The Lovely Bones (2009)
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A murdered girl watches over her family from the afterlife while torn between seeking vengeance and allowing them to heal.
The story
In 1973, 14-year-old Susie Salmon dreams of becoming a photographer. Her life takes a tragic turn when she is lured into an underground hideout by her neighbor, George Harvey. After her disappearance, her father, Jack, becomes obsessed with finding her, while her mother, Abigail, struggles with the loss. From the 'In-Between'—a realm between Heaven and Earth—Susie watches over her family. She is haunted by the reality of her death and the actions of her killer, while her family deals with the aftermath of her disappearance in a small town.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1973, 14-year-old Susie Salmon is lured into an underground hideout by her neighbor, George Harvey, and is murdered. From the 'In-Between', Susie watches her family's grief. Her father, Jack, becomes obsessed with her case, eventually suspecting Harvey. Susie learns in the afterlife that Harvey is a serial killer who has murdered several other girls. Her sister, Lindsey, eventually finds evidence in Harvey's home, including a notebook and a lock of Susie's hair. After a series of events, including Jack's failed attempt to confront Harvey and Lindsey's discovery of the truth, the police are alerted. Susie eventually fulfills a final wish by briefly appearing on Earth to kiss her friend Ray before returning to a larger heaven. Harvey is eventually killed in a freak accident involving an icicle and a cliff. Susie's family eventually finds peace, which she refers to as 'the lovely bones' that grew around her absence.
- First release year
- 2009
- Runtime (minutes)
- 135
- Production countries
- United States; United Kingdom; New Zealand
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Peter Jackson
- Writers
- Fran Walsh · screenplay; Philippa Boyens · screenplay; Peter Jackson · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Mark Wahlberg · Jack Salmon; Rachel Weisz · Abigail Salmon; Susan Sarandon · Grandma Lynn; Stanley Tucci · George Harvey; Michael Imperioli · Detective Len Fenerman; Saoirse Ronan · Susie Salmon; Evelyn Lennon · Susie at age 3; Rose McIver · Lindsey Salmon; Christian Thomas Ashdale · Buckley Salmon; Reece Ritchie · Ray Singh; Carolyn Dando · Ruth Connors; Nikki SooHoo · Denise "Holly" Le Ang
- Genres
- supernatural drama
- Themes
- grief; missing people; father-daughter relationships; spirit possession
- Tone and mood
- supernatural; tragic
- Premise and plot tags
- crime; drama; supernatural; mystery
- Source material / true-story basis
- Alice Sebold's 2002 novel
- Content notes
- violence
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 31% · scale: percentage · review count: 244; Metacritic · score: 42 · scale: 100 · review count: 36; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F
- Awards and nominations
- Best Supporting Actor · Academy Awards · nomination; Best Supporting Actor · Golden Globes · nomination; Best Supporting Actor · BAFTAs · nomination; Best Actress · BAFTAs · nomination
- Production trivia
- Ryan Gosling was originally cast as Jack Salmon but was replaced by Mark Wahlberg.; The film's score was composed by Brian Eno.; The film was originally scheduled for release in March 2009 but was delayed for awards season.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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