White Oleander (2002)
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.
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.
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Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 50,116
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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
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Cast
-
Alison Lohman
Astrid Magnussen -
Michelle Pfeiffer
Ingrid Magnussen -
Robin Wright
Starr -
Renée Zellweger
Claire Richards -
Billy Connolly
Barry Kolker -
Svetlana Efremova
Rena -
Patrick Fugit
Paul Trout -
Cole Hauser
Ray -
Noah Wyle
Ron Richards -
Amy Aquino
Miss Martinez -
John Billingsley
Paramedic -
Debra Christofferson
Marlena -
Leila Kenzle
Ann Greenway -
Cathy Ladman
Swap Meet Mother -
James Lashly
Reverend Daniels -
Stephen Root
Michael -
Mark Soper
Patrick -
Biff Yeager
Judge -
Scott Allan Campbell
Bill Greenway -
Drinda La Lumia
Patty -
Liz Stauber
Carolee -
Marc Donato
Davey -
Kali Rocha
Susan Valeris -
Taryn Manning
Nikki -
Melissa McCarthy
Paramedic -
Elisa Bocanegra
Girl in Fight -
Melissa Marsala
Julie -
Carl Sundstrom
Police Officer -
Sam Catlin
Teacher -
Darlene Bohorquez
Prisoner -
Solomon Burke Jr.
Guard -
Vernon Haas
Guard -
Sean Happy
Dirt Bike Boyfriend -
Myra Lamar
Detective -
James W. Lee
Prison Visitor -
Daniel Mandehr
Dad at Induction Area -
DeVonda Manghane
Guard at X-ray Machine -
Roger McIntyre
Police Officer -
Dallas McKinney
Owen -
Brian Mulligan
Bailiff -
Allison Munn
Hannah -
Jennifer Saxon
Swap Meet Daughter -
Samantha Shelton
Yvonne -
Kimo Wills
Comic Book Store Clerk
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White Oleander Trailer & Photos
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.
Top CriticA smart, compelling drama.
The film is worth seeing for its honest heart and for the magnificent acting.
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.
A movie that wafts in and out of clarity like a wavering transmission.
Much of the pleasure to be had in White Oleander is in watching its female stars revel in their screen time.
Upsetting and dark, for older than PG-13.
A truly involving, well-written and entertaining film supported by excellent performances...
Distinguishing it from Oxygen channel territory is its surprisingly hard edge.
Lohman appears in nearly every scene and gives an assured, sympathetic performance as Astrid.
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.
An emotionally powerful story with some electrifying performances.
Almost turns human misfortune into a costume parade.
Audience Reviews for White Oleander
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
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- Ingrid Magnussen: Loneliness is a human condition.
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- Ingrid Magnussen: Love humiliates you, Hatred cradles you.
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