Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Stanley Tucci, Michael Imperioli
Director: Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings, Heavenly Creatures)
Running Time: 2 hr 15 min
Release Date: Jan. 15, 2009 (Nationwide release)
Budget: $65 million
Critics’ Thumbs Up: 44%
“…soulful, respectful, masterful…and emotionally true,” Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian
“A perfect storm of a movie disaster.” Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com
He may be known for creating magical worlds with ghastly goblins and giant gorillas, but in this tragic, yet whimsical tale director Peter Jackson excels at depicting heartbreak, poignancy and even optimism. Based on Alice Sebold’s best-selling novel of the same name, The Lovely Bones centers on Susie Salmon (Oscar nominee Ronan of Atonement), a sweet but wise 14-year-old who watches over her family on Earth from the “in-between” after she is murdered by a creepy neighbor (Tucci). Written by Jackson and his screenwriting team of Fran Walsh and Phillippa Boyens, the trio effectively expounds on feelings of vengeance, devastation, grief and love while also infusing the story with taut suspense scenes and with vibrant, fanciful depictions of the space between Earth and Heaven. Ronan, who exudes innocence and boasts ethereal blue eyes, is perfectly cast as our protagonist. Tucci, who is nearly unrecognizable, is also excellent as he transforms his mannerisms and voice into that of the sinister serial killer. While occasionally the afterlife scenes are a bit cloying and some scenes could be confusing for those unfamiliar with the book, The Lovely Bones is still a lovely option for those looking for a mature, thought-provoking respite at the movies.
