Based on the best selling book by Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones, will soon be up on the big screen. The story focuses on a fourteen year-old girl, Susie Salmon, who is murdered and watches the events following her death unfold from heaven. As she attempts to deal with the reality of her existence Susie is confronted with the desire to seek revenge against her killer. She tries to help her family track down the right man but at the same time must deal with the truth that the endless search is tearing them apart. As time goes by she watches her family move on living without her and has to decide whether she too is ready to let go.

Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson is behind The Lovely Bones project. Based on his previous projects in similar genres this should be a thrilling movie filled with lots of mystery, surprise, drama, heart-breaking moments and stunning visual imagery. Hopefully he returns to some of the blurry dream-like sequences he mastered in 1994’s Heavenly Creatures. Fulfilling author Alice Sebold’s request, Jackson hired a relatively unknown girl for the lead role. At least she was unknown at the time. Saoirse Ronan, had only a few credits on her resume when she sent an audition tape in to casting. Jackson loved her immediately and hired her off the tape alone. Then she was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress in Atonement. Obviously he has an eye for talent. So it should be thrilling to see what she does with her first big lead role in a film.

Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz play Susie's parents while Stanley Tucci steps into a role he’s quite familiar with, the creep who's up to no good. If you’ve read the book you'll know exactly which character this is. Susan Sarandon and Michael Imperioli round out the cast. If nothing else it's sure to have some stellar dramatic moments with fine actors like these. In fact it’s not too soon to even begin talking about awards seasons nominations here, especially when this film is in such a capable director’s hands.

The Lovely Bones isn't one to miss.  Whether or not you choose to read the book before or after seeing the film is up to you but I do highly recommend it because it’s a fine piece of literature. Hopefully the film will live up to the same high standard of excellence the written work created. Based on the trailer we're in for an amazingly emotional journey sure to make you laugh, cry, scream out and share in this incredible thing we call the human experience.