Saoirse Ronan. Photo by NZPA.
Susan Sarandon and Saoirse Ronan have found a way to
spice up their interviews - they're choosing random words, such
as "anthropology", "steamboat" and "eyeball", and competing to
see who can use the words more in their media comments.
The stars of The Lovely Bones were in Wellington today ahead
of the film's New Zealand premiere at the Embassy Theatre
tonight.
"Steamboat", says Ronan, was "quite difficult", whereas
"anthropology" was "fine".
The 15-year-old Irish actress, who plays murdered girl Susie
Salmon in Peter Jackson's adaptation of the Alice Sebold
novel, also joked that she was thinking of returning to her
character's CGI heaven, "the in-between", this summer -- as
long as she was able to return.
Many critics believe her performance in the film could earn
her an Academy Award nomination -- it would be her second in
as many years after last year's nod for best supporting
actress for her role in Atonement.
But she's trying to ignore the Oscars hype "because sometimes
it can just get in the way".
"It would be wonderful if it did happen. This film means an
awful lot to me and I really, really enjoyed working with the
guys and I worked on it for a long time so it would be
fantastic, but I don't think it's really something that any
of us are thinking about."
At a press conference this afternoon, Jackson, looking a
shadow of his shaggy, rotund former self, wouldn't be drawn
on the film's awards-season chances, saying only that he had
seen James Cameron's animated epic Avatar, and it was "the
film to beat".
He describes The Lovely Bones as "a personal adaptation" by
himself and screenwriting partners Fran Walsh and Philippa
Boyens, with a smaller budget than the trio's other recent
projects -- including the Lord of the Rings trilogy and King
Kong -- giving them the ability to take more risks.
"You can't adapt the book perfectly to please everybody
that's read the book, obviously, so you'll end making your
own decisions about what ... to leave in, what to take out."
Critics are divided on the film - Britain's Sun called it
"the best film of next year", while Variety slammed it as "a
significant artistic disappointment " - but Jackson says he's
not particularly nervous about how audiences at home will
respond to the film.
"You're always nervous when somebody sees your film obviously
but this is the fun premiere tonight...
"The heart of the film is here -- it's where we live and work
so this does feel like coming home."
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