The Lovely Bones: Film Review

It took me over a week to figure out how I felt about this, but I think I've got it now. It's an interesting look at the afterlife. Visually, it's beautiful, and reminds me a lot of "What Dreams May Come" with Robin Williams. "The Lovely Bones" is nothing short of heartbreaking. The soundtrack is haunting, and adds tremendously to the wide array of feelings in the film. The cast? Great.

This is a really cool look at what waits for us beyond death. The direct victim in the film, Suzie, is on a journey through her "own perfect world" before she gets to heaven, and meets some friends along the way. Her journey is made all the more amazing by the stunning visual effects. I enjoyed the fact that while Suzie was in her perfect world, it was influenced by the real world, and in turn she could influence the real world. Also, I dug that Suzie didn't go straight to Heaven, otherwise there would have been no story for her, and the film would have been about thirty-two minutes long.

Saoirse Ronan is wonderful. This kid continues to impress me not just with her acting skill but in her ability to throw down completely convincing accents without so much as a slip. Her ability to bury her thick Irish tongue is impressive indeed. Mark Wahlberg was interesting to see in his role as a distressed father. He played it quite well in my opinion. We really get the full spectrum from this guy: happiness, worry, suspicion, angry, violence...hell, everything a father should feel if his fourteen year old went missing. Stanley Tucci is a monster in this film. I couldn't comprehend how believably creepy and rapist-like he looked. I really dug his performance despite the fact he was a nightmare. Rachel Weisz and Susan Sarandon...don't have a lot to say about them. Weisz disappears for about half the film and Sarandon is drunk the whole time.

The story, too, covered the whole spectrum of emotion. It was funny, sad, suspenseful, painful to watch at parts, and quite enjoyable. My only complaint really, is the ending (no spoilers, don't worry). I was left a little dissatisfied, and with a certain sense that I wasn't given enough closure on the events of the film. Perhaps I'm spoiled, and wish things would work out in a film the same way they do in my head. Anyway, this is a solid flick, but I hear it is not for fans of the novel at all. So, if you're a reader, approach with caution. If you're illiterate such as I, watch away.