White Oleander (2002)

Directed by Peter Kosminsky. Starring Alison Lohman, Michelle Pfeiffer, Renée Zellweger, Patrick Fugit, Amy Aquino, Robin Wright, Cole Hauser, Svetlana Efremova, Noah Wylie, Billy Connolly. [R]

Emotive but unnatural drama of teenage Lohman being shuffled around in foster care after her mother (Pfieffer) is given a life sentence for poisoning a lover using the titular plant. Lohman’s withdrawn suffering is effective (and plausible), but her circumstances and surroundings sometimes feel like a cheat executed by the writing and editing. The series of foster moms rarely emerge from the cocoon of caricature (lonely struggling actress Zellwegger, stripper-turned-born-again-Christian Wright, eccentric and coldly pragmatic Russian gypsy Efremova), while the “sidemen” only seem to be on hand to prove themselves to be bastards that commit infidelities (all except Fugit, who may as well be bathed in ivory light for his pure intentions and savior nature). Some individual scenes work, and both Lohman and Pfeiffer give strong dramatic performances, but the artificiality of the plot turns and the risk-adverse filmmaking smothers the potential. Lohman’s final bargaining proposal to Pfeiffer suggests quiet devastation, but there can’t be much resonance when it doesn’t require a selfless sacrifice on the mother’s part. Based on Janet Fitch’s novel, an Oprah’s Book Club selection. The clip of the horror B-movie that Zellwegger’s character appeared in years ago is taken from the actress’ performance in The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

54/100