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Amazon.co.uk Review
Based on Anna Quindlen's bestselling novel, this is a mother-daughter and father-daughter story, two for the price of one. But director Carl Franklin also tries to inject a police-mystery angle that it neither needs nor will support. Renee Zellweger plays a young writer on the rise, who has finally got her break for a New York magazine. While home for a birthday party for her nearly famous writer father (William Hurt), she learns that her mother (Meryl Streep) has been diagnosed with cancer. Then her father does the unthinkable: he all but commands her to put her career on hold to take care of her mother and nurse her through her illness. Dad, a popular college professor who has never received the literary acclaim he always believed he deserved, essentially checks out--and daughter must play parent to her mother. Strong performances by Streep and Zellweger give this parent-child relationship the heart--and the anger--of the real thing, while Hurt seems slightly disembodied as the self-involved father whose needs have dominated both women. Still, the detective-story aspect (the film is told in flashback, as the cops try to discover whether someone slipped Mom a fatal dose of morphine) is a construct that could have been done without. --Marshall Fine
Special Features
1.85 Wide Screen
DVD 9
French\German\Italian\Spanish
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English\Dolby Digital Surround French German Italian Spanish
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dolby Digital Surround
Spotlight On Location
Trailer
Filmographies
Production Notes
Czech\Danish\Dutch\English\Finnish\French\German\Norwegian\Polish\Portuguese\Swedish
DVD 9
French\German\Italian\Spanish
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English\Dolby Digital Surround French German Italian Spanish
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dolby Digital Surround
Spotlight On Location
Trailer
Filmographies
Production Notes
Czech\Danish\Dutch\English\Finnish\French\German\Norwegian\Polish\Portuguese\Swedish
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I waited so long to see this film and knew it would be a "weepie" after many viewings of the trailer, but I have to say I was presently surprised at the lack of corny cliches which could have abounded throughout this film. Rene Zellweger, the daughter who is practically forced to quit her job to return home and look after her mother who has cancer, is forced to evaluate not only her own relationship with her mother, but also that of her father/mother. The excellent script in this film, saves it from diving headfirst into the mushy squall it could have and helps it retain an intelligent and adult perspective on family relationships struggling through bad times. Well worth a look.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
What a great movie!! I was quite amazed and I do not share the previous reviewers' views that this is a girlie or weeping movie.
Here a NY girl ( Renée Zellweger) who wants to make a big career suddenly finds herself back in her hometown where a family drama unfolds: Mum ( Meryl Streep) has cancer and slowly dies. The daughter is - through emotional blackmail of her father (William Hurt) forced to take care of Mum. However,she is daddy's girl, adores the great university professor and has no real connection with her mother who she regarded as the typical, a bit stupid and uninteresting mum who just takes care of the home. But the picture suddenly changes: the adored father turns out to be a mediocre professor and writer, egoistic and most of all very, very week. Mum however keeps this family really going, keeps most of all dad going, knows all but says less, but takes care of family and friends and gets things really done. In a marvellous played scene between Mum and daughter all comes out and she gives her daughter the most important lecture of her life. And the daughter understands...Even in death Mum is the strongest of all, because she takes her own life; daughter and father/husband are too weak to do it.
On the surface one cloud argue that this is a tribute to the "housewives-mum" and their role in the family. Yes, there is this element. But I feel, most of all, it is about looking behind the façade, judging not just from the surface or from prejudices. Good message! I like that.
The acting, especially from Meryl Streep and Renée Zellweger is superb.
Here a NY girl ( Renée Zellweger) who wants to make a big career suddenly finds herself back in her hometown where a family drama unfolds: Mum ( Meryl Streep) has cancer and slowly dies. The daughter is - through emotional blackmail of her father (William Hurt) forced to take care of Mum. However,she is daddy's girl, adores the great university professor and has no real connection with her mother who she regarded as the typical, a bit stupid and uninteresting mum who just takes care of the home. But the picture suddenly changes: the adored father turns out to be a mediocre professor and writer, egoistic and most of all very, very week. Mum however keeps this family really going, keeps most of all dad going, knows all but says less, but takes care of family and friends and gets things really done. In a marvellous played scene between Mum and daughter all comes out and she gives her daughter the most important lecture of her life. And the daughter understands...Even in death Mum is the strongest of all, because she takes her own life; daughter and father/husband are too weak to do it.
On the surface one cloud argue that this is a tribute to the "housewives-mum" and their role in the family. Yes, there is this element. But I feel, most of all, it is about looking behind the façade, judging not just from the surface or from prejudices. Good message! I like that.
The acting, especially from Meryl Streep and Renée Zellweger is superb.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This is a superb film which captures how important it is to be a family. When katherine developes cancer Ellen, an ambitious New York journalist, must return home and care for her sick mother. In doing so they develop a relationship which never before existed. Meryl Streep is wonderful and Renee Zellweger is in top form in this tale of family relationship that will have you reaching for the tissues every time.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Really good, not what I expected at all. Watch til end type movie.
Love Meryl Streep and this was no disappointment, was always wondering how will this turn out, not a disappointment.
Published on 14 April 2010 by Rona Smith
Full of clichés and boring
I appreciate that this film is full of stars with cast iron reputations. Renée Zellweger as the faithful daughter to Mum (Meryl Streep) as she dies of cancer. Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2009 by Bernard Smith
One True Thing...Beautiful Film!
I am a massive Streep fan, so you can imagine my delight to find another film I hadn't seen! And this was no disappointment, by any means! Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2009 by S. Gibson
Suicidal? - You will be after watching this!
Amazon recommended this film to me, & I bought it, mainly because I thought my wife would like it, on the strength of the reviews here.
It is definitely a "girlie" movie. Read more
It is definitely a "girlie" movie. Read more
Published on 1 Nov 2008 by Mr. Peter Austen
Great Girlie Film
I rented this from amazon rental, and I waited ages to see it, and it was so worth the wait. The cast was excellent, although not over the top. Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2006 by book worm
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