Movie Review: The Lovely Bones

Feb 24 2010 by Ian Bunting, Airdrie & Coatbridge

The Lovely Bones

THE Lovely Bones is based on the best-selling book by Alice Sebold and tells the story of 14-year-old Susie Salmon (played by Saoirse Ronan).

Susie has been murdered and watches over her family, including parents Abigail (Rachel Weisz) and Jack (Mark Wahlberg), and her killer George (Stanley Tucci) from heaven.

It’s been a while since a movie touched my emotions as much as The Lovely Bones. This is a film with very mixed tones. It made me smile, got under my skin and filled me with the occasional sense of dread.

Make no mistake, this is no happy-go-lucky adventure. There is a lot of very dark material and the mix with scenes of wonder and its messages of love do feel a little jarring. But the power of this film is undeniable.

Director Peter Jackson is better known for his effects-laden spectaculars The Lord of the Rings and King Kong but has a background in smaller scale stories.

He has created an impressive visual landscape. Early on the palette is very colourful, before it dulls as the story takes disturbing turns.

Jackson’s vision of heaven contains some superb effects. Changing landscapes see cornfields turn to water and leaves change into birds. Giant ships in bottles probably rates as the highlight but a technicolour montage of Susie’s happiness over-does it slightly.

Ronan is excellent. With her bright blue eyes and blonde hair she could pass for an elven character in Jackson’s Lord of the Rings. She is the embodiment of innocence and perfect for the role.

The revelation, though, is Tucci. With slight drawl, combover and creepy laugh, his is an incredible, chilling display. George is a monster up there with cinema’s worst and I would love to see Tucci win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar he’s been nominated for. He’s that good.

Weisz and Wahlberg are fine. They react in different ways to Susie’s death and, while Wahlberg struggles to convey emotion at times, are clearly two parents who loved their daughter.

Jackson’s camerawork helps bring this unusual world to life. Full of quick cuts, swirling shots, dissolves and close-ups, he rarely keeps it still.

Be warned. As stunning as some scenes are, many are very unsettling. The below ground build-up to Susie’s murder, brightly lit bathroom scene and grey, decaying ‘run through’ of George’s victims are very intense to watch.

Late scenes in George’s house also play out with horror movie-like conventions.

The Lovely Bones is not for everyone, and certainly one to keep the kids back from, but I loved it.

It will undoubtedly stir some sort of emotion in you and features a potential star of the future (Ronan) and best performance of the year so far (Tucci).

Rating - 8 out of 10.