Python Hyena
One True Thing (1998): Dir: Carl Franklin / Cast: Meryl Streep, Renee Zellweger, William Hurt, Tom Everett Scott, Lauren Graham: Drama about sacrifice and hanging on even when your last breath hangs in balance. Meryl Streep plays an ambitious housewife busy preparing her husband's birthday. Renee Zellweger plays her daughter who arrives home to discover that her brother flunked out of college. When it is learned that Streep has cancer Zellweger reluctantly puts her job on hold. William Hurt plays Streep's husband, a university professor who acts as if nothing has changed. Zellweger distances herself when she catches him in the midst of an affair. Plot bares too many similarities to another Streep film Marvin's Room and it follows too many predictable developments. Fine directing by Carl Franklin who also made One False Move. Strong performances by Streep who focuses on family as oppose to her illness. Zellweger is excellent as the frustrated daughter trying to maintain emotions and sanity. Hurt is well cast as a husband fleeing from his emotions. Tom Everett Scott as the son who flunked out of college provides comic relief. Aside from the family, other roles are less interesting and limited at best. We all know where this is all going to end up but it examines trauma and the important things we often take for granted. Score: 7 ½ / 10
namashi_1
Based on the Novel by Anna Quindlen, 'One True Thing', directed by Carl Franklin, is a Senstive Film, that is Real & Moving. Another thing, the performances are super here! 'One True Thing' tells the story of a career oriented girl, who is forced to take care of her cancer-stick-en mother. It's about pleasure, It's about pain and it's about a family.Screenplay by Karen Croner, is challenging & moving. The relationships are effectively executed. Carl Franklin directs this story efficiently. Cinematography & Editing are good. Performance-Wise: Meryl Streep is dependable, as always. Renne Zellweger is fantastic. She delivers in every sequence. William Hurt is restrained. Tom Evertt Scott has a brief role. Nicky Katt does well. On the whole, A Well-Made film, that deserves a watch.
djackson-13
Perhaps it's just me who noticed the subtle sub-plot that the daughter was dating a man exactly like her father....a pig! Art certainly imitates life for One True Thing was the ah-ha moment that explained my divorce. My ex could not co-exist with a man who respects women. Whoever wrote the screenplay exhibits a great sense of soul. An uncommon trait in Hollywood....or anywhere else for that matter....gosh or golly....my comment was rejected because I did not complete a minimum of ten lines....I guess IMDb does not subscribe to the creed that brevity is the soul of comity...pun intended....there....that should do it!
pooky37027
The reason I think this movie is fabulous is that it has so many layers of emotion. From the script and the fabulous acting you can tell that there is a history behind all of the feelings that there are. You understand why the characters take certain actions and why the do not make others. You can feel sympathy and joy and love and sorrow for them all at once. You see humanity at its best AND at it's worst. You can relate to the characters because although you may have never been in their exact situations before you see qualities and downfalls in them that you see in yourself. To a certain extent this movie kind of keeps you wondering but then at the end it explains itself and you feel a certain peace and understanding not only in you but for the characters. I will say that I have have never EVER cried so much in my life nor have gotten so much out of something. I implore you to watch this movie and take it's meaning to heart. That there is only one true thing and that is... love.
AD
