'The Lovely Bones'

"The Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson tackles less-epic but still impactful material with this adaptation of Alice Sebold's best-seller, yielding an Oscar-nominated performance by the typically superb Stanley Tucci as a neighbor of a murdered youngster (Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement").

Her survivors, including her parents (Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg) are seen through her eyes as her spirit witnesses the aftermath of the tragedy from above; Susan Sarandon and Michael Imperioli also star in the drama, which includes Steven Spielberg among its executive producers. *** (PG-13: AS, P, V) (Also on Blu-ray)

Buy 'The Lovely Bones' on DVD.