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Based on reviews, fans of the critically acclaimed book will be disappointed in director Peter Jackson's movie version.
"This was never going to be an easy story to film. Using the same characters and many events, Jackson and his team tell a fundamentally different story. It's one that is not without its tension, humor and compelling details. But it's also a simpler, more button-pushing tale that misses the joy and heartbreak of the original."
— Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
"It's all a gorgeous error, a bonfire of overreach..."
— Kyle Smith, New York Post
"It all looks lovely, yes, but there's little meat on these bones."
— Luke Y. Thompson, E!
"...a gallon-sized candy-colored margarita, but it contains only a thimbleful of actual tequila."
— Leah Rozen, People
"...appalling..."
— J. Hoberman, Village Voice
Posted 01.14.10 by reelz -
EW reports that Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson spoke to the public at Comic-Con in San Diego following a screening of Neill Blomkamp's District 9, which he his producing. Jackson spoke about both The Hobbit, which is being directed by Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth), and his own The Lovely Bones, due in theaters this December.
Jackson will deliver a script for The Hobbit in a few weeks, and he says that work on the movie is still very preliminary.
We don't have a budget. We don't have a green light. We can't offer any actors roles til then.
Meanwhle, Jackson screened a short clip for The Lovely Bones ahead of the release of the first official trailer on August 7. The movie tells the story of a 14-year-old girl — portrayed by Saoirse Ronan — who is murdered and afterwards watches over her family from heaven. She also sees her killer (Stanley Tucci) and struggles with a desire for revenge. Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz play the girl's parents.
Although the subject matter of the movie is grim, Jackson finds humor in the main character.
She's wonderfully funny. She feels no self pity and makes ironic, wry observations.
Posted 07.24.09 by reelz -
Variety reports that Warner Bros. has announced a December 11 release date for Clint Eastwood's Invictus.
The movie, formerly titled The Human Factor, stars Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar, captain of South Africa's 1995 Rugby World Cup team. It's based on John Carlin's book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation and tells the story of Mandela's attempts to use the rugby event to heal his country's reputation after years of apartheid and internal struggle. The title comes from the William Ernest Henley poem of same name, which Mandela often quoted.
Invictus's mid-December release places it at the heart of Oscar season, which means it will undoubtedly get some nominations. Five of the past six Eastwood features were nominated for at least one award, including Million Dollar Baby, which earned Eastwood his second Best Picture and Best Director awards. Surprisingly, the one that wasn't nominated was his most commercially successful, last year's Gran Torino.
The December 11 release date also puts Invictus aside Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones, so it's already looking to be a very promising Oscar season.
Posted 06.05.09 by reelz -
Last week we reported that Ryan Gosling dropped out of his role in Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones just before filming began.
The decision was attributed to 'creative differences,' but now the Canadian actor, who is getting raves for his current work in Lars and the Real Girl, is speaking up. It appears as though Gosling and Jackson both had concerns that he was too young for the part he signed on for. "Peter and I tried to make it work and ultimately it just didn't," Gosling explains. "I think the film is much better off with Mark Wahlberg in that role."
Gosling says it is the media who are trying to spice up the story with aspersions of fighting artistes. Since his role was the father of a murdered 14-year-old girl and Gosling is just a tender 27, it sounds plausible enough to us.
Source: Parade.
Posted 10.29.07 by reelz -
According to Variety, all is not well in the land of Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones.
Actor Ryan Gosling, who was to play the role of grieving father Jack Salmon, dropped out on Friday--after gaining 20 lbs and growing a beard for the movie, which begins shooting today in Pennsylvania. Mark Wahlberg stepped over the weekend to take his place.
Gosling's 11th hour decision is being attributed to 'creative differences.' That does not sound good.
Posted 10.22.07 by reelz -
Word about town is that Ryan Gosling is beefing up a little bit for his role in Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones. Pictures of him looking a touch meatier at the NYC premiere of Lars and the Real Girl have cropped up on the Interwebs.
He is in good company. Many other actors have had to put on or lose weight for roles. Check out this cool list of Top 10 Physical Transformations for film on DeputyDog.com.
Anyone you think should be on the list? Email me at hhuntington@Reelz.com
Posted 10.08.07 by reelz -
Hollywood girl power is in full force today, as casting news for several actresses hits the presses.
Variety is reporting that Jennifer Aniston will be starring opposite Aaron Eckhart in Traveling, a drama about a relationship between a Seattle florist and a self-help guru. Traveling will be the feature directorial debut of writer Brandon Camp (Dragonfly, John Doe), and will be another in a long line of projecst Aniston has lined up, which include She's Just Not That Into You, Management, and Marley & Me.
Variety also says that actresses Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, and Robin Wright Penn have all joined the cast of the Brad Pitt-Edward Norton drama State of Play. Casting for that movie is obviously in high gear, as Jason Bateman just signed on only a few days ago. McAdams will play a reporter on the politician's dead girlfriend story, Mirren will play her newspaper editor, and Wright Penn will play the politician's (Norton) estranged wife who gets involved with his former campaign manager (Pitt).
Finally, MTV is reporting that 16-year-old singer AJ Michalka is the next one to join the cast in Peter Jackson's high profile adaptation of Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones. She will be playing the best friend of the girl who gets killed.
Posted 09.26.07 by reelz -
Another cast member has signed on for Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Lovely Bones says The Hollywood Reporter. Michael Imperioli, aka Tony's nephew Christopher from The Sopranos, will be playing the part of detective Len Fenerman - the man investigating the death at the center of the story.
Martin Scorsese and Graham King (The Departed) are producing a biopic about Queen Victoria's turbulent rise to power. Says Variety, The Young Victoria will star the sumptuous Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada) as Queen Victoria and smoldery Rupert Friend (Pride & Prejudice) as Prince Albert. Quite sexy actors to play the parts of people who spearheaded an age of repression.
Actors Miranda Richardson (The Crying Game), Jim Broadbent (Bridget Jones's Diary) and Mark Strong (Syriana) have all joined the picture, which will be directed by Jean-Marc Vallee.
And finally, the NFL has plans to get into the movie-making business with Lombardi, a biopic about the late, great coach of the Green Bay Packers. The movie will focus on the week leading up to the 1967 championship Ice Bowl game.
No directors or actors are currently attached, but the NFL will be producing along with Andell Entertainment. The relationship, says Variety, will allow the film access to archival footage and possible filming in Lambeau Field.
Posted 08.02.07 by reelz -
Another castmember has been added to Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Lovely Bones. Susan Sarandon has signed on the play the grandmother of the murdered girl from whose perspective the story is told. That's one sexy grandma.
And on the comedy front, Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn will be teaming up as a couple struggling to spend time with all four of their divorced parents for the holidays in Four Christmases. The script, which was written by Matt Allen and Caleb Wilson, doesn't have any directors attached yet.
Posted 07.27.07 by reelz -
Another castmember is being eyed for the Peter Jackson adaptation of Alice Sebold's compelling 2002 bestseller The Lovely Bones, says The Hollywood Reporter. Actor Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada) is in talks to take the role of George Harvey, the neighbor who rapes and kills the 14-year-old girl from whose perspective the story is told.
Tucci--a gifted character actor with a wide range of roles to his credit--seems the perfect choice to pull off cold, mean, and creepy with aplomb.
In other news, negotiations are in progress for Edwin A. Salt, a drama written by Kurt Wimmer (The Thomas Crown Affair) about a CIA officer who turns out to be a Russian sleeper spy, reports Variety. Hopes are that Hotel Rwanda director Terry George will direct and Tom Cruise will star.
Posted 07.23.07 by reelz