One True Thing (1998)

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 gotten 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 gotten 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 Amazon.com essential video

One True Thing - great movie!

I teach a Death & Dying Class at a University and I use this film. It gives a different perspective on "suicide" and the family dynamics of a person who is dying. February 22, 2008

One True Thing

Meryl Streep's character was real. I was not impressed with Renee Zellweger's performance at times. I saw too many "Bridget Jones' Diaryisms" in her facial expressions when dealing with serious issues. I would still (very much) recommend this movie. A serious role played by Meryl Streep is generally a beautiful thing to witness. February 12, 2008

REVIEW ON FAMILY MEMBER WITH CANCER

One True Thing THIS IS A MOVIE ABOUT THE VERY REAL ANGER IN A FAMILY TRYING TO COPE WITH THE CANCER THAT A MOTHER HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH. SAD, BUT VERY POINENT , A VERY TRUE AND HEARTBREAKING STORY THAT A LOT OF FAMALIES GO THRU . October 22, 2007

Great Movie, Great Actors

One True Thing was released in 1998 (two years after Jerry McGuire) and stars Renee Zellweger and Meryl Streep. Renee portrays Ellen Gulden (or Ellie as her family calls her), a moxie journalist living in New York. She goes home to visit her family for the holidays and finds out her mother (Meryl) has cancer. Her father demands that she give up everything to move back home and take care of her mother. Because she adores her father and longs for his respect she does it.

One True Thing is beautifully filmed and acted. Without giving too much information, it is filmed from the perspective of Ellen as she's being interviewed by a lawyer about her mother's death. Her flashbacks are quite different from the words coming out of her mouth.

Ellie's mother has always been more of a silly inconvenience to her. As she begins to get to know her mother and see her father through adult eyes she realizes she has missed out on a truly fabulous woman. She also begins to discover the kind of woman she has grown into and what she wants out of her own life. I found this film interesting, entertaining and emotionally moving.

Gilmore Girls starlet, Lauren Graham makes an appearance as the loyal best friend, Tom Everett Scott plays Ellen's impressionable brother and William Hurt her emotionally detached father. The film is based on the book by the same name written by Anna Quindlen. After watching it I consider it one of Renee's and Meryl's best films. Reviewed by M.E. Wood. September 15, 2007

Warms you right up.

One True Thing starring Meryl Streep and Renee Zellweger is a film that you remember. Beautifully acted by Zellweger, she plays a young career woman who is forced to move back home to take care of her cancer-stricken mother played by Streep. Zellweger brings warmth and sensitivity to her role and William Hurt is excellent as well as the cheating and unconcered husband of Streep. One True Thing doesn't have a magical Hollywood ending and that's a good thing, this film is 100% real and engaging. I highly recommend checking this drama out. Happy viewing! September 15, 2007

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