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I've watched and re-watched this Lovely Bones trailer, and I'm still locked into two basic impressions. One, Alice Sebold's novel has been heavily milked, which is to say given a florid Jacksonesque tone ('70s-era impressionism mixed with a kind of otherwordly photo-realism) with plot points heavily telegraphed. Jackson isn't going to let anyone imagine anything for themselves -- he's going to damn well point stuff out.
And two, there's an excellent reason for the florid vibe considering the post-mortal vantage point of Saoirse Ronan's character. So there's a certain rhyme and reason to it all.
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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 26, 2009 at 10:25 AM
comment #1
erniesouchak
says ...
The biggest problem with this movie will be Marky Mark and Rachel Weisz as the parents. They're too young and all wrong.
Posted by erniesouchak
at August 26, 2009 11:21 AM
comment #2
Jack South P.I.
says ...
Only after being chided by my wife that I was a literary snob (maybe true) and didn't read enough female authors (sadly true) did I pick up the book, with trepidation. (I am immediately wary of best-selling Oprah Fare and this one had that stink on it.) I can happily say I've rarely been more surprised by a book. It was terrific. I was happy to admit I was wrong. It deserved all the props it got and will continue to get. I completely understand why it had such a massive and loyal readership and am certain they will flock to this movie. Unless Jackson changed too much, which I doubt.
I too share some of Wells' concerns about Jackson. The trailer looks a little too FX-heavy for my taste. The book didn't read that BIG. It was very intimate and personal. I fear Jackson may bludgeon all that away with CGI. But he's good with actors and the cast is very promising. My guess is Stanley Tucci will be the standout and receive the most acclaim and award buzz. He's been so good for so long.
Posted by Jack South P.I.
at August 26, 2009 11:25 AM
comment #3
Jack South P.I.
says ...
I also wish Gosling and Jackson could have worked out their differences. Mary Mark is good but Gosling in on another level.
Posted by Jack South P.I.
at August 26, 2009 11:43 AM
comment #4
Jack South P.I.
says ...
Gosling "is" on another level. Sorry
Posted by Jack South P.I.
at August 26, 2009 11:44 AM
comment #5
p.Vice
says ...
Glad to know that in Jackson's view death looks like a candy-colored outtake from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Posted by p.Vice
at August 26, 2009 11:45 AM
comment #6
joefilm1
says ...
Great book. But seriously, Mark Wahlberg sounds like he's saying "Say hi to your mother for me, ok?" with every line. Really sucks it wasn't Gosling or another man with less cheese.
Posted by joefilm1
at August 26, 2009 11:46 AM
comment #7
Jason
says ...
@erniesouchak Weisz and Wahlberg are both nearly 40. They're just the right age for parents of a 14-year-old. My only concern is Wahlberg's tedious glowering.
Posted by Jason
at August 26, 2009 11:52 AM
comment #8
LexG
says ...
Wahlberg is your god.
Stop fighting it. Just admit he's awesome and you all wish your were like him. I know I do.
Posted by LexG
at August 26, 2009 11:52 AM
comment #9
Brendan
says ...
I bet Joanne Popcorn with love this. I could pass on this one, it looks like "What Dreams May Come" meets an M. Night movie. Been there, done that.
Posted by Brendan
at August 26, 2009 12:27 PM
comment #10
jackkerouac
says ...
The book was great, the trailer looks awesome and Peter Jackson proved that he is adept at this type of movie / story with 'Heavenly Creatures'. I'm there.
Posted by jackkerouac
at August 26, 2009 1:15 PM
comment #11
Asokan
says ...
Kinda underwhelming and Oscar-baity. This seems to work the same way "Heavenly Creatures" worked, just with the CGI not used to show the fantasy world but the afterlife.
Wahlberg and Imperioli seem miscast, while Tucci seems too typecast for this kinda role.
The most shocking about this trailer, though, is: When did Susan Sarandon turn from mom roles to grandmother roles, or in layman's terms, from MILF to GILF?!?
Posted by Asokan
at August 26, 2009 1:19 PM
comment #12
George Prager
says ...
This movie needed Spielmann's formalism.
Posted by George Prager
at August 26, 2009 2:22 PM
comment #13
George Prager
says ...
this is right up my alley. I've been eagerly awaiting for this movie for about one year. I drooled over the trailer and have watched this at least 10 times. I'm not dead, but a few of my friends are. I love the strong female characters in the trailer- they remind me of my dead friends.
I love it. and I'm so gonna see it on opening day. I wish it would come out NOW, though.
Posted by George Prager
at August 26, 2009 2:24 PM
comment #14
Steven Kar
says ...
"This movie needed Spielmann's formalism."
Sounds like something Armond White had said. Or p.Vice for that matter.
Posted by Steven Kar
at August 26, 2009 2:35 PM
comment #15
p.Vice
says ...
Haha Kar, you're right. I said that about The Hurt Locker a few weeks ago.
Thanks, Prag.
Posted by p.Vice
at August 26, 2009 2:48 PM
comment #16
slutsky
says ...
Do you think Jackson intentionally made the murderer look like Gosling in "Lars and the Real Girl"?
Posted by slutsky
at August 26, 2009 3:26 PM
comment #17
slutsky
says ...
And:
"Jackson isn't going to let anyone imagine anything for themselves -- he's going to damn well point stuff out."
Says who? The narration sounds like it's from the book--definitely doesn't sound like it's from the film itself. Trailers are always cut to look super-obvious (and Jackson clearly didn't do this one himself).
Posted by slutsky
at August 26, 2009 3:28 PM
comment #18
Alboone
says ...
Read the book. Interesting.
As far as the trailer, and I hate to say it, but this cast just isn't doing it for me. I don't buy them for one single second. They look like a bunch of High School drama students putting on a production of Our Town or something.
The book felt small and contained which ultimately became its ultimate strong point. Where I think Jackson is gonna go for the broad strokes and heighten up every moment in wherein by doing this he risks losing the intimacy of the original source material.
Posted by Alboone
at August 26, 2009 3:59 PM
comment #19
drbob
says ...
Brendan beat me to the punch, but I'll say the afterlife scenes look a lot like What Dreams May Come and that definitely is not a good thing.
Posted by drbob
at August 26, 2009 4:36 PM
comment #20
Carl Kolchak
says ...
If you read the book you'll see that there is no objective "heaven" but a self created place that comes from the mind of the individual. Considering that this is a 14 year old girl I think the look is in line with what it should be.
Posted by Carl Kolchak
at August 26, 2009 7:58 PM
comment #21
bluefugue
says ...
>Wahlberg is your god.
>Stop fighting it. Just admit he's awesome and you all wish your were like him. I know I do.
He's the best thing in "The Departed," I'll give him that.
Posted by bluefugue
at August 26, 2009 8:12 PM
comment #22
bryce_david
says ...
The whole thing reminds me of two Disney movies, Child of Glass and The Watcher in the Woods.
Posted by bryce_david
at August 26, 2009 11:06 PM
comment #23
Mighty Kornholio
says ...
Great trailer. I'll check it out.
Posted by Mighty Kornholio
at August 27, 2009 1:26 AM
comment #24
DavidF
says ...
Wow, bryce...I remember Child of Glass. Some southern-set girlie ghost thing...?
Posted by DavidF
at August 27, 2009 6:47 AM
comment #25
Michael Strangeways
says ...
Sadly, this looks like Jackson did to The Lovely Bones what Spielberg did to The Color Purple...tuned it into an overproduced and over designed Hallmark Card...
Posted by Michael Strangeways
at August 27, 2009 12:10 PM
comment #26
Natali Watson
says ...
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at June 24, 2011 4:26 AM