White Oleander

If this film wasn't backed by some big-named actresses making some strong performance, you probably would be watching White Oleander on Lifetime. Based on the best-selling novel by writer, Janet Fitch, White Oleander tells the tale of the mother-daughter relationship between 15-year old, Astrid Magnussen (Alison Lohman) and her brilliant, but emotionally disturbed mother and artist, Ingrid Magnussen (Michelle Pfeiffer). When Ingrid is imprisoned for the murder of her wayward boyfriend, Barry (Billy Connolly), by poisoning him with oleander blossoms, Astrid is tossed into the California foster care system and is placed within some colorful, yet disappointing households.

Her first placement is with a recovering alcoholic and born-again Christian, Starr Thomas (Robin Wright Penn), who lives in a mobile home in the California desert with her children and boyfriend. Starr embraces Astrid with open arms, but begins to turns a little less Christian-like when she thinks that Astrid is seducing her boyfriend, Ray (Colin Hauser). Eventually, Starr's jealousy turns violent and Astrid is sent back into the system.

During her state institutionalism, Astrid begins to resent the attention that her beauty spawns. But she starts to soften when she is placed with the lonely, but generous B-actress, Claire Richards (Renee Zellweger) and her husband (Noah Wyle), who have developed marital problems. Astrid loosens up because of Claire's attentiveness and affection. Again, things start to go sour for Astrid because of Claire's lack of self-conscious. This is when Astrid finds herself with Rena (Svetland Efremova), a very cynical Russian woman, who is a swap-vendor that puts Astrid to work and teaches her to put more value in the dollar than in love.

Don't think that Astrid has forgotten her mother during her entire ordeal. She visits her. But she focuses much of her anger towards Ingrid because of her continous attempts to control Astrid. Ingrid tries to warn Astrid in order to keep her away from the rest of the world, as well as from men. Astrid, slowly, but painfully, learns to protect herself against pain and disappointment and from her mother's possessiveness, that is more cruel than caring.

Though the actresses really pull this film together with their spectacular performances, the film just doesn't leave you with much closure as you might expect in a film involving relationstips. And, we never really learn the full story or motive behind Barry's death. But, it is definitely White Oleander's talented cast and wonderful performances that landed this film on the big screen and not on Lifetime: Televison for Women.