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The Lovely Bones (2009)

Director: Peter Jackson

Time Out rating

Average user rating

34 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Anyone hoping that Peter Jackson may have returned to the more intimate territory of 1994’s ‘Heavenly Creatures’ for his version of Alice Sebold’s novel must resign themselves to the fact that Jackson’s filmmaking DNA may have become irreversibly modified. The source material might be more down to earth than ‘King Kong’, but Jackson does everything in his power to ditch the real in favour of fantasy.

The book was narrated from the grave by Susie Salmon (played by Saoirse Ronan in the film), a 14-year-old girl who is raped and murdered near her home. From a vantage point between heaven and earth, Susie follows her parents (Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz), her sister (Rose McIver) and her killer, Mr Harvey (Stanley Tucci), as she – and they – struggle to accept her fate. Not that we see anyone raped or murdered in this $100 million, 12A version: Jackson fatally softens the edges of the tragedy and its fallout.

The real let-down is the film’s reliance on overblown effects to represent Susie’s limbo. Coming across as if Dali was commissioned to paint Middle Earth for the New Zealand tourist board, the CGI scenes sideline the cast in favour of the magic of the animator’s hard drive. And it doesn’t help that a gin-swigging Susan Sarandon plays Susie’s grandmother for comic effect just when you feel the film could do with some weight. And who’s telling this story? It should be Susie, and at points she narrates. But there’s no consistency.

Is she a ghost? A narrator? A heroine? A victim? Her chocolate-box world suggests it’s a 14-year-old’s view of life. Yet there are entire sections when we forget Susie’s all-seeing eye and don’t know whether we’re in a drama, a thriller or a horror.

Watch this confused, unhappy film and weep a little for Lynne Ramsay (‘Ratcatcher’), the British director who was first commissioned to write and direct it before it was swept away from her by higher powers.

Author: Dave Calhoun

Time Out London Issue 2061: 18-24 February, 2010

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User reviews of this film

shortiibabii said...

Posted on Dec 11 2011 20:53 I didnt like this movie at all. What point are you trying to make. Sorry to all of those who did like the movie. Why would anyone want to make a movie of young little girls getting raped and killed..like seriously its just wrong in so many ways.

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Justin Berkovi said...

Posted on Nov 13 2011 23:51 A very difficult film to rate. Peter Jackson is a master film maker and I believe DOES possess the skills to make something as deep and as meaningful as a 'what could have been' version of this film. Unfortunately the only three good actors here are the main girl, her sister and Tucci. Whalberg is way out of his depth here and seems unable to muster the gravitas needed for these sort of roles.
That's not to say the film is not absorbing. Some of the incredible music and visuals do stir deep emotions and thoughts. But it's incredibly flawed piece of cinema which is a shame, I was hoping for more.
With all the best intentions this is a little bit of a failure on Peter Jackson's CV.

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Nick B said...

Posted on Jul 25 2011 21:34 MMM Good film,maybe a little long,i also got a tad weary with the air floaty heaven scenes.But visually excellent.
I will say though my blood run cold when the sister is nearly caught in the house.

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Columbarius said...

Posted on Jul 25 2011 02:00 A rich, thought provoking movie and a lush soundtrack by Brian Eno. Loved it.

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Kaz said...

Posted on Jul 24 2011 23:29 Only seen this film on TV tonight and was really dissapointed. Having read the book, the film does not do it justice - to me doesnt deserve to have the same book title. The book was fantastic and the film does not appear to even begin to capture the atmosphere/ imagery etc that the book provides. Dont waste your time with the film, stick to the book.

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unhappy filmgoer said...

Posted on Jun 03 2011 00:17 I really disliked this film (just saw in on DVD yesterday) - I've never read the book, though, and don't know if it was just the source material that was bad, but I found all the afterlife stuff really insipid, and the story peters out to a very unsatisfactory conclusion. The one effective bit in the whole thing was actually the bit when Stanley Tucci lures her away, and the only reason it was effective was because it was absolutely terrifying! Reminded me of those films we used to get shown at primary school about stranger danger - really scary and bleak.

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Swron Testimony said...

Posted on Oct 30 2010 05:33 THE MOVIE IS A TOTAL BUST AND DISAPPOINTMENT AND THAT IS THE GOD'S TRUTH..HERE IS WHY .How on earth could the same man that produced king kong, The Hobit Trilogy release this work on to the public. The only assumption is a major health event has occured to Petger Jackson. The animation and rainbows and plot misdirection was unbearable. The subject matter is so timely and could have provided some heart wrenching emotions from the viewer and illustrated the seperation of life and death in the minds and hearts of families with insight and maturlity. All opportunities for the viewer to relate to this movie were overshadowed by the illusion ofsome fairytale limbo that was so disconnected they appeared to be totally unrelated. HOW VERY SAD ... THIS MOVIE IS A BUST.. YOUR TIME IS TOO VALUABLE TO CONSIDER THE INVESTMENT IN TIME.

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Hannah said...

Posted on Sep 06 2010 18:59 This film is very confusing and i hated it! I was not happy and i think the writer should think the story line through! It is a silly film and not only is it confusing, it was weird and i was told to use my imagination but im sorry, this film is just depressing.

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Sean said...

Posted on Jul 07 2010 12:30 KB you really have problems. If this wasnt a UK publication i'd swear you were one of those half wit american you tube reviewers.
Susie is a teenager, not a god like you appear to be. Are you kidding us. She drives like a 14 year old in a us automatic with an idea how to do it but no practice. How can you say she is an ass then type that rubbish. It was a joke wasnt it. Jokes dont come across well in e-mail.

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fiona lol :) said...

Posted on Jun 04 2010 20:22 a breath taking film loved it i can't believe he got pleasure out of killins sooooooo sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!:( i love u

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Danie said...

Posted on Apr 13 2010 13:30 I watched half of this film and couldn't sleep it's not a topic people often talk about.it made me fear for my own girls ,as we all know things like this actually happen.I wish I'd never watched it

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Ebony Chambers said...

Posted on Mar 26 2010 19:19 This film is so good, Tragic and I cried the whole way through it :) x

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Mrs Lautner said...

Posted on Mar 20 2010 12:52 I am in love with this film. Thats all i have to say, its my favourite film. x

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L C said...

Posted on Mar 13 2010 22:27 A difficult book to film but I think Peter Jackson succeeds. I am obviously a lone voice in thinking he captured the essence of the book and felt the same way as I did about it - right down to the flapping of the sheet on the bed at the end.

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Amanda said...

Posted on Mar 07 2010 14:31 Read the reviews before going to see it with my girlfriend fit our anniversary. It worked a treat. Totally a waste if time film we didn't walk out though unlike when we watched Jane n Lucy on our first date.

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