Opened January 15, 2010 | Run time: 2 hr. 15 min.
PG-13 for mature thematic material involving disturbing violent content and images, and some language
I should preface all this by saying I did not read the book, though I was very much aware of it. In fact, I deliberately did not read this book. A book about a child being kidnapped, molested and murdered, hum…. no thanks! I have a vivid enough imagination without literary help, thanks anyway!
So I’m more surprised than anyone that I sort of wanted to see this movie. At all. When I first heard about it, I mentally crossed it right off my coming attractions list. If I didn’t want to read about it, I sure as heck didn’t want to SEE IT, in living techno-color, larger than life. Yeah, my therapist could put in a pool/spa combo off THAT!
And then I saw the first trailers. And I was intrigued. It wasn’t what I pictured. Bright, vivid, fantasy, and told from the girl’s perspective. And then I saw the cast list: Mark Walker, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, and the clincher… Stanley Tucci. I adore Stanley. He totally sealed the deal. I can’t think of a more brilliant actor that I fully respect and think would make even a dog food commercial Oscar-worthy AND enjoyable to watch! I uncrossed it off, and put it at the top of my must-see list.
For the handful of people not aware of the plot, Fandango sums it up as: “The Lovely Bones centers on a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family – and her killer – from heaven. She must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal.” (read the full synopsis HERE)
As for the movie itself, I expected it to be sadder! I KNOW, right?! There were parts where I teared up, mostly when the parents are dealing with their grief. I mean, as a parent, its impossible NOT to think about the What Ifs. But especially back in the 70s (she is murdered in 1973, note the David Cassidy posters!) people just really didn’t think stuff like this happened. I remember riding my bike everywhere, until dark or later. Hiking in the fields behind the high school. Running through the neighborhoods or the park. My parents had no idea specifically where I was. Just be home by dinner. And I was elementary school age. Susie (our main character) is 14. There was a freedom and innocence that was lost in the 80’s and 90’s. Now most parents wouldn’t consider letting their kids walk to school alone, even a couple of blocks. That’s just the world we live in now. But it wasn’t always that way. This movie reminds us of that. And why it changed.
Saoirse Ronan plays Susie. And she is amazing. Truly. She does just a fantastic job. I think her performance is flawless. We’re just seeing the first from her. Mark and Rachel are so sympathetic as her desperate and bereaved parents. Their scenes are the toughest to watch.
Susan Sarandon is our comic relief. Because in a movie about child rape and murder, there has GOT to be some kind of comic relief or it’ll just kill you. She does a wonderful job as Rachel’s mom. My one complaint is that she should have had more scenes!!
Mr. Tucci. He should win an Oscar for this (he should win an Oscar for every movie he does.) But oh, I can’t even imagine how HARD this role must have been for him. No one wants to be the child killer. I read that he only agreed to take the role if they would NOT show him molesting her. He said he just couldn’t do that. I don’t blame him! Mr. Tucci, you are awesome! *bowing down in the I’m not worthy pose*
My overall review: I don’t know how to recommend this one. It’s good, sure. A must see? I don’t think so. Uplifting and inspiring – definitely not. It will make you even more paranoid about keeping you’re kids literally tethered to you! It’ll be just as good on DVD. And Extraordinary Measures opens on Friday – which you absolutely should NOT miss!!
The Lovely Bones movie website.
You can learn more about Tiffany Tweedie here.
Tags: Mark Walker, Movie Review, Rachel Weisz, Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci, Susan Sarandon, The Lovely Bones
I have heard people talk about the book and most are very positive about it. In fact, I think we discussed reading it as a Book Club selection.
I think this is a movie I do want to see but I can wait for it to come out on Netflix.
I love, love, love Stanley Tucci also.
It’s really an excellent book, and sad but not depressing (an important distinction for me). I was very interested in seeing the movie at first (I like the cast a lot), but the first reviews I read were not all that positive. Plus, the commercials and previews all rather bizarrely play up the suspense angle as the father tries to prove that Tucci’s character killed his daughter. That was one of the threads in the book, but it wasn’t as front and center as the previews make it appear in the movie.
I appreciate the review. I do think I’ll at least try to catch this on Netflix.
I too read the book. I agree with Jennie. I think the fact that it isn’t depressing has to do with the fact that Susie continues as a character in the novel in her afterlife. It’s actually kind of affirming – who doesn’t want to believe that a loved one continues to watch over us after death? The book is very good.
I am interested in the movie, although I have heard it is quite different from the book. Certain elements – such as the focus on catching the killer – are played up more.
I do like all the cast members of this film, but I want to give a shout out to Saoirse Ronan. I think she is one of our better young actresses. Did anyone see her in “Atonement”? That was the first time I saw her on screen – she was wonderful.
I do have to say the scenes of the afterlife are simply stunning. If I were to see it in the theaters (vs. on Netflix) it would to experience the visuals on the big screen.
Thanks for the review, Tiffany.
I picked up the book in the book store and was so traumatized by page 3 I swore it and the movie off! Your review will be all I see of this one Tiffany. Thanks as always for your cinematic input
I read the book, and while I can’t say I enjoyed it, it did captivate me, and I would be interested in seeing the movie, except I am usually disappointed with the movie version of books I’ve read.
Oh, and usually I will read a book cover to cover in a matter of days because I refuse to put it down once I start, but this one I kept throwing out of my hands and walking around trying to distract myself and waiting hours to go back to it, it was that intense for me, but I did keep going back to it.
I’m debating reading the book now that I’ve seen the movie. Movies are RARELY ever as good as the book, so that’s always a disappointment factor.
I still have Stephen King’s Under the Dome over 1000 word tome sitting on my nightstand. And meanwhile I’m in the middle of Cherry by Mary Karr. And there’s a whole stack on the floor. Maybe I’ll get to it sometime in 2047!!!
The book was EXCELLENT. I will not watch the movie- it would ruin the book for me. Another movie that really screwed the book was “My Sister’s Keeper.”
Tiffany–good review thanks,
I too agree that Susie stays in the book keeps it from being “too sad to read” for me. Her presence helps. I also like the time period it took place in.
Books vs. Movies–one that stood out for me was Misery, by Stephen King, with James Caan and Kathy Bates. The book had a lot of psychological elements that the movie would not have been able to show (all the horse races in his head of pain, etc). I thought both were expertly done though. I still walk out of the room when she breaks his feet or legs or whatever…horrible to watch!!!!
I red the book and felt that the author was extremely talented. I have taken a number of literature courses and her writing was extraordinary. She was given to describe each and every detail in minutia which brought you right into the story.
I also saw the movie and was mesmerized by it. I found it physically beautiful as it portrayed the afterlife. Susie was amazing and took the major role. She was wonderful for such a young girl.
I would recommend the movie and would also take a teen or preteen daughter with me. I think the story and the movie have a great lesson to be taught. Unfortunately, we live in a time when our children face danger and they don’t often see it. We have to teach our kids to be aware of everything around them. This is unfortunate but a week ago a friend and her family were celebrating the wedding of an older daughter which took place on a beautiful clipper ship in the Caribbean. The family celebrated together for a week or they were to. A port stop in Antigua led to the murder of their younger 30-year old daughter. She took a short walk from the group having a barbecue on the beach at 4:00 in the afternoon and was found stabbed to death less than an hour later. So age knows no limit when crime is concerned. It can happen in a flash and unfortunately, we have to make our youngsters aware of the evils that the world can hold.