Opening

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—— Alyce Kills May 24

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Coming Soon

—— After Earth May 31
—— Now You See Me May 31
100% The Kings of Summer May 31
90% The East May 31

White Oleander (2002)

tomatometer

70

Average Rating: 6.5/10
Reviews Counted: 133
Fresh: 93 | Rotten: 40

Strong performances by the lead actresses make White Oleander a compelling female melodrama.

61

Average Rating: 6.1/10
Critic Reviews: 33
Fresh: 20 | Rotten: 13

Strong performances by the lead actresses make White Oleander a compelling female melodrama.

audience

78

liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 50,116

My Rating

Movie Info

The Oprah Book Club best-seller by Janet Fitch makes it to the big screen in this adaptation from British director Peter Kosminsky. White Oleander recounts the traumatic adolescence of Astrid Magnusson (Alison Lohman), who finds herself an orphan after her short-fused, enigmatic artist mother Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer) is carted off to prison on murder charges. Astrid first finds herself in the care of Starr (Robin Wright Penn), a garish, born-again mother of two with a gruff but sensitive

PG-13,

Drama

Mary Agnes Donoghue

Mar 11, 2003

$16.3M

Warner Bros. Pictures - Official Site External Icon

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All Critics (146) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (95) | Rotten (40) | DVD (22)

'Synthetic' is the best description of this well-meaning, beautifully produced film that sacrifices its promise for a high-powered star pedigree.

October 25, 2002 Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee
Sacramento Bee
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A smart, compelling drama.

October 19, 2002 Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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The film is worth seeing for its honest heart and for the magnificent acting.

October 14, 2002 Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
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Though it flirts with bathos and pathos and the further Oprahfication of the world as we know it, it still cuts all the way down to broken bone.

October 11, 2002
Washington Post
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A movie that wafts in and out of clarity like a wavering transmission.

October 11, 2002 Full Review Source: Toronto Star
Toronto Star
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Much of the pleasure to be had in White Oleander is in watching its female stars revel in their screen time.

October 11, 2002 Full Review Source: Seattle Times
Seattle Times
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Upsetting and dark, for older than PG-13.

December 29, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media

A truly involving, well-written and entertaining film supported by excellent performances...

April 29, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed
Cinema Crazed

Distinguishing it from Oxygen channel territory is its surprisingly hard edge.

December 30, 2008 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com
TheMovieReport.com

Lohman appears in nearly every scene and gives an assured, sympathetic performance as Astrid.

June 25, 2004 Full Review Source: Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)

The daughter's story is often haunting, but Peter Kosminsky's film . . . comes unglued because the mother is the stock psychotic villainess of countless Hollywood films.

December 1, 2003
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

An emotionally powerful story with some electrifying performances.

August 29, 2003 Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope
Laramie Movie Scope

Almost turns human misfortune into a costume parade.

June 29, 2003 Full Review Source: Sunday Times (Australia)
Sunday Times (Australia)

Audience Reviews for White Oleander

Really good and interesting story with brilliant performances.
September 13, 2011
StarCrossedVoyager

Super Reviewer

Alison Lohman is not, in my opinion, the best choice for a protagonist for this one, but Michelle Pfeiffer's never blinking reptile eyes are just about perfect. The story is rather lackluster, but the acting power can be quite extraordinary when handled correctly.
May 30, 2007
jennifxu

Super Reviewer

    1. Ingrid Magnussen: Loneliness is a human condition.
    – Submitted by Marian A (4 months ago)
    1. Ingrid Magnussen: Love humiliates you, Hatred cradles you.
    – Submitted by Meg B (6 months ago)

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