On CLIPS In February, 2010
THE LOVELY BONES

A murdered teenager (Saoirse Ronan) watches over her family and killer in director Peter Jackson's latest film.

TRIVIA: Which 1987 horror/comedy movie was the first full-length feature directed by Peter Jackson?

After being murdered by a neighbor, teenager Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) watches over her family from above while wishing vengeance on her killer. Based on Alice Sebold's best-selling novel, "The Lovely Bones" is a fascinating cat-and-mouse thriller that is broken up by surrealistic visions of an in-between Heaven for murdered children. Director Peter Jackson should at least be given credit for attempting to translate this complicated book to the big screen. He gets plenty of help from an incredible cast. Besides the mesmerizing Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci is absolutely chilling as neighbor George Harvey. While Susan Sarandon is reduced to comic relief as a lush Grandma Lynn, Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz display frustration and desperation as parents Jack and Abigail Salmon. None of the actors are at fault for the movie's shortcomings. The main problem lies in trying to bring two worlds together. The visually impressive otherworldly sequences deaden any suspense that's built while presenting the earthly tale. Sadly, "The Lovely Bones" is a brittle addition to Peter Jackson's cinematic list of accomplishments.