NZ film premières at Royal Gala
26 Nov 2009
The Lovely Bones - the latest movie from New Zealand’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ producer Peter Jackson - has had its world première at a royal gala event in London.
The Queen, who had selected the film to screen at the annual Royal Film Performance, was unable to attend but Prince Charles and his wife Camilla shared the red carpet with Jackson and the stars of the film.
Actors Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci and Saoirse Ronan all attended the première, and first reviews from critics describe The Lovely Bones as "daring and deeply unsettling material".
Wellington première
The movie, based on a novel by American writer Alice Sebold, is Peter Jackson’s first major directing role since King Kong, and will have its New Zealand première in Wellington on 14 December before being released in local cinemas on Boxing Day (26.12.09).
Saoirse Ronan, the film’s 15-year-old star, is expected at the Wellington release, as well as Susan Sarandon, who plays Ronan’s grandmother.
Ronan was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in Atonement (2007) at the age of 13.
Kiwi actresses Rose McIver and Carolyn Dando are also expected at the New Zealand première, as well as Jackson himself. The Wellington screening will be hosted by the Embassy Theatre which was refurbished for the world première of Jackson’s first LOTR movie.
Jackson’s writing partners for the movie were Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. The plot follows the story of Susie Salmon, a young girl who watches over her family and killer from heaven, after she is murdered.
Despite uneven reviews in Britain, The Lovely Bones has generated some early Oscar buzz for Jackson and his cast. Jackson already has three Academy Awards for Lord of the Rings.
Film critics
Critics have said that The Lovely Bones was never going to be an easy story to film, and Jackson tells a story - "not without tension, humour and compelling details" - that is different to the book.
First reactions to the film included everything from "the best film of next year" to "infuriatingly coy".
UK reviewer Total Film said Lovely Bones was sensitively cast and a touching, at times distressing film that was energetic and entertaining - "the camera already moving whenever Jackson cuts into a scene and the horror/thriller elements given just enough fizz to recall the director’s early genre forays".
According to Screen Daily (UK), Jackson "captures the grim essence of the novel even while compressing much of its character development and plot detail. And if the rhythm is problematic, his film-making bravado is constantly in evidence..."
Time magazine’s Richard Corliss talked about Jackson re-creating Pennsylvania in his native New Zealand, and said The Lovely Bones was "packed with privileged moments".
The Sun newspaper in the UK raved about the movie - describing it as the "best film of next year". Jackson had created "something even more amazing than his Middle Earth fantasy. The effects are breathtaking."
Parts of the movie were shot in New Zealand. Peter Jackson’s award winning conceptual design company, Weta Workshops, in Wellington produced the conceptual design, speciality props and visual effects.
New Zealand première
Back in New Zealand, fingers are crossed that the poor weather on the night doesn't follow the stars for the local première at Wellington's Embassy Theatre, on 14 December.
Two temporary grandstands will frame the entrance to the Embassy and give autograph hunters the chance to corner Sarandon, Ronan and Jackson, who are all expected on the red carpet.
The capital city is preparing for a big première party with street closures for most of the day.
The capital last hosted a New Zealand première for a blockbuster movie in 2005 - King Kong was another Peter Jackson production.
It sparked wild scenes as the city’s Courtenay Place entertainment quarter was turned into a party zone, with thousands of fans waving giant inflatable bananas and screaming to get the attention of the film's stars
More information:
Star Kiwi Directors
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