Jackson glad to bring Bones home
BY MICHAEL FOX
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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.
Thousands of fans had gathered in Wellington's Courtenay Place with many clutching pieces of paper, hopeful for autographs from the stars including lead Irish actress Saoirse Ronan.
Famous Kiwi faces included comedian Rhys Darby, director Taika Waititi, ex-Shortland Street actors Craig Parker, Shane Cortese and current star Kimberley Crossman, along with presenters Brendon Pongia and Kerre Woodham at the Embassy Theatre premiere.
Crossman, who plays Sophie MacKay on the Kiwi soap, proved a crowd favourite arriving early in the evening, signing autographs and speaking to media on her way in to the theatre.
Two grandstands were filled with people, with many more lined-up behind steel barriers alongiside the red carpet.
Clutching a poster, fan Maddy Dalton, 16, said she even managed to get a hug from Ronan.
She called the red-carpet event "a lot of fun", adding she managed to get signatures from Crossman, Ronan and Rose McIvor.
Her friend Constance Pozniak, 16, said "it was awesome".
The highlight was capturing her friends hug on film, she said.
JACKSON EXCITED TO BE HOME
Earlier at a press conference Jackson said he was excited to bring his latest work "home" to Wellington.
The creative mastermind behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong choose Wellington, his hometown, for the New Zealand premiere of his adaptation of the Alice Sebold novel of the same name.
Jackson was flanked by Sarandon - who plays an at-times outrageous grandmother in Bones - and 15-year-old star Saoirse Ronan, who plays the main character, 14-year-old murder victim Susie Salmon.
Asked if he was nervous to be revealing the movie to a Kiwi audience, Jackson said he was more excited "because this is home," with most of the cast and crew based here.
"You're always nervous when somebody sees your film obviously but this is the fun premiere tonight," he said.
Jackson was clearly in a relaxed mood as he joked with his cast.
Ronan, who revealed her father was moved to tears by the film, told reporters Jackson's cameo in the film, where he is shown inspecting a vintage camera at the mall, had required several takes.
"That's because I was so compelling," Jackson said.
The performance of Ronan, who earned an Oscar nomination for her role in Atonement, has garnered some Oscar buzz but the Irish teen said she tried not to think too much about it.
"It would be wonderful if it did happen. This film means an awful lot to me," she said.
Jackson said he did not have Oscar expectations for his own film but was full of praise for fellow director James Cameron's upcoming epic Avatar, which has used Weta Studios to create the visual effects and digital animation.
"I think that's the film to beat," he said.
Bones has opened to mixed reviews, with Jackson's generous use of digital imagery in his depiction of the in-between - where Susie narrates the story from - coming under particular scrutiny.
The New York Post's Kyle Smith said: "Colour me relieved. There is no need to fear death, even the most horrifying kind of murder. Because the afterlife is exactly like the album cover for a 1970's progressive rock band."
Smith gave Bones two-and-a-half stars out of five. It has an average rating of 5.2 out of 10 on Rotten Tomatoes, but has scored just 43 per cent on Metacritic.
Jackson said his version of the book was "clearly going to be a personal adaptation".
"You can't adapt the book perfectly to please everybody that's read (it)," he said.
The depiction hinged on the fact that it was a representation of Susie's subconscious, rather than a physical place.
"In other words, what's being depicted on screen isn't a view of what the afterlife is supposed to look like, it's not our version of heaven or our version of what you're going to see when you die," he said.
Ronan was a fan, however.
"I like it there. I was thinking of going there this summer ... As long as you can come back," she said.
Around 6000 fans were expected to turn out tonight with several city streets shut down in preparation from around 11am.
The film is set to open in New Zealand cinemas on Boxing Day.
- Stuff.co.nz and The Dominion Post
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Susan S's dress did not really do much for her I have to say.
Am looking forward to seeing the film to make up my own mine. PJ is good at what he does so it should be a good film.
Cheers
S
Melissa #3, a lot of the LOTR movies was original content that deviated from the book much to the detriment of the story. So PJ is quite capable of original ideas. It is just their quality that is sometimes lacking.
I like Jackson's movies too but defending him on the basis of being a NZer makes clear you're judging Jackson, not the movie. Pro-NZ jingoism (I too am a Kiwi) isn't automatically excused because its pro-NZ, its still jingoism.
@ Chris #5 i'm so0 happy you said that... I had dealings with her when she came to wellington, and honestly up until then i had so much respect for her. She is rude and arrogant. So sad but at for Saoirse Ronan, I must say she is a really lovely girl. Awesome PJ for your work
wished I was there for it, but its always good for the city to support some nice NZ talent. Thou if Marky Mark would of turned up I would of been there for sure. make him stand up and give us a rap.
How absolutely wonderful to see Peter ,Fran and Phillipa plus the cast and crew of The Lovely Bones, giving it their best... It's the unswerving excellence that continues with every Peter Jackson film. J
@ Chris: Did you actually meet Susan or is this just chinese whispers and gossip? I had the pleasure of meeting her today and found her down to earth and not at all pretentious - she certainly doesn't expect the world to 'bow down to her'. How did the scenario of refusing to sign autographs arise if she wasn't being recognised? Doesn't really make sense. Don't be nasty about someone you don't know.
susan why should we respect u?you dont even respect us or our country!!!!Wearing bare feet to a an opening! i bet you would not do that in the USA!you are SAD!
Yeah #6, Ash, Jack was just saying what he thought, not bitterly or anything.
Summed up perfectly #2, well done Peter Jackson!
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Jack, that's OK. I took your comments out of context - sorry. Hope you enjoy(ed) the movie.