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Movie Preview: Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones

BuzzSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:40:49 -0700

If you've read the book The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, you'll know that it's a heartwrenching, mysterious tale about family, death - and whatever comes after death. Peter Jackson's film adaptation has been a point of discussion ever since it was announced over two years ago, from the casting choices to the question of how to adapt a story like this, which regularly blurs the line between reality and the supernatural. Jackson's 1994 movie Heavenly Creatures does this very thing as well, which made him a good choice for this particular challenge.

The new trailer for the film, which opens Dec. 11, starts out tender and soft before building to a tense and chilling crescendo. Atonement's Saoirse Ronan plays Susie Salmon, a young teen who narrates the story after she's been murdered. She observes her family as they try to piece together what happened to her, and it's all a big tangle of scariness, sadness, and aching sweetness. To watch the trailer, click here.

An Exciting Monday: New Pics From The Lovely Bones, Gossip Girl Spinoff and More

BuzzSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:30:09 -0700

When I turned on my computer this morning, I discovered link after link bringing me to new photos from upcoming movies and TV shows. There's a first glimpse at Russell Crowe in Ridley Scott's Robin Hood and two images from Peter Jackson's film adaptation of The Lovely Bones. There's a first look at the young Lily from the Gossip Girl spinoff, and (appropriately for today, the 20th of April) we've got a new poster for Weeds. Ready to check out today's bounty of interesting new pics? Let's get started.

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Wahlberg Replaces Gosling in The Lovely Bones

BuzzSugar — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:30:00 -0700

This is pretty shocking: Ryan Gosling has suddenly dropped out of Peter Jackson's film adaptation of The Lovely Bones, in which he was supposed to play Susie's father. Mark Wahlberg stepped in to fill the role on Sunday after reading the script, and the film is still scheduled to start shooting today in Pennsylvania.

I was pretty excited when I heard Gosling had been cast in the film, and he certainly seemed committed to the role, recently gaining weight and growing a beard. Variety said only that "creative differences" caused Gosling to leave on Friday.

I'm a fan of Wahlberg - I thought his performance in The Departed last year totally made the movie, and I've been excited for his upcoming starring roles in The Happening and The Fighter. But I certainly wasn't expecting this. Can you see Wahlberg in this role? And does Gosling's exit make you worried about The Lovely Bones?

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Can You Believe Aly and AJ as Serious Actresses?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:00:47 -0700

In news that made me sit up and go "Whaaaa?!" MTV Movies Blog is stating that AJ - of Aly and AJ - will be playing a part in The Lovely Bones. Apparently, AJ's character is Clarissa, the best friend of Susie, and according to AJ she has "a really emotional, intense, freaky scene with Ryan [Gosling]. It’s gonna be crazy."

Aly and AJ did a fine job in the straight-to-DVD Super Sweet 16: The Movie but can they break away from being teeny-bopper pop stars to taking on serious film roles? What do you think?

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Do You Read the Book Before You See the Movie?

BuzzSugar — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 04:30:00 -0700

I've been writing a lot about the book-to-movie adaptation of The Lovely Bones, and two other high-profile adaptations, Stardust and The Nanny Diaries, will be released this month. I always prefer to read the book half of an adaptation before I see its film counterpart, but sometimes that leads to ridiculous situations - for example, I still haven't seen Seabiscuit because I'm convinced I'll get around to the book someday. What about you?

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Stanley Tucci Cast in The Lovely Bones

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 11:26:26 -0700

Yes, I know I've been paying a tremendous amount of attention to any and all news regarding Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Lovely Bones, but as far as book-to-movie projects go, this one is pretty important to me. So, here's the latest in the long string of casting news: Stanley Tucci is in negotiations to play killer George Harvey in the movie, says Hollywood Reporter.

When I was reading the book, I envisioned someone a little more decrepit, someone much closer to Jackie Earle Haley (who played creepy pedophile Ronnie McGorvey in Little Children). However, Tucci often has a commanding and intimidating presence onscreen (he played Nigel in The Devil Wears Prada, among others), and I can easily see him being super scary. What do you think about this latest bit of Lovely Bones news?

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Irish Actress Cast to play Susie in The Lovely Bones

BuzzSugar — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 19:11:38 -0700

Well, it looks like someone in Hollywood agrees with all of you who commented in the casting news about Rachel Weisz and Ryan Gosling joining The Lovely Bones: the girl at the center of the story will not be played by a Fanning, nor is she a mainstream name - yet. Young Irish actress Saoirse Ronan will play the difficult role of Susie, a 14-year-old girl who is raped and killed, and who narrates the story from heaven. Weisz and Gosling will play Susie's parents in Peter Jackson's adaptation of the bestselling novel.

Variety continues:

Ronan, 13, has several movies awaiting release, including Death Defying Acts, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Guy Pearce, and I Could Never Be Your Woman, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Paul Rudd. This summer, she films The City of Ember.

Wow, it looks like she's working with some high-profile peeps already. In fact, in addition to the titles listed above, Ronan also recently worked on the movie Atonement alongside Keira Knightley. To see a very adorable picture of the two from the set of Atonement, read more

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Ryan Gosling Cast in The Lovely Bones

BuzzSugar — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:33:31 -0700

Wow!
The cast for Peter Jackson's film version of The Lovely Bones is shaping up beautifully: Ryan Gosling has just been added to the cast, joining the recently added Rachel Weisz.

Variety says:
"Based on Alice Sebold's novel, storyline revolves around a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family - and killer - from heaven. Girl must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal. Gosling will play the girl's father; Weisz plays the mother."

Wow!
Peter Jackson, Rachel Weisz and now Ryan Gosling? Sure, Gosling seems a little on the young side (ahem, 26) to have a 14-year-old daughter, but that's forgivable. I am anxiously waiting to find out who they cast as Susie. Who could do that role justice?

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Rachel Weisz Signs On To Star in The Lovely Bones

Molly — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:27:27 -0700

The Deal: Rachel Weisz has signed on to star in Peter Jackson's screen adaptation of The Lovely Bones. For those of you familiar with the story, she will play Abigail Salmon, the mother of Susie, the deceased young girl who narrates the story of her parents trying to find her.

The Excellent: Beyond being gorgeous and classy Rachel was especially memorable in The Constant Gardener, for which she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. She should be able to do this heavy role justice.

The Not-So-Excellent: Remember when NY Magazine reviewed Jackson's screenplay and said that it wasn't great? It still seems kinda ludicrous to review a movie that hasn't been made.

The Bottom Line: There is potential for disaster (too cheesy, too over-the-top with the "narrating from beyond the grave" aspect), but with Weisz at the helm of the movie, I have hope. The book was excellent and I think it's in the right hands, at least acting-wise. Now, who should they cast as the father?

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NY Magazine Already Panning The Lovely Bones

BuzzSugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 15:14:56 -0700

Last week I brought you the news that Peter Jackson has written a screenplay adaptation of Alice Sebold's novel The Lovely Bones, a story told from the viewpoint of a 14-year-old girl who was raped and murdered. All Jackson neeeded was a studio to give him the money - and a lot of it. Variety claims the budget for Bones could run close to $90 million. Well, Jackson got someone to bite: DreamWorks.

So what will $90 million get you? New York Magazine has already reviewed Jackson's screenplay and the verdict is not great. Noting Jackson's successful fantasy-drama Heavenly Creatures, the New York Magazine writer figured The Lovely Bones would be equally promising. Not so, apparently.

Jackson doesn't get into Susie's head the way he did Pauline and Juliet's, and the incursion of the supernatural into everyday life feels showy rather than integral. The fantasy scenes in Heavenly Creatures were momentous, despite the shakiness of the special effects; though it's certain that the effects in The Lovely Bones will be brilliant, the scenes in Heaven, and Susie's interaction with Earth, don't have much magic on the page.

It certainly seems premature to dis on a movie that has a long way to go before it's a presentable film ready for critique, though I can't deny this article makes me slightly nervous for The Lovely Bones.

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