'White Oleander' was written by Janet Fitch, and was adapted into a film in 2002.
Although this is a drama, it never gives you reason to cry. Astrid Magnussen (Alison Lohman) is a lone teenager whose Mother (played by Michelle Pfeiffer) is convicted of murder. After her Mother, Ingrid, is sent off to prison, Astrid must go from foster home to foster home, alone, scared, and slightly intimidated by those who threaten to take over her Mother's place in her life.
Astrid's first foster home belongs to Starr (Robin Wright Penn), her son, Davey (Marc Donato), her boyfriend Ray (Cole Hauser), and her teenaged daughter. You could call this a broken home, as Ray is already married, Starr is a drunk, the daughter sneaks out at night to hang out with her friends, and Davey is usually alone in his room.
Renée Zellweger comes in as Claire Richards, Astrid's second foster Mother. Her husband, Mark (Noah Wyle), is hardly ever around, and she assumes it is because he's having an affair with another woman, leading Claire to become clinically depressed.
Patrick Fugit plays the sweet Paul Trout, Astrid's best friend whom she met while spending a few months in a hall for children whose parents have either died, or have abandoned them.
Alison Lohman steals the show, giving a prodigiously good performance the whole way through; her performance never faulters. This is a great movie if you love extreme drama.
Although this is a drama, it never gives you reason to cry. Astrid Magnussen (Alison Lohman) is a lone teenager whose Mother (played by Michelle Pfeiffer) is convicted of murder. After her Mother, Ingrid, is sent off to prison, Astrid must go from foster home to foster home, alone, scared, and slightly intimidated by those who threaten to take over her Mother's place in her life.
Astrid's first foster home belongs to Starr (Robin Wright Penn), her son, Davey (Marc Donato), her boyfriend Ray (Cole Hauser), and her teenaged daughter. You could call this a broken home, as Ray is already married, Starr is a drunk, the daughter sneaks out at night to hang out with her friends, and Davey is usually alone in his room.
Renée Zellweger comes in as Claire Richards, Astrid's second foster Mother. Her husband, Mark (Noah Wyle), is hardly ever around, and she assumes it is because he's having an affair with another woman, leading Claire to become clinically depressed.
Patrick Fugit plays the sweet Paul Trout, Astrid's best friend whom she met while spending a few months in a hall for children whose parents have either died, or have abandoned them.
Alison Lohman steals the show, giving a prodigiously good performance the whole way through; her performance never faulters. This is a great movie if you love extreme drama.