White Oleander
Where does a mother end and a daughter begin?
Oleander can be poisonous. So can a mother's love. Flamboyant, self-centered Ingrid is jailed for the murder of her lover. Yet she still controls the life of her impressionable 15-year-old daughter Astrid.
Based on the popular bestseller by Janet Fitch, White Oleander traces Astrid's remarkable journey to independence. Alison Lohman portrays Astrid, struggling to get a foothold in life as she copes with her manipulative mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) and with the challenges of living in a succession of foster homes (Robin Wright Penn and Renee Zellweger play two of the foster mothers). Energized by the real and revealing performances of a stellar cast, White Oleander bewitches-and haunts-from beginning to end.
Member Reviews
As good as the novel! - jungforu
Having read the book of the same name many years ago, I have been looking for the opportunity to watch the film version. Overall, I would say that it follows the plot of the novel fairly closely and does it's best to protray the complicated relationships that that Astrid has with not only Ingrid, but also her various foster parents. It was interesting to see the transformation that Astrid went through, as she moved from dependance to independance. Furthermore, Ingrid become more and more angry and mean-spirited as her daughter grew up.
I will say that the editing at times was confusing and Astrid often had dream or memory sequences in which she jumped back into her past with her mother. Nevertheless, White Oleander does justice to the novel and was interesting to watch.Complex & compelling - Snip
I was really expecting a full-on 'chick-flick' here... it was selected by one of my teen daughters, so I sat in fully expecting to head to the garage sooner than later. Well... the closing credits found me still sitting and watching.
Is this film rivetting? Well, no, but it is a well-told story viewed from the perspective of someone coming into herself, and we get to watch as she realizes (painfully, at times) what her reality really is. Life isn't easy, and this film shows just how not easy it can be.
It isn't always beleivable, tho. That is why I didn't give it a rave review.One of My Favourites - uchc
This movie is FANTASTIC to say the least. Each actress plays their role so well, you can't help but get caught up in their emotions. It's about a young girl who is influenced by a mother who hates men, and then is forced out into the world on her own. She meets other women who have their own struggles with life and relationships. You can't help but feel sorry for her and the other women. This movie is VERY captivating! It's definetly a movie for girls, I don't think many guys would enjoy it. But I wouldn't classify it as a "chick-flick" either. It's a beautifully written story with well developed characters, and an excellent cast of women. Give this movie a try, it's become one of my favourites!
Member Reviews
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As good as the novel! - jungforu
Having read the book of the same name many years ago, I have been looking for the opportunity to watch the film version. Overall, I would say that it follows the plot of the novel fairly closely and does it's best to protray the complicated relationships that ...Complex & compelling - Snip
I was really expecting a full-on 'chick-flick' here... it was selected by one of my teen daughters, so I sat in fully expecting to head to the garage sooner than later. Well... the closing credits found me still sitting and watching.
Is this film rivetting? ...One of My Favourites - uchc
This movie is FANTASTIC to say the least. Each actress plays their role so well, you can't help but get caught up in their emotions. It's about a young girl who is influenced by a mother who hates men, and then is forced out into the world on her own. She ...