Capital turns on heavenly premiere, no bones about it
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Heaven, according to Peter Jackson's film The Lovely Bones, is a technicolour wonderland.
For the crowds that lined the red carpet in Courtenay Place last night waiting for the stars to arrive at the premiere, the long-awaited sunshine was heavenly enough.
But Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon, 63, the biggest-hitting international star in attendance, froze after she turned up in bare feet – and without knickers or a bra, according to her co-star Rose McIver.
Sarandon was covered in goose-bumps as she signed autographs and cut her media interviews short as she was taken inside to warm up.
VIP guests included comedian Rhys Darby and film-maker Taika Waititi, television presenter Brendon Pongia and several television actors.
The estimated 5000-strong crowd was humble compared with the 145,000 fans who turned out for The Lord of the Rings premiere in 2003 and the 20,000 lining the streets for King Kong in 2005.
But Jackson fever was in the air as he appeared with partner Fran Walsh and daughter Katie, 13.
Signs reading "We love you Peter and Fran" were waved and Wellington's best-loved director, one of the last to arrive down the red carpet, received a resounding cheer and an even bigger applause inside, where he spoke to the VIP audience before the film began to roll.
"There is nothing like the home crowd. Everyone is royalty in Wellywood," he said.
Fifteen-year-old Irish actress Saoirse Ronan, who plays murder victim Susie Salmon, told The Dominion Post she felt as if Wellington was her second home.
"Is it wrong to say this is my favourite premiere so far?" asked the star, wearing a charm bracelet that was a prop in the movie. "Even though everyone is screaming for Rhys Darby."
Yesterday's event follows last month's world premiere before a royal audience in London, its launch on the weekend in New York and Los Angeles and a premiere in Sydney.
Jackson said the studios had decided to launch the movie in stages, partly because of competition from James Cameron's movie Avatar, also made in Wellington, and partly due to the style of The Lovely Bones. "It's a slightly challenging film that doesn't fit into the usual mass market mould."
The film opens nationwide on Boxing Day.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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