"Makes Your Bones Grow Strongerer"
No, this isn't a post about Petit Filous. Last night I went to the cinema to see a free preview screening of The Lovely Bones. It's new all singing, all dancing drama/thriller film at the hands of Peter Jackson. Granted he's well known and loved for his adaptation of Lord of the Rings, but it doesn't take a genius to put Lord of the Rings on screen. It takes a shit load of money. 'Visionary Director of Lord of the Rings' just seemed a step too far on my part. So I wasn't particularly too enthusiastic that this film would wow me. But it did.
However, If it hadn't been for my Media background (and the old man who laughed like an electronic Santa that's running out of batteries during crucially gripping scenes) I'd have enjoyed the film much much more. I was sat constantly pointing out to my friend Sophie that 'oooh, I liked that shot... oh that was a nice shot... hmm good symbolism!" and quite often I'd throw in those things that make film lovers cringe - continuity errors. Apparently this film is abundant with errors due to the clumsy adaptation by Peter Jackson himself. But as I've not read the book I didn't spot these, maybe I should've... who knows. "That's a good shot". But during the scene after Susie Salmon declares the day she is about to get murdered, Mr. Harvey wore his glasses, then took them off, went to the curtains to close them. From the outside you can clearly see a shadow which INCLUDED his glasses. Hmmm... clumsy indeed.
I thought the acting was pretty flawless too, this is of course if I wanna deviate from the poorly cast Mark Wahlberg the 90s rapper turned Hollywood Actor as the devastated father during the film. His acting seemed wooden, and the character poorly written. It was strange to see him contrasted with the pretty perfect Rachel Weisz, not sure what to make of Susan Sarandon in her awkwardly written role. (Which while we're at it seemed seriously out of place, it felt slightly like watching someone take a dump in the middle of a funeral ceremony. - Maybe I should stop writing the post, while I still like the film, Media A Level you are a cruel mistress) The 'child' actors were really well acted though. I thought they were very very very good and believable. The child actor who played the little boy managed to convey the sense of incomprehensible death of his older sister.
The film did however encase one the most butt-clenching scenes I've ever seen. Without screwing you over and spoiling the film, when Susie's sister is in Mr. Harvey's house prepared to be thoroughly gripped... and thoroughly thrilled. It was interesting to look at though because the scene featured no music up until one point, and it added more to the atmosphere than if the sound would have been there (much like the use of silence in Francis Lawrence's I Am Legend) I thought this was so interesting to see, that we're going to see how it's going to work in our own thriller when we come to editing. That's basically what this post was for, to tell you that minute piece of detail in a really long way. But I hope you've enjoyed reading my somewhat cynical view on The Lovely Bones... even if I did think it was fantastic.
By the way, Susan Sarandon plays this care free grnadmother who comes and helps out around the house... and there's a weird comedy scene that feels like it should be in a Benny Hill sketch rather than a film about a girls murder.
Also, another little update that you might find interesting or useful. I've spoken to my English Language teacher (Miss Burr) and she thinks that with work this piece is good enough to enter in my entertainment text part of the coursework. So I'm gonna be working on this over the next few weeks, and hopefully I'll upload it when it's done so you can see what you think!