“The Exorcism of Emily Rose” (Screen Gems)
“The Exorcism of Emily Rose” is a movie based on a true story, one that took place in Europe and concerned a young woman whose name was not Emily Rose. The facts of the case have been transposed to modern times and life in America. Having done this, it makes an intriguing
film.
When the film opens a young woman named Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter) has died of natural causes. This does not keep the priest who was present at the time of her death from being arrested. Father Moore (Tom Wilkinson) was her spiritual advisor and the man who performed an exorcism on her believing she was possessed by demons.
Ethan Thomas (Campbell Scott) is selected to prosecute the case, and Erin Bruner (Laura Linney) is hired by the Church to defend the priest. Thomas is a Christian while Bruner is an agnostic. Thomas is a deadly prosecutor and Bruner likes the limelight a case like this will bring.
During the course of the trial the story of Emily Rose is told in flashbacks. We get the priest’s story as well as the logical explanations others present. The prosecution alleges Emily was an epileptic who also suffered from psychoses. The defense goes with the possession story.
Just as the acting was exemplary in “The Exorcist,” so it is the crucial factor in the enjoyment of this film. Wilkinson and Scott both play their roles with skill and focus. Carpenter is admirable and pitiable as the suffering Emily Rose. Still it is Linney who makes the movie more than it should have been. She is amazing.
If you watch her performance closely you see there is an abundance of intelligence in her eyes. They truly are the windows to her soul, or in this instance to Erin Bruner’s soul. You also see the crosscurrents of emotions that run through her mind and play out on her face.
Laura Linney’s portrayal of Erin Bruner is a portrait of growth. She starts her off as an absolute skeptic but takes her down a road that leads her to be an acceptor of possibilities. And because she makes that journey the audience does too.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and violence. The film would probably have been better served by earning an R rating. It needs to be just a bit scarier and more graphic.
Even though Linney is terrific “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” never becomes a totally impressive movie. Perhaps it’s the limitations of the PG-13 rating, or it’s because we have all seen the ultimate “exorcism” in “The Exorcist.” Whatever the reason, the movie is good but not classic.
I scored “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” a devilish 6 out of 10.
