Academy Award-winning director Peter Jackson's new film, The Lovely Bones, features a star-studded ensemble cast that includes Susan Sarandon, Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci, Mark Wahlberg, and Rachel Weisz.The Lovely Bones tells the story of a teenager named Susie Salmon who is raped and killed, but is still able to look down upon her family and the man who murdered her from her own piece of heaven. In the years that follow her death, she observes her family and friends as they grieve for her. Susie also watches her killer who is preparing to take another life.The movie is based on a best-selling novel of the same name. Jackson is best known for his The Lord of the Rings trilogy.In 2004, the New Zealand filmmaker won three Oscars for the third film, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film was also named Best Film at the BAFTA Awards the same year.The Lovely Bones is Jackson's first movie as director since the big-budget spectacular King Kong in 2005.Uber director and producer Steven Spielberg collaborated with Jackson behind the scenes by serving as an executive producer on the film. Despite some unflattering reviews in Britain, The Lovely Bones is generating some early Oscar buzz for Jackson and his cast.The Lovely Bones opened in a limited release in North America on Friday and is set to open widely on January 15, 2010.
