Streep's performance makes the movie worth seeing.
One True Thing (1998)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:61
Fresh:54
Rotten:7
Average Rating:7.2/10
Consensus: Solid performances lift this drama to a higher level.
Runtime: 2 hrs 8 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: ONE TRUE THING tells the sobering story of a family whose strength is tested when tragedy strikes. Ellen Gulden (Renee Zellweger), a writer living in New York City, has dedicated her life to... ONE TRUE THING tells the sobering story of a family whose strength is tested when tragedy strikes. Ellen Gulden (Renee Zellweger), a writer living in New York City, has dedicated her life to becoming a successful journalist. When she learns that her mother, Kate (Meryl Streep--nominated for an Oscar for her performance) is dying of cancer, her life is forever altered. Ellen's father, George Gulden (William Hurt), a National Book Award winner and university professor, pressures her into moving home and sacrificing her own life for her mother's sake. The pressure of running the household combined with the pain of seeing her mother grow terminally ill threatens to overwhelm Ellen, and she is further upset when she discovers that her father may not be the ideal she thought he was. Based on the book by journalist Anna Quindlen, ONE TRUE THING tackles its serious subject matter without becoming heavy-handed, a tribute to Carl Franklin's (ONE FALSE MOVE) accomplished, compassionate direction. [More]
Starring: Meryl Streep, Renée Zellweger, William Hurt, Tom Everett Scott
Starring: Meryl Streep, Renée Zellweger, William Hurt, Tom Everett Scott, Lauren Graham, Nicky Katt, James Eckhouse, Patrick Breen, Gerrit Graham
Director: Carl Franklin
Director: Carl Franklin
Screenwriter: Karen Croner
Producer: Jesse Beaton, Harry J. Ufland
Composer: Cliff Eidelman
Reviews for One True Thing
It's a sad film that deals with tragic events. But the appeals to emotion are wholly honest and not the least bit crude.
Unfortunately, director Carl Franklin paces the film with a dirge-like rhythm. And its lengthiness is hardly mitigated by William Hurt's lackluster performance.
Typical Meryl, as Streep Streeps her way through another wintry family crisis movie.
Heartfelt acting and imaginative filmmaking transform soap-opera into an affecting screen experience.
The one true thing to remember about this film is how worthwhile it is.
Although the plot rarely excels, the actors bring enough to their roles to transform this motion picture into a satisfying weeper.
Streep manages to transcend the material and outshine her other fellow cast members to such a degree that you wish they and the material were at least as good as she is.
Streep's performance mesmerizes, but it is Zellweger's engrossing portrayal as the selfish daughter that sells her as a serious Hollywood actress.
Superb cast, excellent performances, well-written script and great direction!
The film rests firmly on the shoulders of Streep and, to a lesser degree, Zellweger. Their performances, and Carl Franklin's understated direction keep the tears and life-affirming revelations from congealing into chicken shmaltz for the soul.
The actors are all phenomenally affecting, and Carl Franklin's direction and Declan Quinn's camerawork make the most of the little moments that pass between people.
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