Poster artwork for the supernatural murder mystery film The Lovely Bones. |
Spirit
Connections by Linh
The
Lovely Bones is the film adaptation of Alice Sebold's
beloved book of the same name and is director Peter Jackson's latest film
following his blockbusters The Lord of the
Rings trilogy and King Kong. Transcribing
it from page to screen proved to be a challenge, but Peter Jackson and his
fellow screenwriters/producers Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens have succeeded in
creating a superb adaptation that works equally well as a stand alone film.
While the book is an emotionally-charged read about a family dealing with a
young child's death, the film is a supernatural crime thriller with a strong
focus on Susie Salmon's in-between rather than the family breakdowns and
strained relationships following her death.
AWAKENING:
Susie (Saoirse Ronan) wakes to an in-between world in the film The Lovely Bones. Image: Paramount
Pictures/DreamWorks.
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The story is set in the 1970s and narrated by the main
character, Susie Salmon, a fourteen year old, who is raped and murdered by her
neighbour George Harvey. She watches her family cope with her death while she's
in an otherworldly state. Susie doesn't realise she is dead and in an
in-between world until she starts seeing images of her killer, the murder
weapon and other little clues that connect Harvey to her murder. The brutal
rape scene which was detailed in the book has been omitted by Peter Jackson to
make the film more family friendly. The flashbacks Susie experiences and the
editing gives the viewer all they need to make the connections and the audience
discovers answers at the same time Susie does. Susie has the ability to tap
into the thoughts and emotions of the living and from her in-between, she can
control how they feel and what they do simply by willing it to happen. Susie is
already dead as she narrates, and her spirit cannot leave the in-between while
her killer remains at large, and because her loved ones are still holding on to
memories of her instead of moving on with their lives.
UNNEIGHBOURLY: George
Harvey (Stanley Tucci) keeps an eye on his neighbours in the film The Lovely
Bones. Image: Paramount Pictures/DreamWorks.
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The
Lovely Bones features motifs and metaphors throughout,
such as the harrowing scene where Susie finally enters an open door of a house
which represents George Harvey's subconscious. While she is there, she can see
all the young female victims who have been raped and murdered by Harvey during
the last decade. Harvey had taken Susie's charm bracelet as a souvenir, but
only kept the house charm. It is this little house that is symbolic of the
place which holds the dark secrets of his crimes - in his memories.
PREDATORY: George
Harvey (Stanley Tucci) follows Susie (Saoirse Ronan) through the cornfield in the
film The Lovely Bones. Image: Paramount
Pictures/DreamWorks.
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The film moves at a steady pace, with moments of
heightened fear as Susie's sister Lindsey searches for evidence in Harvey's
house, to some tender and touching times as Susie tries to reach into her
father's consciousness to let him know she's OK and who her killer is. The
challenge of 'showing' the audience what is happening inside one's mind through
actions instead of words is no mean feat; yet with the blend of strong
performances from the lead actors and some special effects, the thoughts and
emotions are made visibly obvious.
CRUSH: Grandma
Lynn (Susan Sarandon) notices Susie (Saoirse Ronan) is secretly in love with
Ray in the film The Lovely Bones.
Image: Paramount Pictures/DreamWorks.
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Leading the ensemble cast is Irish actress Saoirse
(rhymes with 'Persia') Ronan, an Oscar nominee for her excellent performance in
Atonement, who plays Susie and is so
convincing with her bright blue eyes as to make one believe in her sincerity
and innocence lost; Mark Wahlberg gives his character, Jack Salmon, enough
emotional angst to show he really cares about and loves his daughter but not
enough for the audience to care about his character; Rachel Weisz is wonderful
but under-utilised as Susie's grieving mother, Abigail, who just wants to move
on and move away from the pain and suffering her daughter's disappearance and
death is bringing to the family; Susan Sarandon brilliantly provides the comedy
relief in the film as Susie's Grandma Lynn, who arrives to keep the family from
falling apart and into an emotional blackhole, with her big hair, plenty of
make-up, cigarette in one hand and alcohol in the other. Her appearance changes
dramatically when her character transforms to flat hair and no make-up as she
becomes a more responsible person; Stanley Tucci's Italian features are barely
recognisable under a wig, facial hair and make-up in a fantastic portrayal of
the ordinary and plain paedophile and pervert George Harvey, which has earned
him Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award nominations; New Zealand actress
Rose McIver is fabulous as Susie's younger sister Lindsey who suspects her
neighbour George Harvey of her sister's murder.
SIGNS: Jack
(Mark Wahlberg) sees Susie in the light of the candle in the film The Lovely
Bones. Image: Paramount Pictures/DreamWorks.
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FAMILY: Abigail
(Rachel Weisz) tells her son Buckley (Christian Thomas Ashdale) that Susie will
be home soon in the film The Lovely Bones. Image: Paramount
Pictures/DreamWorks.
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The
Lovely Bones is a film of hope and light at the end of
the tunnel which will strike an emotional chord for those who have grieved or
mourned a loved one who has passed away. Some fans of the book will be
disappointed as this is not a direct reflection of the novel. Instead of a cinematic
carbon copy of the book, it is an enthralling and brilliant film which bears
the usual trademarks of Peter Jackson's visionary élan. It's a shame people
still judge a film by the book from which it was adapted. Afterall, Peter
Jackson is not a director/producer who will always do things "by the
book". That is part of his genius.
IN-BETWEEN: Susie
(Saoirse Ronan) senses danger while in her in-between world in the film The Lovely Bones. Image: Paramount
Pictures/DreamWorks.
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Director:
Peter Jackson
Writers:
Alice Sebold (book), Peter Jackson (screenplay), Fran Walsh (screenplay),
Phillipa Boyens (screenplay)
Cast:
Saoirse Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Susan Sarandon, Rachel Weisz, Stanley Tucci, Rose
McIver, Reece Ritchie, Michael Imperioli, Carolyn Dando, Christian Thomas
Ashdale, Nikki Soohoo
Producers:
Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg, Fran Walsh, Phillipa Boyens, James Wilson, Ken
Kamins
Original
Music Composer: Brian Eno
Cinematographer:
Andrew Lesnie
Film
Editor: Jabez Olssen
Production:
Naomi Shohan (Production Designer), Jules Cook, Chris Shriver (Art Directors),
Meg Everist, George DeTitta Jr. (Set Decorator)
Costume
Designer: Nancy Steiner
Running
Time: 2 hours and 10 minutes
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