DVD Review: Heavenly Creatures

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Back then, it was starking mad.

Today we call this "batshit crazy." This perfectly describes our leads in Peter Jackson's film about a real event that happened in New Zealand.


Pauline (Melanie Lynskey) meets Juliet, (Kate Winslet) a Brit who's recently moved to ChristChurch, New Zealand. They attend the same school and eventually become friends. Their friendship grows more intense and they make up a fantasy world and fall deeper and deeper into it.  Their parents think their relationship is unhealthy and attempt to separate them. Pauline blames her mother, and she and Juliet plot to kill her. They do, they are caught, and they go to prison...for about five years. These girls were convicted of cold blooded, pre-meditated murder and were released on terms that they would never contact each other again. Nice justice system.

At first I thought Kate Winslet's acting was very over the top. This was both her and Lynskey's first roles, but the most I watched, the more I realized that her "I'm really excited to be here!" expressions fit her character perfectly. This was a girl who's imagination ran so wild, that she would refer to her friend by her character's name. Lynskey was particularly menacing as well. Oh that stare, she has quiet and evil stare.

Heavenly Creatures does feel long and at times I felt like I was forcing myself to watch it, but seeing Winslet's career begin is worth it when you know how great of an actress she has become. Lynskey is great as well, I only wish she'd get some bigger roles. The movie is beautifully shot and that final 10 minutes is truly a grueling experience.

Recommended: Yes

Grade: B

Memorable Quote: "Dozens of people are dying all the time. So why not mother?" - Pauline (Melanie Lynskey)



Comments

  1. Candice FrederickOctober 4, 2011 at 7:24 PM

    i really really loved this movie. i guess i can see where you think it can be over the top at times. but i found it so riveting, so scary, and so heartbreaking all at the same time.

    ReplyDelete

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