SMT Weekly Flick by Paul Krismanits
Lovely Films
Lovely Bones (Rated PG-13) 149 mins.
Gladiator (Rated R) 158 mins.
It only took three years and about a million setbacks, but this week Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones finally graced the big screen, and boy, is it nice to see the master director back in action.
Based upon the bestselling novel by Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones is the story of Susie Salmon, a 12-year-old girl who is murdered and subsequently goes to the afterlife, where she experiences a visual whirlwind of images which are interpretations of many of her memories. Caught between Heaven and Hell, Susie attempts to send clues to her family about her murder and the man who killed her so that they may avenge her. Knowing Peter Jackson’s previous works (most notably King Kong and The Lord of the Rings) we can expect breathtaking cinematic moments, and The Lovely Bones does not disappoint. Susie’s trek through the afterlife is absolutely stunning, a place that could only be realized by the most vibrant of imaginations. But it is not the only aspect to catch our attention here.
Susie is played by Saoirse Ronan, who lit up the screen in 2007’s Atonement and is, in my opinion, the finest actor of her age that anyone knows about. It is a pleasure to once again watch her as Ronan take her character on an adventure that is literally larger than life, and yet she gives Susie the perfect amount of humanity. Hopefully young Ms. Ronan will be around for years to come. But she is not alone in her excellence here. Her grieving parents are played by Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz, her grandmother by Susan Sarandon, and her killer by Stanley Tucci. They all deliver memorable performances. Wahlberg continues to impress in his latest roles. His maturity as an actor is more apparent with each appearance, and he makes us feel the pain of Susie’s father in the film. Weisz and Sarandon are by now associated with excellence, and they do not disappoint here. Meanwhile the underrated Tucci is spot-on as the creepy stalker-turned killer, and he was aptly awarded with a Golden Globes nomination for his role.
Peter Jackson has proven time and again to be a once-in-a-lifetime type of film genius, and so while The Lovely Bones is not as spectacular as his more famous ventures, it proves that Jackson is quite capable of handling the smaller scale. This is a story about grief, reflection, new beginnings, and family, and it hits every note nearly perfectly. Mr. Jackson, we missed you, and it is nice to have you back.
While Jackson has seen his star rise this past decade, the director of #3 on the Top Ten of the Decade has been highly acclaimed for nearly 30 years now. Ridley Scott is well known for directing hits such as Blade Runner, Alien, and Black Hawk Down, but his masterpiece came in the year 2000 with the ultimate historical epic, Gladiator.
Flawless from the opening battle sequence to the ultimate duel at the end, Gladiator was no mere action film, but an amazing tale of one man’s fall and rise to redemption. It also propelled Russell Crowe from promising talent to stardom, and the man has been on a hot streak ever since.
In Imperial Rome there was no greater glory than to be a general of the greatest military ever known, and Maximus was the greatest of them all. More highly regarded than Caesar himself, Maximus was a leader like no other. A humble man who commanded respect, had no desire for the fame he achieved, and succeeded at any venture he led (sure sounds like what this country needs doesn’t it?). Loved by Caesar, Maximus decries his leader’s death as murder when Caesar dies in the night after another successful conquest. The culprit? Caesar’s own son, the unstable, self-seeking Commodus. So when Commodus asks for Maximus’ allegiance, Maximus refuses, at once moving from hero to enemy of the Empire. The new Caesar proceeds to kill Maximus’ wife and son, destroying his spirit. He is sold into slavery and becomes a gladiator, where he realizes that he still has something to live for; revenge and the restoration of Rome as a republic.
Gladiator gives us ancient Rome like we have never seen it before. From the famous Colosseum to its minor provinces, the epic scenery brings history to life brilliantly. The film’s themes of loyalty, revenge, family, and redemption are incredibly deep and profound, and it is hard to miss the connections between Rome’s history and ours. As director, Scott misses nothing here, creating poignant characters and an epic landscape while seamlessly weaving together a storyline full of intrigue and emotion. Gladiator was awarded for its perfection by a Best Picture Oscar, and Crowe’s masterful turn as Maximus nabbed him an Oscar for Best Actor. There are few films both this powerful and entertaining, and for all it has to offer Gladiator is the third greatest film of the past ten years. Be sure to see it.
Lovely Bones: 4/5 stars
Gladiator: 5/5 stars
