Grandin fix without the Grandin: 'Lovely Bones'

For those of you who don't have the Grandin Theatre's movie lineup in your life these days because of the recent ugly events there, have an alternative this weekend (snow permitting). Director Peter Jackson's "The Lovely Bones," based upon (and don't get too carried away with the thought that it will be faithful) Alice Sebold's bestseller about the death of a child and how it rips apart a family.

The often surreal movie version--with some startlingly good performances--is much more a murder mystery and it is framed with some truly magnificent photography. Think of the movie and the book as two different entities and you'll enjoy the movie far more because, for what it is, it's quite good.

At the center here is the death of Susie Salmon (played by Saoirse Ronan with a nice subtlety), a 14-year-old from a loving and happy family who is murdered by a creepy neighbor (Stanley Tucci, who played Julia Child's husband in "Julie and Julia" and is effective here, as well). While the book was a study in family dynamics in the time of extreme stress, this one turns into a good murder mystery.

Go see it. Get your Grandin fix without implying you approve of the recent actions there.