Review of The Lovely Bones (2009) by Tomass P — 11 Feb 2013

Dem bones. Dem bones. Peter Jackson weaves gorgeous camera work and special effects with gut wrenching depression about loss and murder. The movie has a strong opening, with promising characters and direction, but once little Susie Salmon gets offed, the movie barely keeps its head above water. It felt like drowning. You reach for the surface but its never as close as you hope it to be. So, for a long while, this movie sucked balls. Then, a helping hand reaches into the water and pulls you out. An ending that was beautiful and with sparks of poignancy, enough to make me want to finish the journey. Marky Mark ain't that strong of an emotional lead, and Rachel Weisz is hardly in it. The cast stand outs are Saoirse Ronan who, surprisingly, played happy and emotional very well after being so spiritless in her first outing; Atonement. The other stand out being Stanley Tucci; a character actor to end all character actors. The man is so disturbing and unsettling, he almost seems to pull off his character with ease.

All in all, The Lovely Bones is the movie you watch for visuals and its satisfying ending. Otherwise, I'll probably never revisit it nor give it the strongest of recommendations.