One True Thing (1998)

A career woman reassesses her parents' lives after she is forced to care for her cancer-stricken mother.

Director:

Carl Franklin

Writers:

Anna Quindlen (novel), Karen Croner (screenplay)

Stars:

Meryl Streep, Renée Zellweger, William Hurt

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Meryl Streep	...	Kate Gulden
Renée Zellweger	...	Ellen Gulden
William Hurt	...	George Gulden
Tom Everett Scott	...	Brian Gulden
Lauren Graham	...	Jules
Nicky Katt	...	Jordan Belzer
James Eckhouse	...	District Attorney
Patrick Breen	...	G.A. Tweedy
Gerrit Graham	...	Oliver Most
David Byron	...	Senator Sullivan
Stephen Peabody	...	Harold
Lizbeth MacKay	...	Dr. Cohen
Mary Catherine Wright	...	Clarice
Sloane Shelton	...	Evelyn Best
Michele Shay	...	June

Storyline

When a tough New Yorker's mother is stricken with a serious illness, she is forced to quit her job and her relationship with her boyfriend to take care of her, finding out a lot of things she didn't know about her mother and father and her life along the way.

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Plot Keywords:

cancer | female protagonist | melodrama | dysfunctional family | terminal illness | 

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Taglines:

Love What You Have.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Portuguese

Release Date:

18 September 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cosas que importan

Filming Locations:

Morristown, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,606,455, 20 September 1998

Gross USA:

$23,245,840

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$26,616,840

Company Credits

Production Co:

Monarch Pictures, Ufland, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film cast includes three Oscar winners: Meryl Streep, Renée Zellweger and William Hurt.

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Goofs

In one of the first flashback scenes, the Gulden family is driving in their car with the transmission lever plainly in the "Park" position.

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Quotes

[to Ellen]
George Gulden: Your mother needs you, Ellen! Jesus Christ, you got a Harvard education, but where is your heart?

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Connections

Referenced in At the Movies: Stepmom/Hilary and Jackie/Mighty Joe Young/Patch Adams/Hurlyburly (1998)

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Soundtracks

Paraiso de dulzura
Written by Hector Lavoe
Performed by Hector Lavoe
Courtesy of Fania Records Sonido, Inc.

User Reviews

A wonderful, wonderful film.

This is one of my favourite films of all time, no doubt about it. Everything about it is superb. While it may appear to be a film which mainly appeals to women, I think that the men should give it a chance too - a substantial part of the storyline is from George Gulden's (William Hurt) point of view, as the father of the family.

Through 'One True Thing', we see how a family copes with disease - from everybody's point of view. Although we follow the story from Ellen Gulden's (Renee Zellweger) eyes, it never feels like we're missing out on anything.

The strongest point of the film is the superb acting. Hurt and Zellweger give very strong, convincing performances, and the supporting cast are also very good; however, it's Meryl Streep who stands out here. I truly believe this to be not only one of her best performances to date, but one of the best ever. Her work in this film is absolutely astounding. She's everything and anything the film could require from her - and then so much more. What she brings to this role is truly magical; the woman is a genius. How she could have missed out on the Oscar that year, I have absolutely no idea.

There isn't much more to say, except for SEE THIS FILM. It is all at once extremely insightful, moving, humorous and beautiful. You won't regret watching this one.