The Lovely Bones
THE LOVELY BONES (12)
D: Peter Jackson
Paramount/Dreamworks/Wingnut/Film4 (Peter Jackson,
Carolynne Cunningham, Fran Walsh & Aimée Peyronnet)
US/UK/New Zealand 2009
135 mins
Drama/Fantasy
W: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh & Phillipa Boyens
[based on the novel by Alice Sebold]
DP: Andrew Lesnie
Ed: Jabez Olsson
Mus: Brian Eno
Saoirse Ronan (Susie Salmon), Marc Wahlberg (Jack
Salmon), Rachel Weisz (Abigail Salmon), Susan Sarandon (Grandma Lynn), Stanley Tucci (George Harvey), Michael Imperioli (Det. Len Fenerman)
Despite the best efforts of an excellent cast, The
Lovely Bones isn't so lovely. I've not read Alice Seberg's original novel, but this adaptation is nothing like the profound story of the afterlife I was expecting and was merely an
excuse for Peter Jackson to show off how mesmerising and dazzling CGI can be.
Saoirse Ronan gives a great portrayal as Susie
Salmon, but it's all in vain when Peter Jackson uses her only as a character to manipulate the visual effects around. Rachel Weisz is excellent with the poorly-developed character she
has to work with and Mark Wahlberg is okay with the grieving father role. Susan Sarandon is completely superfluous to the plot and merely exists for unnecessary comic relief. A
shame.
The best performance by far is Stanley Tucci as
the ominous neighbour. He brings the perfect amount of creepiness and humanity.
Despite the acting and visual effects, the whole
thing's a bit of a mess.
It's not the cinema heaven I was anticipating from
the trailers, nor the cinema hell I was warned about from some other reviewers. It's just like the CGI labyrinth Peter Jackson displays on show for us within - a complete cinematic
purgatory.
5/10
