Movie Review: The Lovely Bones

Just by watching the trailer, The Lovely Bones looks to be a murder mystery where a dead teenage girl is trying to help her parents find her murderer. Don't be surprised though if you find that the movie is mainly about a girl being caught in "the in-between" between heaven and earth, while trying to still be close to her family on earth as they try to move on from her murder. The film is set in the 1970s, a time where missing kids weren't on milk cartons and no one was worried about their children being snatched away. Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) does her best to move on from death, while still help her parents find her murderer and heal.

Stanley Tucci was phenomenal (and I don't use that word often) as Mr. Harvey, Susie Salmon's murderer and neighbor. It was a challenge recognizing the actor behind the creepy comb over and blue eyes, as he was completely transformed into a middle-aged man who had a chilling presence throughout the film. There was an intensity to The Lovely Bones that almost never let up and made me feel like I ran a marathon after I left the theatre. I was so tense I felt like I could finally breathe when the two hours was over.

The film was consistently entertaining, but definitely depressing as Salmon's father (Mark Wahlberg) couldn't give up his obsession with finding Susie's killer. I almost forgot Mark Wahlberg used to be Marky Mark as his role was convincing and heartbreaking as he was put through hell to try and bring Susie's murder to justice. He can still feel his daughter all around him, but can't let go, even as his family falls apart. 

The film is an adaptation from the book, The Lovely Bones, and is directed by Peter Jackson, director of Lord of the Rings trilogy. A grip of CGI was used for Susie's "in-between" world where she danced with butterflies and played in nature in a place that was close to heaven. The special effects were impressive, but a bit distracting and detracted from the story line. Too much of the film was focused on Susie's new world, which didn't move the story along and left too many holes. There was also a handful of scenes deleted, which may have been the cause of unanswered questions and missing parts.

The most creative part about The Lovely Bones is Jackson's way of setting a chilling tone throughout the film through indirect ways: Mr. Harvey's obsession with building toy houses, mud being splattered as Harvey tries to dispose Susie's body, and Susie running home to her house, only to find it's empty and that she's in another world.

The Lovely Bones is a film that you'll either love or you'll hate. You definitely get your money's worth, but whether you'll have closure, happiness, or peace when leaving the studio depends on the type of person you are. If you're looking to relax when you hit the theatre, then go for something not so stressful and intense.

Katie Cervantes

Live OC Magazine

www.LIVEOCMAG.com