Review of The Virgin Suicides

A friend loaned me this one on the weekend, and I was completely bowled over. Sofia can finally put all those nasty comments about her acting ability to rest, since she has found her true calling in life, and that would be as an indie filmmaker. Here, she has crafted as artful and tasteful a movie about suicide as humanly possible. Were it not for the subject matter, content (no nudity, a smattering of profanity, brief drug use, and some implied sexuality) would have only garnered The Virgin Suicides a PG-13. There are so many nice touches to this film that I don't know where to begin. The use of coloured filters to convey mood is so refreshing in this age of computer manipulation of colour, the audible thump of needle to vinyl every time a song begins, the careful attention to detail in the fashion and set design... this is the most beautiful movie on such a serious subject I have ever seen. Some have said it is grim and depressing, but I didn't find it that way at all. Since we never truly get to know the Lisbon sisters, the end (and I will not spoil this) comes across as less shocking and more disappointing, since I would like to spend more time with these characters and get to know them better. This is mostly true because of the excellent performances of all involved. Kirsten Dunst is a revelation, I can forgive Josh Hartnett for Pearl Harbour, and James Woods and Kathleen Turner both do excellent work in carefully modulated performances. I would not hesitate to recommend this to friends, but at the same time, I would warn them that it's not what they would expect of the subject matter.