The reviews are in, and Peter Jackson’s “The Lovely Bones” did not go over well tonight in London. Or anywhere else.
THR’s Kirk Honeycutt is not the only reviewer who’s panned the much-anticipated film translation of Alice Sebold’s best-selling novel. A spy in London called it “dull, lame and disappointing.” Yikes.
This isn’t good news for Paramount on a boxoffice basis. Of course, the studio will hope to spin the movie to the book’s large fan base. But Oscar-wise, it would seem that these “Bones” are fractured beyond repair. Believe me, in Oscarland, bad news travels fast!
Paramount can console itself with Jason Reitman’s “Up in the Air.” That’s their ace in the hole, so OK, it’s all good, as we so often like to say. But having said that (I’m stealing from the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” finale), the 10 best picture nominees are looking more like this:
1. “Precious”
2. “Up in the Air”
3. “Nine”
4. “The Hurt Locker”
5. “Inglorious Basterds”
6. “An Education”
7. “A Single Man”
8. “Up”
9. “Invictus”
10. Choose one: “Avatar,” “A Serious Man,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “The Last Station,” “The Road,” “Sherlock Holmes,” “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”
Of course, it’s going to turn out that the change to 10 best picture nominations is the second-worst idea of the year, following, of course, the closing of Broadway to pedestrians and the installation of tables and chairs in Times Square. (Imagine that the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is being rerouted to Sixth Avenue to accommodate the stupidest traffic plan in the history of New York!)
Next week, the New York press finally gets to see “The Lovely Bones,” and we’ll keep our fingers crossed that all these other people were wrong. But this is the problem when a studio insists on not showing a film to any press early to build momentum before a mass screening.
For what it’s worth, by the way, the completely unreliable Web site aintitcoolnews.com called the movie — about the rape and murder of a 14-year-old — “lovely.” Harry Knowles does note in his “review” that his wife was upset that all her favorite parts of the book were missing from the film. He doesn’t care since he never read the book but says now he’ll go out and buy it.
November 25th, 2009 at 6:09 am
One really wonderful film that doesn’t seem to have earned the respect it deserves is “American Violet”. I would think it merits the number ten slot in the Oscar nominations. It also has two Oscar-worthy performances by Alfre Woodard and Nicole Beharie.
November 25th, 2009 at 8:38 am
These are all critics’ opinions, which are irrelevant in the context of Oscar (as much as critics would like to deny that). The only opinions that matter are the 6000 AMPAS voters’ opinions.
It’s a bit knee-jerk to declare the picture DOA based on critics’ reactions from ONE screening when there are still a ton of AMPAS and industry guild screenings lined up in the coming weeks.
November 25th, 2009 at 11:28 am
I saw Lovely Bones at a screening. And being a fan of the book, I have to agree with the reviewers. The movie does not have the emotional charge of the book. Peter Jackson spent too much time on the special effects and took away from the entire emotional aspect of the book. Will Paramount have a hit, I doubt it.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Tell me Mr. Friedman did Harry Knowles piss in your coffee? How is his reviews any less reliable than any other persons review on any other site? I mean it’s all just opinion, not fact. I don’t usually view aintitcoolnews.com so I haven’t read his review but I’m sure you misquoted his “lovely” statement which was more likely in reference to the films title and not the rape and murder of a 14 year-old-girl which is only part of what the film is about.
It’s clear you dislike Mr. Knowles for some reason and felt the need to go out of your way to slight him in your news bit. It was unnecessary and completely unprofessional. It honestly makes me think your the two bit reporter here Mr. Friedman.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
I’ve read a bunch of very good reviews for THE LOVELY BONES. Critics are so silly because they’re criticizing that it isn’t like the book! But it was adapted for the screen & I guess the director did a different take on it. So give it a chance. I cannot wait to see it & I bet it gets a lot of nominations.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Maybe all this shows that Peter Jackson is all for spectacle, a big showoff like in the LOTR trilogy, big digital effects, computer-wise but otherwise none the wiser. I like Peter Jackson of the old, especially Heavenly Creatures. Now, that was a story. Now, wow, how I dread the Tintin thing.
November 25th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
I would add District 9 to that list of potentials for the tenth spot. I’ve seen it half a dozen times and it still leaves me in awe.
November 27th, 2009 at 9:03 am
[...] as possibles like “The Lovely Bones” fall away, if a number of bloggers, including THR’s Roger Friedman, are to be believed). But it’s here that “The Wrestler” similarities could ding [...]
November 27th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Invictus isn’t getting any raves either . why aren’t you mentioning that. Sounds like its a Hallmark Channel movie