In Collection
#165
My Rating:
7
Seen It:
Yes
#165
My Rating:
7
Seen It:
Yes
USA / English
| Amy Aquino | Miss Martinez |
| John Billingsley | Paramedic |
| Elisa Bocanegra | Girl In Fight |
| Darlene Bohorquez | Prisoner |
| Solomon Burke Jr. | Guard |
| Scott Allan Campbell | Bill Greenway |
| Sam Catlin | Teacher |
| Debra Christofferson | Marlena |
| Billy Connolly | Barry Kolker |
| Marc Donato | Davey Thomas |
| Alison Lohman | Astrid Magnussen |
| Michelle Pfeiffer | Ingrid Magnussen |
| Robin Wright Penn | Starr |
| Renée Zellweger | Claire Richards |
| Svetlana Efremova | Rena |
| Patrick Fugit | Paul Trout |
| Cole Hauser | Ray |
| Noah Wyle | Ron Richards |
| Solomon Burke | |
| Renée Zellweger e | Claire Richards |
| Liz Stauber | Carolee |
| Director | Peter Kosminsky |
| Producer | Hunt Lowry; John Wells; Stacy Cohen; E.K. Gaylord II |
| Writer | Janet Fitch; Mary Agnes Donoghue |
Fine performances and sensitive direction keep White Oleander from 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 Oleander lacks the emotional depth of Fitch's novel, but it speaks volumes about the delicate balance of freedom and responsibility. --Jeff Shannon
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