Interesting drama about a young girl who watches from heaven as her family attempts to find out her murderer. Feelings of loss and mourning is the theme explored here. However, Peter Jackson’s surprisingly restrained adaptation of Alice Sebold’s best-selling novel works best as a “Will they or wont they catch her killer?”. Gorgeously crafted fantasy sequences (those massive ships within glass bottles is a stunner) is a style device also used in his earlier film Heavenly Creatures. Unfortunately, the film suffers from some basic storytelling issues. Several plot threads, as well as the ending, are unsatisfactorily resolved during the film‘s final 20 minutes. At any rate, an intriguing film for the most part. Actress Saoirse Ronan gives a mature, understated performances as the main character.
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7 Responses
sounds quite like what i’ve been expecting – certainly given lackluster critical response… but it looks terrific and thanks for giving a shoutout to Jackson’s HEAVENLY CREATURES – an underrated movie that one!
It’s really off-putting how dramatically this movie goes from chilling and intense to cheesy and chickflick-y.
I had issues with the ending, but over-all, the movie kept me emotionally involved.
I wish I hadn’t read the book. I think I might have enjoyed this film more if, while watching it, I wasn’t constantly comparing it to the book. While I was disappointed with some of the omitted scenes, I was glad of a few not to mention some of the added bits. It would’ve been nice for them to have the science camp section with the younger sister, if just to explain the icicles gleaming throughout the picture. Not having the mothers infidelity or the extent of the police departments disregard for the father were actually welcome. I agree there were heavy amounts of cheese and saccharin but overall it was a well made film with decent performances.
I know what you mean. My experience has almost always been, if I have read the book, I am not going to enjoy the film as much. Why should I? It’s like someone has already spoiled the plot. Instead you’re seeing someone else’s vision of those events.
Ah, I’m having a festival of hitting “random post” and then continuing on to look through your old reviews. Anyway. This movie scared the hell out of me when I saw it, a little after it hit home video, I’d say. It deprived me of an entire night of sleep, and it’s probably the only film in recent years that has done so. I can’t stand the theme it tackles, about an adolescent being murdered, and then showing us two hours of trying to find her killer, from her point of view. Ugghh…it makes a chill quiver down my spine just thinking of it. I wish my old reviews were as good as your old reviews are. 🙂
Thanks for the compliment! Yes it’s definitely a difficult subject.