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Midway Point: Top 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2009: #9. The Lovely Bones

I’m extremely curious to see how a touchy concept might play out on the big screen. The film with the narration I’m most looking forward to seeing. Heavenly Creatures anyone?

Eric Lavallée

Published on July 9, 2009

#9. The Lovely Bones

Director: Peter Jackson
Writer(s): Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens
Producers: Carolynne Cunningham (Crossing the Line), Jackson, Aimée Peyronnet (The Life Before Her Eyes), Walsh
Distributor: Paramount Pictures.

The Gist: Alice Sebold’s best-selling novel is a heartbreaking tale narrated by a 14-year old girl — after she has been raped and murdered. From heaven, she observes her shattered family’s attempt to heal, as a detective tries to solve the case and as her killer moves along his demented path.

Fact: Lynne Ramsay was originally attached to direct the film. Later on, Ryan Gosling was replaced by Wahlberg.

Why is it on the list?: I’m extremely curious to see how a touchy concept might play out on the big screen. We are curious and optimistic that the film narration will make us teary eyed and are betting that this is Jackson’s best since Heavenly Creatures.

Release Date/Status?: The studio won’t find the need to preem the film at any festival, but not out of the question either. Release is set for December 11th. With ten noms for Best Picture – this should be a shoe-in.

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Eric Lavallée

Eric Lavallée is the founder, CEO, editor-in-chief, film journalist and critic at IONCINEMA.com (founded in 2000). Eric is a regular at Sundance, Cannes and TIFF. He has a BFA in Film Studies at the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema. In 2013 he served as a Narrative Competition Jury Member at the SXSW Film Festival. He was an associate producer on Mark Jackson's This Teacher (2018 LA Film Festival, 2018 BFI London). In 2022 he served as a New Flesh Comp for Best First Feature at the 2022 Fantasia Intl. Film Festival. Current top films for 2022 include Tár (Todd Field), All That Breathes (Shaunak Sen), Aftersun (Charlotte Wells).