Fanboy Casting

As I continue to read 'The Lovely Bones', the Alice Sebold bestseller that will soon be a major motion picture by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, I cannot help but come up with my personal choices as to who should play these characters. I haven't selected all the main characters, but these three are my first choice:

Joan Allen as Abigail Salmon

Joan's impressive work on films such as 'Pleasantville' and 'The Contender' lead me to believe she would be perfect as the mother to the slain character Susie. Abigail's world comes crashing down in a single moment and she is completely unable to cope, her family is left behind as she continues to spiral down a slippery path. Allen has the ability to convey Abigail's loss convincingly, she also has the natural grace and beauty that are inherent in the character. The more I read about Abigail the more I felt she would be great for this part.

Adrien Brody as Detective Len

Perhaps dealing with Adrien Brody as often as I have lately has caused me to be biased...but I really think he would be great as Detective Len. Len is assigned the case of Susie Salmon's death, and he takes it very personally. Without going into too much details I can really see Adrien using his charm, wit and diluted sex appeal to work this character into something really amazing. He has the sensitivity, the looks and the skill to handle this subtle character.

Adam Baldwin as Mr. Harvey

Perhaps this is too obvious a choice for the a-typical bad guy, but Adam Baldwin (who is NOT one of the brothers) really stands out for me as the murdering Mr. Harvey. This book does not disguise the fact as to who Mr. Harvey is, his rape and murder of Susie is told in cold detail, and as the book moves further along we learn more about this man. Adam has the 'dark side' mentality this character needs. Like I said it does seem like obvious 'bad guy' casting, it may be just the right choice, almost a 'he's so suspicious it can't possibly be him' type of mentality that the police take towards him regarding Susie's death.

Anne Bancroft as Grandma Lyn

Anne's career is full of amazing work, and when reading the important park Lyn plays, as well as her sassy attitude and amazingly out-of-place demeanor, I knew she'd be perfect for this role! Lyn is the proverbial black sheep of the family, preferring looks over practicality, she and her daughter Abigail are on two different planes of existence. However she comes to this family in their time of need, and I think Anne's tough yet caring attitude would do wonders on a character like this.

Well...that's all I go so far..thanks for listening!