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Award season is tricky, even so in the last couple of years surprises are not really part of the deal. But this year one the most unexpected turn of events has happend to the new Peter Jackson movie. After Paramount decide to bet on it as the film that was mots likely to get nominations in all categories, now the movie is looking like the closest thing to a long shot.
How is that possible? With this much talent on board?!

From what the lukewarm reviews have mentioned, everyone is faulting the adaptation of the novel for being to clean of the dark violence of the crime that kicks the plot into gear. In interviews, Jackson has mentioned that he “could not bring himself” to film the murder scene. Somehow those who are familiar with his early work are left baffled with that notion. After all, he did not shy away from showing two young girls comitting a murder in Heavenly Creatures. Has Peter Jackson gone soft? Or is it that The Lovely Bones is just one of those novels that works on the page but not on the screen?

Whatever the reason, the only nomination the movie might get is for Stanley Tucci in the supporting actor category. But the Academy might decide to recognize him for Julie and Julia instead.

Susan Sarandon a Grandma?

It’s November, so I’m actually late to start speculating about the Oscar race. But one that caught my attention is The Lovely Bones, which is considered to be a strong contender.

This not only the experts opinion but the studio’s as well, given that Paramount pushed the October release of Shutter Island to next year to concentrate on a campaign for this Peter Jackson adaptaion of the Alice Sebold bestseller.

Before I start with my oficial speculations let me make this clear, I am a huge fan of Peter Jackson’s work (and that extends well beyond the Rings trilogy). But even though this looks like a return to Heavenly Creatures territory, I forsee a couple of bums in the road. Meaning, Lovely Bones could turn into 2009’s Dreamgirls-a movie that got way too much hype but failed to get the coveted Best Picture nod.

How could this possibly happen? Well consider this, how many people do you know want to go see a movie about a family torn apart by the murder of their pre-teen daughter? Sure the original material was a best seller, but did that make The Deep End of The Ocean movie-based on another hit novel about a child in peril- a hit? If you don’t know which Michelle Pfeiffer movie I’m talking about, I’ve just proved my point. (It doesn’t count if you watched it on Lifetime!!)

So in order to make it to the big show, The Lovely Bones needs to be a critical and comercial hit. But before we find out if that’s going to happen, take a look at this behind-the scenes feature on the making of the movie.