White Oleander details
| Format: | 12 DVD |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Michelle Pfeiffer, Billy Connolly, Renee Zellweger, Alison Lohman, Robin Wright Penn |
| Director: | Peter Kosminsky |
| Genre: | Drama - Biography |
| Studio: | REDBUS |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
White Oleander |
12 Feature |
DVD Information
| Run time: | 1 hour 45 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | 20 Feb 2004 |
| Main languages: | English |
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Most helpful review
Late blooming film
By Nigel Burris from Basildon, Essex , 20 Mar 2004[Highly rated reviewer]
White Oleander is a clunky title for a fairly smooth ride of a film, one which takes the viewer on a journey through the teenage years of Astrid, as she copes with her mother's incarceration for murder, a variety of foster homes and care centres, and finding herself in amongst all the chaos of other people's lives.
This is a surprisingly light movie given its somewhat serious themes and framework. Murder, suicide, abandonment, mental abuse - all are handled in such a way as to never fully engage the viewer's sympathy for Astrid and what she has to go through. The film needs to be a bit more gritty.
That said, there are lots of things to enjoy here, not least the performances. Alison Lohman as Astrid is amazing (she's even better in Matchstick Men), and holds her own in scenes with the likes of Robin Wright Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer in particular, is incredibly effective as Astrid's domineering mother. Even the smaller roles are well cast, and Peter Kosminsky's direction is admirable. The script is a little cliched in places, and a couple of scenes don't ring true, but only a couple.
If anything, White Oleander is a woman's movie told from the point of view of a child as she grows up. It has the requisite number of setbacks, and set-to's, and unfolds at a steady, methodical pace which helps the material enormously. The measured editing style also helps add nuance to things. If it doesn't succeed entirely, it is because the material, when all's said and done, requires more depth of feeling than it has been given. Still worth watching, though, so give it a try.- Was this review helpful to you?
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(59)Alison's film.
By Nitaray (222 reviews) from Farnham , 18 Jun 2011Some superb acting from Alison Lohman as Astrid, unfortunate daughter of Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer), who murders her lover and ends up in jail for life. Robin Wright Penn plays Starr, the first of Astrid's foster mothers, and is also outstanding in the part, transforming herself by sheer acting talent, into the kind of trailer trash Mom who takes in kids to pay the rent.
Renee Zelwegger plays Astrid's second foster mother, an insecure and emotionally damaged actress who uses Astrid to fill the lonlieness of her life. How such unstable people are considered suitable foster parents is never explained, but it doesn't say much for the system.
It's an affecting film, well directed by Peter Kosminsky. Michele Pfeiffer does reasonably well as Astrid's strong willed and controlling mother,and no doubt her fans will love her performance.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Unusual and Good
By 5ft7offootballheaven (300 reviews) from London , 30 Mar 2011Not your typical strong woman yarn. I was sort of expecting a sickly sweet tear jerker, its not at all. I came to the movie knowing nothing of the book so i dont have the book was better syndrome. Anyway, it may be better (the book - it usually is...) in which case its a pretty good book as this is a good movie. Its a surprise a scene and not a little uncomfortable watching the way the characters manipulate each other and the overturning of your expectations about who is going to be a 'good' person and who otherwise. I like being challenged a bit in a movie and this certainly does that.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Very enjoyable!
By Twiceshy (12 reviews) from Cleckheaton , 07 Jan 2011I really enjoyed this film!!! I have read the book many times and although in typical fashion the film wasn't as good, it was watchable and enjoyable. There were certain aspects of the book missed out that I thought would have made this a better film...... but hey a film can only be so long. If youve read the book you will be slightly dissapointed, if you haven't you'll like it if its your type of film. Well worth a watch- Was this review helpful to you?
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Don't bother
By Rezza (26 reviews) from Coventry , 27 Oct 2009Boring, boring, boring and utterly depressing.- Was this review helpful to you?
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The book was better
By ShellieMac (7 reviews) from Godalming , 09 Mar 2009If you've read the book and liked it don't bother with the film. It was bland, with none of the emotion that was in the book. Alot of the episodes within Astrid's life were only briefly touched on or skipped entirely. Michelle Pfeiffer does well as Ingrid capturing her cold approach to life.
Alright if you have nothing better to watch- Was this review helpful to you?
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