Fine performances and sensitive direction keepWhite Oleanderfrom being a routine tearjerker. Adapted from Janet Fitch's bestseller (an Oprah's Book Club selection), this hard-edged drama boasts a reputable cast, but 23-year-old newcomer Alison Lohman steals the film from her A-list costars. As a troubled teen whose controlling mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) has been jailed for murder, Lohman is the film's heart and soul, bouncing between foster homes and rushing toward independence in a world of disappointing adults. After surviving episodic stints with a trashy born-again Christian (Robin Wright Penn), a suicidal housewife (Renée Zellweger), and a Russian immigrant (Zvetlana Efremova), she finds comfort with another outcast (Patrick Fugit), leaving behind the mothers who failed her. Making his feature directorial debut, British stage and TV veteran Peter Kosminsky creates a showcase for formidable actresses, each given moments to shine.White Oleanderlacks the emotional depth of Fitch's novel, but it speaks volumes about the delicate balance of freedom and responsibility.--Jeff Shannon
"Then let me go..." The only thing I could start off by saying about this movie is: Remarkable. You find comfort, hope, insecurity, and a whole other mesh of feelings and emotions in this movie. You find Astrid (Alison Lohman, Matchstick Men) who is raised to be against anyone who isn't her mother. But she finds herself in a situation where she must learn to adapt to others, and find out..not everyone is the enemy. She meets a string of new people throughout the new phases of her life. All of which are very different and teach her so much about herself. (All in different ways of course..)
This was definitely Alison Lohman's best performance, and a breakout role for her. Other great performances were that of Renee Zellweger, and Robin Wright Penn.
white Oleander excellent movie. Sat thur it twice..A wonderful story of a Mother and daughter strain relationship. Zellweger.plays a excellent role struggling to get her independence from her Mother. Great acting.White Noise If you are a guy, never watch this movie. NEVER! If you are a guy who has seen it, and enjoyed it even remotely, you need to do some soul searching.
