The Lovely Bones
Movie Review
"The Lovely Bones"
Review by Eric D. Snider
Grade: B
Rating: PG-13
Released: Friday, December 11, 2009
Directed by:
Cast:
Susie Salmon, the goofy-named girl at the center of the very serious "The Lovely Bones," tells us her fate right off the bat: "I was 14 years old when I was murdered, on Dec. 6, 1973." Um, spoiler alert much??
Played by Saoirse Ronan ("Atonement") in this adaptation of Alice Sebold's popular 2002 novel, Susie narrates the film from beyond the grave. She's in a beautiful, computer-generated wonderland, a sort of pre-heaven for people who are still somehow attached to the world. Susie's lingering is due to the fact that her killer has not been caught, leaving her and her family without closure. The question is whether they can move on without having that final piece of the puzzle. Maybe it wouldn't help anyway.
That's a somber topic for a movie, but this story isn't about the sadness of Susie's death so much as the hopefulness that can eventually arise out of such sadness. But though that message is expressed in the end, the film doesn't entirely live up to its emotional potential. We ought to feel the same epiphanies that Susie and her parents feel, not just have them described to us. You may leave the film still wanting some closure.
In life, Susie is an ordinary girl. Flashbacks show her budding interest in photography, her crush on a boy at school (Reece Ritchie), her little quarrels with her parents, Jack (Mark Wahlberg) and Abigail (Rachel Weisz). She's on her way home that fateful afternoon when she runs into Mr. Harvey (Stanley Tucci), a man she recognizes from the community, who wants to show her something neat he's made for the neighborhood kids. She is doomed. She knows who killed her, and what happened to her body -- but no one else does.
A year passes with no leads in the case. Jack has taken a hands-on approach, pestering the sympathetic police detective, Fenerman (Michael Imperioli), with hunches and clues about who may have killed his daughter. Abigail has taken the opposite approach, sealing off Susie's bedroom and living in denial. Jack and Abigail's marriage is strained. Her mother, boozy old Grandma Lynn (Susan Sarandon), arrives to help take care of the other children, Lindsey (Rose McIver) and Buckley (Christian Thomas Ashdale). All the while, Mr. Harvey continues to live in the neighborhood, unsuspected.
This is Peter Jackson's 10th feature film, but only his second, after "Heavenly Creatures," not to have fantasy or horror as its foundation. Though he's a good director overall, you can see where his expertise really shines through: in tense sequences involving the possible discovery of Mr. Harvey's deeds. Those are liable to make you wish the film really were the mystery-thriller it at first appears to be, rather than the grief drama it actually is. When it comes to pure human emotion, Jackson (who co-wrote the screenplay adaptation with his usual partners, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens), isn't as adept as he is with more tangible thrills.
He's great with casting, though -- the performances are all spot-on. Fifteen-year-old Saoirse Ronan, already an Oscar nominee for "Atonement," is impressively mature as Susie, with Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz sympathetic as her grieving parents. As the killer, Stanley Tucci walks the line between creepiness and a parody of creepiness -- complete with a "heh-heh" creepy-guy chuckle -- but ultimately lands on the unsettling side. You can imagine finding him harmless just as easily as you can imagine being murdered by him.
The film's mystical elements, including Susie's afterlife and some brief connections between the spirit world and our world, are shot with Jackson's famed eye for wonder and magic. If the whole thing feels a little earthbound, it's not because Jackson's team lacked sincerity or ambition. Call it a good movie -- sure, even a lovely one -- that doesn't quite find what it's searching for.
Grade: B
Rated PG-13, brief strong violence
2 hrs., 15 min.
Copyright © Eric D. Snider.
This work may not be transmitted via the Internet, nor reproduced in any other way, without written consent from Eric D. Snider.
This item has 20 comments
December 26, 2009 at 11:16 am
Maybe it's fitting that the movie leaves you still wanting closure, because the book is the same way.
January 23, 2010 at 4:38 pm
That's true. The book is more about the drama of the family dealing with their loss than about solving the crime, so it makes sense that there wouldn't be definite closure in the movie.
February 2, 2010 at 7:13 am
Your first paragraph is stupid, OF COURSE she says what she says, the movie is ABOUT her murder. Slumdog Millionaire's title didn't spoil the movie - it's ABOUT the guy becoming a millionaire (same concept). You should have thought it through before whining about a "spoiler".
February 2, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that was a joke Eric was making there, but thanks for coming out.
March 2, 2010 at 4:41 am
I thought this was a horrible film. OK I knew that it was about a young girl who had been murdered but I didn't know it was going to be such a gruesome tale - like the Fred West real-life story. I don't know how families affected by events such as these ever achieve "closure" but I don't think this film helps - and how it came to be classified as a 12A I'll never know!
March 8, 2010 at 12:44 pm
this was an exellent movie and very touching. If you know the bible then you will understand where suasan was coming from. I reccomend that you watch this movie because it has great point of view.
March 9, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Just returned from watching this film with my husband and daughter who is 14yrs old. I totally agree with with Eve Gracey. We are Christians and found this film very disturbing. Unfortunately we found nothing rewarding in watching this film and came away all feeling that this film was absolutely SICK!!!!!!!
March 9, 2010 at 9:07 pm
I can't believe the naivety of some of the statements above. What do you think happens in real life. This book and movie was not meant to be a disneyland story with a happy ending. Wake up and smell the coffee people. All killers are not found. Most people do NOT find closure! Most people do struggle for the rest of their lives to get over a tragedy such as this. Tramatic events less tragic that this will scar and shape more than the family forever! This was not meant to provide answers to the very unanswered questions of "What happens when you die" and "Where do you go" and "What is it like" and "How much power would I get??? while in heaven and what I could do to the people on earth???" This is a broad perspective aimed at "Not answering those questions" but rather to have you examine your own thoughts and views on these issues. I thought this subject was very well presented. By the way, even Christian people get raped and killed, in case you also did not realize that!
March 10, 2010 at 11:24 am
I totally agree with you laurie, very well said.
March 11, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Yes, well said and completely true. Agreed Laurie. ANYONE can be a victim of crime, be you christian or not, or any other religion for that matter. A girl i didn't know as such, but went to school with was catholic, murdered on her way back from her job in the next village, left in a country lane and the killer was never found. Life is unpredictable!!
March 12, 2010 at 10:53 am
its just a film but there are sick people out there so lets spend a little thought for james bulgers family and friends christian or not its not rite is it...
March 12, 2010 at 1:34 pm
I haven't seen the film yet, but am going to. I cannot understand why people go and watch films (and take their children!) when they know they are going to moan.... and use their religious beliefs to do so. Perhaps it is a good idea to read what the film is about before you go and see it. Perhaps Alice in Wonderland would have been a better choice? Or would there have been something offensive in that (there usually are with fairy stories!)
March 16, 2010 at 12:42 pm
everyone writing comeents needs to know that the only reason this movies was hard to watch was because of the girl dying. Of course its hard to watch but the film was EXCELLENT!! because things like that happen in real life and it made me understand how much pain i would be in if i lost my child. people need to understand that just because the main idea of movie was horrible doesnt mean the whole movie is horrible!! i hate it when people complain!!
think about it!!
maybe you'll learn something!!
March 16, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Ashlyn,
Aren't you doing what you hate right now? Sure sounds like complaining to me!
March 17, 2010 at 7:16 am
That's a clever comment Ben!!!!!!!, there is always one.
Have not seen the film yet as i am here studying the reviews so as to increase the chances of liking the film i am paying for before i buy.. i do the same with videos, may sound sad, but it works, i rarely see a rubbish film now a days..I think ill wait for the video in this one. Thanks guys
March 19, 2010 at 12:58 pm
I find it rather distasteful when people use their religion when being critical of a film or book. At the end of the day, we all have a choice in what we watch or read. I also find it a little odd that a Christian might think that this might be a suitable film to watch given it's title...., and the general write up... and the trailors shown on tv.... need I go on....?
March 19, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Didn't see the movie, but read the book. I thought it was a great, disturbing because murder and family struggle is unfortunately part of our world. Good vs Evil- We all face it every day- we all deal with it differently. Closure for a parent of a murdered child-I can't imagine there is such a thing.....only finding a way to keep going for the sake of the rest of those you love. I think the author brings this out. I think the author was able to bring alot to the book with the experience she went thru in college, beign a victim of rape herself. I look forward to viewing the movie-but for those of you who just saw the movie-I would encourage you to read the book. I'm wondering if all the emotional struggle, as its written, plays out as well as it does in the book-I have a feeling I'll be disappointed.
March 21, 2010 at 6:41 am
I haven't seen the film yet but I'm planning on going next week. I think that any film that can provoke such differences of opinion, like this one sems to have, has to be given credit straight away! Its clear that the auther/director wasn't looking for everyone to love the film and feel satisfied when they walk away from it. From the way the reviews have been written, it sounds like there's nothing but truth... As an avid film watcher, to me, that makes for a much more indulgent film, compared to some cheap rom-coms that get churned out monthly.
I think, if a film can get you feeling so strongly (whether it is for the right, or wrong reasons) then dont rule it out...
March 21, 2010 at 10:10 pm
This was an amazing movie. I was just wondering if this was a true story about a real-life serial killer. May all of us be fortunate enough to never have to experience the things this family had to.
I am the proud mother of 7 children and could never imagine having to go through this.
April 6, 2010 at 9:04 am
this film was fantastic. a mix of the evil that exists in the world with sadness, spirituality and love combined. A film for those that have a connection with their intuitiveness and self being. If you are one of those people that have strangely described this film as sick then you need to deal with your fears and issues and open your mind to the world because the film was beautifully depicted concerning an awful tragedy but in a spiritual way seldonly portrayed. ''i was here for a short while and then I was gone'' great finish. this is true for alot of people we have loved. we just move on cos that's the way of the universe.