouse Anne-Marie Duff, modestly shrugs off the Òleading manÓ tag, notes that heÕs not tall. No matter, he stands tall on the screen. He plays an assassin soon in Wanted, with co-star Angelina Jolie. In a Variety interview, he reveals enjoying the works of authors David Eggers, J. R. Tolkien, and, of course, Ian McEwan. He likes the movies of Ken Loach, and Richard DonnerÕs The Goonies, music by Billy Joel, the acting of Meryl Streep, admits that he couldnÕt care less about an iPod, and that Heroes is his guilty TV pleasure. HeÕd prefer watching a Lakers game with Spike Lee rather than with Jack Nicholson, and admits his worst purchase this year was Òa really dodgy pair of jeans that somehow increased the size of my ass ten-fold.Ó ÒWe froze when we were filming in ChinaÕs Xinjiang Province, which substituted for Afghanistan and PakistanÓ says The Kite RunnerÕs Khalid Abdalla, Òand we slept in yurts.Ó Glasgow-born Khalid, whose Egyptian parents are doctors, lives in London with his girlfriend of five years, Cressida Trew, and delivers a memorable performance as the adult, guilt-ridden Amir, who returns to Kabul Òwhile there is still time to do good.Ó To atone (that word again) for sinful behavior during his youth. Preparing for his role, Khalid, moved to Kabul, familiarized himself with the country, and crash-coursed for more than a month on the Dari language. ÒI banished speaking English, and even received lessons in kite-flying, a major sport.Ó Based on Khaled HosseiniÕs immensely popular The Kite Runner, published in 2003 and which remains a New York Times bestseller, the film, seductively directed by Marc Forster, also stars two youngsters, who were 11 at the time of the filming. Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada, now 13, delivers one of the most beguiling child performances on screen, playing the son of a servant, and weÕre informed that he was discovered by casting director Kate Dowd, who spent months searching schools, orphanages and playgrounds within the bomb-scarred Kabul to find such talented youngsters. Ahmad Khan never acted before, attends school, loves soccer, and works in his fatherÕs sweet shop. In the film heÕs raped by a Pashtun bully, and due to concern for the boysÕ safety from radical Afghanis, the filmÕs release was delayed until this weekend, although it will not be screened in Afghanistan. Paramount recently relocated the boys and their families. ÒMonths of spadework by at least 20 studio executives, relief workers, diplomats and even a former C.I.A. counterterrorism operative culminated last week when the boys, who were in the midst of final exams, obtained visas and boarded a plane for the United Arab Emirates,Ó reports the New York TimesÕ David M. Halbfinger. ÒParamount is putting them up in a luxury hotel until more permanent housing and jobs for their guardians can be found; the boys are to attend a school with other Afghan students. The studio is also paying a per diem to relatives left behind in Kabul, and has offered to keep the entire arrangement in place long enough for the boys to graduate from high school, if they choose to stay É But Paramount executives and others involved in the relocation effort still hope to bring the co-stars to the United States to be honored somehow and to grant their wish to visit as tourists. ÔWe owe these kids some carefree moments as children, after everything that has gone around them,Õ said Rick Klein, a Middle Eastern specialist hired by the studio.Ó Online at www.bhcourier.com.