Brian Eno is MORE DARK THAN SHARK

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Classical FM FEBRUARY 2010 - by Robert Weinberg

THE LOVELY BONES

Directed by Peter Jackson / Music by Brian Eno

It's not that common for a film to be narrated by a character who the audience knows to be dead. Sunset Boulevard is one legendary example. Another is American Beauty, in which Kevin Spacey tells us that he will die at some point in the story. In this latest offering from The Lord Of The Rings supremo Peter Jackson, the main character and narrator is murdered teenager Susie Salmon, who watches her family and friends from her coloured adolescent afterlife and observes their lives unfolding in the wake of her demise.

Alice Seebold's novel The Lovely Bones was a surprise bestseller in 2002. Jackson loved the book, describing his experience of reading it as "unlike any other", and subsequently purchased the film rights. He stated that he didn't want "the tone or the mood to be different or lost in the film":, an aim that he has achieved.

For the part of Susie, Sebold stated her preference for an unknown actress. Saoirse Ronan was indeed unknown when she was cast for the movie, but went on to be nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Atonement. Alongside Saoirse, Rachel Weisz and Mark Wahlberg are superb as the distraught parents.

For the soundtrack, Jackson chose the legendary rock musician, producer and originator of ambient music Brian Eno. For a man of so many musical endeavours, he is yet to make his mark on film scoring; The Lovely Bones may be the start of a new phase in Eno's prolific career.