Commentaires client les plus utiles
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2 internautes sur 2 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
5.0étoiles sur 5
Appears chick flick at a glance... definitely not so, Oct. 15 2003
Par Un client
The cover and the tagline 'where does mother end and daughter begin' just cries Lifetime tearjerker watered down in sentiment. What I actually saw in White Oleander was an engaging, emotional (sentiment kept surprisingly low) film with an incredible cast. The opening credits (with the rundown NY apartment) are stark but Astrid's voice-over introduction is beautiful and haunting as her suitcase art is shown. Alison Lohman is vibrant, innocent, edgy, cynical and brutally honest as Astrid. Her performance was Oscar-worthy and it's a shame she wasn't even nominated. Her portrayal of Astrid's evolution was not only convincing, it showed her as an extremely versatile and talented new actress. Michelle Pheiffer is chilling as Ingrid, a character that I was unsure whether to symphathize with or hate. Her brutal manipulation of her daughter mixes with an obvious sense of love that is seemingly overcome by her bitter self-centered-ness and jealousy over Astrid's changing character. The essence of the character radiates from her face. Robin Wright Penn is both cruel and amusing as hypocritcal Starr, a trashy, lusty born-again Christian whose initial niceness dissolves into jealousy and rage. Her young foster son Davey (Marc Donato) is actually quite impressive as a nerdy, insecure young boy who bonds with Astrid, and Cole Hauser, right down to his rough, handsome look, embodies Starr's mostly good-natured but philandering boyfriend, Ray. This was the first movie I saw Renee Zellweger in, and this performance, being likely overshadowed by 'Chicago,' is stunning. Everything- her cherub-like face, the passive, and empathetic, softness of her voice, reflects the fragility and compassion of Claire. One of the parts I was actually drawn to most was that of Rena (Svetlana Efremova), the bohemian type Russian woman who was Astrid's final foster mother. She cares mostly about making money, which was obvious from her earlier scenes, but with her Astrid learns about the reality of facing life. Rena rejects all sentiment and patronization but her influence seems to effect Astrid the most. I particularly liked the scene where she and Astrid have a rather honest discussion at the house. By now Astrid has grown up, become hardened, cynical but retains her curiosity and fierce determination and artistry. Patrick Fugit is appropriate as Paul, an ambitious, lonely artist that provides one meaningful thing to Astrid in hellish McKinney Hall, and gives her hope at the end. In all, White Oleander is provoking, ethereal at times, emotional and is pulled together by a brilliant cast and an amazing musical score and unique camera angles. One of my favorite movies.
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2 internautes sur 2 ont trouvé ce commentaire utile :
4.0étoiles sur 5
When the movie is better than the book........, Mars 12 2003
Reviewing the book WHITE OLEANDER in 1999 I felt it was just another rehash of victimization of teens and adults by society. Now the movie is out on DVD and in the home, without the disruption of an audience to distract, WHITE OLEANDER becomes a more sensitive exploration of the need of love between parent and child, or between each of us. Part of the credibility of the film I found lacking in the book was the ability of the director and the actors to take the characters beyond caricature and targeted violence - whether that violence takes the form of mental or physical cruelty or is symptomatic of a social system that is in need of repair. Alison Lohman gives a bravura performance as Astrid, the newly formed foster child after her mother's imprisonment for murder. Her mother, likewise, is fully fleshed out by Michelle Pfeiffer. The foster parents may lack in social and parenting skills but the actors portraying them (Robin Wright Penn, Renee Zellweger, Zvetlana Efrenova, et al) find the core of credibility in each and are all supporting actors of the highest order.So here is an instance, at least for this reviewer, where the book was less than mediocre but provided a film that is memorable. Very much worth your time.
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5.0étoiles sur 5
Talent, Mars 4 2009
There are so many amazing actresses in this one movie and it shines! Deep storyline and it keeps you involved from start to finish!
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