The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones (2009)
Directed by Peter Jackson
Length: 136 minutes
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving disturbing violent images and content, and some language



Initially hailed as an Oscar sleeper, The Lovely Bones went on to receive tepid reviews from various critics, coupled with a poor performance at the box office. However, Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings) tastefully and beautifully brings Alice Sebold's 2002 novel to life in a fantastical presentation that truly envelops you in the characters and plot. In what could have quickly turned into a tactless, controversial film, Jackson skillfully conducts the movie so as every scene plays out effectively.

The Lovely Bones is considered one of the most acclaimed novels of the modern era; but due to its graphic content, its transition to the big screen has been considered risky business. Set in the early 1970s, our protagonist is Susie Salmon (like the fish), played by young up-and-comer and future star Saoirse Ronan (Atonement, The Way Back), a precocious teenager who dreams of becoming a photographer. Susie has the perfect family and the perfect life, until she is murdered; now Susie finds herself in the inbetween, on the way to heaven: a fantasy world that bends to Susie's whims. Don't worry, this isn't Robin Williams's 1998 stinker What Dreams May Come all over again. The majority of the movie is spent focusing on the fallout of Susie's death on her family, friends, as well as her murderer. I consider the fantasy world just another example of the excellence and skill Jackson showcases when it comes to cinematography: the visual images, colors, and reality that he successfully translates from the pages of the novel to the screen, all with the hint of childish imagination, are breathtaking.

As stated earlier, Ronan is a star in the making. Having already enjoyed success in her earlier performances, The Lovely Bones is just another exposé of her immense talent and future star potential. This beautiful young lady is set to have a great career. Equally impressive is the supporting cast of the film. Stanley Tucci (Julie & Julia, Easy A), as the murdering neighbor George Harvey, is simply amazing. He perfectly embodies the creepiness and dormant rage threatening to explode; he was well deserving of his nomination for an Oscar for his performance. Equally impressive (at least for me), is the performance of everybody's favorite animal talker, Mark Wahlberg (The Other Guys, Date Night) as Susie's father Jack Salmon. Anyone who has seen Marky Mark in a drama before (other than The Departed) knows his acting can be God awful, just see The Happening (better yet don't waste your time). However, Wahlberg has succeeded in not over-acting and staying in character throughout the entire film. While his performances is hardly memorable, I was very impressed at the talent he actually showed here.

So far my review probably has you asking, "Why was this controversial?" Beyond just being murdered, in the novel, Susie is brutally raped and beaten before being murdered. While the novel goes to great lengths to emphasis the brutality, Jackson faced the difficult task of presenting the crucial scene. Go all out, a la Hot Dog (aka the "Dakota Fanning" rape movie), or choose not to show it at all. Ultimately, the crux of the film is tastefully yet effectively portrayed without relying on graphic violence or content to make a point. I would even go so far as to say the tension and anticipation created during the scene, thanks in large part to the performances of Tucci and Ronan, is utterly amazing. You will be glued to your TV as you just pray Susie will escape: the sense of knowing what is about to happen but not wanting to acknowledge someone could be capable of such a thing...::shudders:: CREEPY!!!!

While I won't go so far as to say the film is the best of all-time, it is a great experience and fantastic movie. The performances are great, the visuals are amazing, the story is gripping, etc. What more could you ask for from a movie? I highly recommend you checking out Peter Jackson's latest. It is great to see that there is life for Jackson beyond the realms of Mordor, possibly one of the greatest fantasy directors of the modern era.

Final Rating: 4 out of 5 stars



Oscar Nominations
Best Supporting Actor - Stanley Tucci