The Lovely Bones - Movie Review

By Ron W ilkinson Jan 15, 2010, 14:50 GMT

Adapted from Alice Sebold\'s novel of the same name. When we first meet 14-year-old Susie Salmon, she is already in heaven. This was before milk carton photos and public service announcements, she tells us; back in 1973, when Susie mysteriously disappeared, people still believed these things didn\'t happen. In the sweet, untroubled voice of a precocious teenage girl, Susie relates the awful events of her death, and her own adjustment to ...more

Lush cinematography combined with first-rate acting and a valuable story make this a great film for the whole family

After you have made the best selling films in history what is next? After countless awards and bottomless box office receipts for the “Lord of the Rings” series Peter Jackson decided to get real. Well, sort of real. Jackson reconvened the usual geniuses for this remarkable film about the supernatural starring a remarkable young actress by the name of Saoirse Ronan.

Saoirse Ronan comes to this film nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work in the moody “Atonement” in 2007. In this film Peter Jackson is able to frame a family story in an even more somber context of payback of the subtlest sort. Susie Salmon is the ideal girl next door. She is friendly, well adjusted and seems to be in touch wither her inner self. Maybe she is in touch with her inner self a little more than normal.

Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz play Jack and Abigail Salmon, Susie’s mother and father. Mark and Rachel are also normal well-adjusted people but they are about to learn something new. Part of that something new is good and part is bad. When it comes to looking at death and beyond death one has to take chances.

Wahlberg has made tremendous progress in improving his acting chops since his “Boogie Nights” days and more recently his performance as the scathing cop in “The Departed.” This film offers a unique challenge because he has to play a father suffering from the worst heartbreak in the world; the loss of a child. After that he has summon up the courage to believe what he is feeling and to keep himself from going insane through the experience. He does a great job.

Rachel Weisz won the Oscar for her supporting performance in “The Constant Gardener” and she is just as good in this role of the traumatized mom who also feels that she is communicating with persons from another world. As in “Gardener” she must portray not only a vague sense of impending horror but also the deadening aftermath of a numbing loss. 

But it is Saoirse Ronan who has most of the screen time and who must convey the overall feeling of the film. She has the most unusual quality of being able to exhibit childlike naiveté and spiritual attainment at the same time. Her eyes seem to look through the daily reality of life into something different. Her role is the old child-adult switcheroo where the young and seemingly ignorant end up teaching the older generations about the important things in life.

The end result of the film is the conveyance of powerful and healing lessons on dealing with tragedy and moving on. This is coupled with a reinforcement of strong family values and a gender-neutral treatment about teamwork and dealing with adversity through unity.

Golden Globe winner Stanley Tucci has an important role as the isolated loner George Harvey; but as important as he is his part is actually minor. This is too bad because he has a lot more to offer. Even with his limited screen time he is a joy to watch. The film also features Susan Sarandon (Oscar Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Dead Man Walking” plus five more nominations). Team up this hyper-talented cast with “Lord of the Rings” Oscar winning cinematographer Andrew Lesnie and Oscar nominated art director Jules Cook and this is a cast and crew to be reckoned with.

Perhaps it goes without saying that the production values and photography in this film are first rate. The scenes are shot with sensitivity and each shot is full of depth and meaning. The film is a fulfilling experience purely as a result of the great photography but also tells a story that is worth listening to. This is not simply fantasy but a story that parallels losses suffered daily throughout the world. It is not just escapist; it is an experience that helps us move on.

Although the film has a PG rating it is entirely appropriate for viewing by the entire family and has lessons young children need to hear.

Directed by: Peter Jackson
Written by: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson   (screenplay), Alice Sebold   (novel)

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci

Release:  January 15, 2010
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving disturbing violent content and images, and some language
Runtime: 135 minutes
Country: USA / UK / New Zealand
Language: English
Color: Color