The Bottom Line
I thought the story was flawed because the over-the-top melodrama destroyed its credibility. But the acting combined with the strong sense of place made for a film I think is worth seeing.
Pros
- Good acting, especially by Pfeiffer and Lohman
- Some good dialogue
- Good sense of place (Los Angeles and environs)
Cons
- Choppy dramatic line
- Over-the-top melodrama
- Lack of credibility destroys emotional impact
Description
- DVD containing movie "White Oleander" adapted from novel by Janet Fitch
- Movie stars Michelle Pfeiffer, Renée Zellweger, Robin Wright Penn, and Alison Lohman
- DVD contains feature-length commentary, two featurettes, and additional scenes
- Excellent picture quality
- Excellent sound quality
Guide Review - "White Oleander" DVD Review
This drama is about a teenage girl named Astrid (Alison Lohman) whose mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) falls for a man, then murders him. As Astrid works her way through a series of foster homes, she periodically visits her mother in prison and tries to find her own identity. Two of Astrid’s foster mothers are played by Renée Zellweger and Robin Wright Penn. I thought the strong performances by the charismatic actresses sometimes gave the movie a certain emotional punch. But to my mind, the story was flawed because it was filled with so much over-the-top melodrama that it didn’t seem credible. However, the acting combined with the strong sense of place made for a film I think is worth seeing.
