Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Directed By: Peter Jackson

Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme met in school during the 1950s. Instant best friends, they proceeded to spend every minute possible together, often writing about a fantasy land of their own invention. More and more estranged from their respective families, the two girls realise that they are extremely different from most other people, and agree to take any steps necessary to ensure that they are not seperated.

I was wondering how many of you have gotten a chance to see this yet? I'll try and post my review soon, but it was one of the better films I've seen.

I've seen it about six years ago, but I need to see it again. I thought it was pretty decent.

Yeah, considering the budget it was produced on ($5 million) it is remarkable. I really enjoyed it but found it quite difficult to watch towards the end (due to their decision).

My official rating is a 9.0/10 or A, which is a rare grade from me.

Same here. I remember it being pretty good.

I saw bits and parts of it about 5 years ago, and I thought it was a beautiful film. It has brilliant cinematography, and the two leads were extraordinary. I especially loved the scene with the silver soldiers and sand castles. I hope I'm talking about the same movie here.

Yes, that's the same one. It was the first screen role for Kate Winslet.

Its a brilliant movie, and had Jackson not done it, there is no way anyone would trust him with the three humdred million for the Lord of the Rings. He showed incredible maturity with that film in comparison to, say, Meet the Feebles. Everyone always saw his ability to produce excellent visual effects, but Heavenly Creatures is an excellently crafted tale. Very suspenseful tale and he does an excellent job with the two women's psychology by creating their visions with the clay figures out in the open. Its very serious rather than being a parody, and I was delighted to see how he handled the tone. He never resprted to serious melodrama, even when the girls were being weepie, it was more about how they were getting swept away in their frenzy. I thought he wove the clay dancing figures in seamlessly, and that the acting was superb. I see how this launched Winslett's career, and I really wonder what happened to the other actress because she was excellent as well. I just remember how anti-climactic the murder was, considering it was the culminating point of the two girl's hysteria. Excellent and very subtle and insightful. I'd give it an A or an A-.

Melanie Lynskey:

Heart of Gold (2005) (announced) .... Jennifer
Say Uncle (2005) .... Susan
The Nearly Unadventurous Life of Zoe Cadwaulder (2004) .... Zoe Cadwaulder
"Two and a Half Men" (2003) TV Series .... Rose
Shattered Glass (2003) .... Amy Brand
Claustrophobia (2003) .... Lauren
... aka Serial Slayer (USA)
Abandon (2002) (as Melanie Jayne Lynskey) .... Mousy Julie
Sweet Home Alabama (2002) .... Lurlynn

Interesting note: The real person, Juliet Hughme, has changed her name and is now writer Anne Perry. The other girl also changed her name, both are still alive today, and have lived clean, religious lives since the incident.