Rating: 
Summary: Alison steals the show
Review: White Oleander was a relatively good adaptation from the wonderful novel by Janet Fitch. Some of my favorite relationships weren't included in the movie, but of course everything can't be incorporated. Alison Lohman stole the show, acting side by side with big-time actresses such as Michelle Pfeiffer, Renee Zellweger, and Robin Wright Penn (who all did excellent jobs as well). White Oleander is about Astrid's (Lohman) journey from foster home to foster home and the relationships she makes along the way. She must overcome adversity, and deal with the fact that her domineering mother is in prison for murder. Even from the cell, her mother (Pfeiffer) has a large impact on her daughter's life. Astrid's eyes are opened along the way, as she faces the hardest years of her life alone.
Rating: 
Summary: Truely amazing, a wonderful storytelling...
Review: Alison Lohman deliveres an awe-inspiring performance in this amazing adaptation of the book White Oleander. While I've never read the book, the movie is absolutely stunning and thought-provoking, with believeable characters, situations, and relationships, especially the relationship between Ingrid, a scathing artist, and her daughter Astrid (Lohman). I highly reccomend this film to anyone who feels lost and alone, and would like to say that it's popularity falls sadly short of it's worth.
Rating:
Summary: Very good, Allison Lohman shines..
Review: I had never read the novel to this movie and I don't plan to because i know that it will only spoil the movie, since the books are always better. Newcomer Allison Lohman did an excellent job as the troubled teen bouncing from foster home to foster home encourtering new problems, each which her mother blamed her for. This movie might include veterans Michelle Phieffer and Renee Zellwinger but the movie speaks and feels the main characters emotions and pain. It feels almost like a documentary as Ostrid connects with each home only for it to later be destroyed by passion and innocence. The transformation of Ostrid's appearence and emotions takes you on a rollercoaster ride filled with bruises and fights. This movie is an excellent potrayal homes and broken people. I hope to see Allison Lohman in future roles as powerful and mind blowing as she was in White Oleander.
Rating: 
Summary: Book is Far better
Review: I was throughly disappointed in this adaption of a extrodinary book. I expected because of all the exceptional actresses in this movie that of course it was going to be great. So many key elements of the book were left out. It is absolutely one of the best books I have ever read. The movie could never exert all of the powerful emotions the book does. Don't buy the movie, just go read the book!
Rating:
Summary: Very Pretty movie
Review: About a Mother(played by Michelle Pfeiffer) who murders her boyfriend because he's cheating on her, her daughter Astrid(played by Alison Lohman) is forced to foster parents because her father left her mother when she was only 6 months old. She 1st meets this couple, mother is played by Robin-Wright Penn, & her boyfriend is Ray, fairly sweet guy who stops his girlfriend from murdering Astrid. She's takin to a foster place, where a bunch of kids rummage, Patrick Fugit plays her love interest, she meets him at this place, but she receives another couple looking for foster kids, the wife, Claire Richards(played fantastically by Renee Zellweger), very loving & sensitive woman, & the husband who is gone alot, divorces her, Astrid's mother, after she meets Claire, poisins Claire, & Astrid wakes up the next morning to find Claire lying right beside her, dead. Astrid's mother finally decides to do what's right & confesses in court, she's sentenced for life, while Astrid stays with her love. This movie is well-thought & well-developped. Great acting, especially from Renee Zellweger, I've never loved a character as much as hers in this one, she is a fantastic actress, incredible work & Michelle Pfeiffer as the mother who is evil with a weak side, she portrays the character very well. As for the main character, Alison Lohman isn't a bad choice, but she wasn't incredibly remarkable either. Great movie, recommended, slow but very moving.
Rating:
Summary: White is White
Review: This is a very good film, that a lot of people can enjoy, be careful it's a little bit sad but Alison Lohman and Michelle Pfeiffer are so great, nothing else to say.
Rating:
Summary: Oddity--liked the film BETTER than the book
Review: That almost never happens. BUT, i watched the film first. While the novel ends more realistically, the film's ending made me comfortable. Pfieffer is tremendous. Alison Lohman is a true talent. Even Zellweger--who doesn't usually impress me--hits her mark here. Robin--Sean;s wife--does a terrific job! She steals the film. I like the implications here, the things not spelled out. Nicely done.
Rating:
Summary: I almost didn't watch this movie...
Review: I relished reading the book, White Oleander, three years ago. To this day, I cannot hear the words 'foster care' without being haunted by Astrid and her heart wrenching coming-of-age drama. I must admit, however, that I was hesitant to watch this movie and go on the emotional roller coaster that I expected it to evoke. I succumbed, and am heartened, because this movie adaptation is a TRUE GEM. It is wonderfully cast, acted, directed, and edited. Seldom do I think movie adaptations stand shoulder to shoulder with their book, but this movie beautifully captures the heart and soul of the written word.
Rating:
Summary: Cat Fight! Meow. . .
Review: And the Lord said, "Let there be 'chick flicks.'" And the studios unleashed them. Steel Magnolias. Fried Green Tomatoes. Postcards from the Edge. Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. And into this swirling estrogen sea director Peter Kosminsky dips a tentative polished toe with his film, WHITE OLEANDER. This is a film that takes on the full spectacle of female/male dysfunction and shakes, rattles 'n rolls. Just among the four main characters (Michelle Pfeiffer, Robin Wright Penn, Renee Zellweger, Alison Lohman) I counted a murder, a suicide, an assault with a deadly weapon, a fistfight--even a bad haircut--all in the name of those pesky men and the trouble they bring. As a male, I felt so guilty after watching this film that I cooked dinner and did the laundry. No, I really didn't feel that guilty, I admit. WHITE OLEANDER is a handsome film--correction: with its four babes it is a real beaut of celluloid. But all the fighting, scratching, and clawing made me yearn for something a little less violent. So I switched the TV to professional wrestling. Hey, is that lipstick Hulk Hogan is wearing?
--D. Mikels
Rating:
Summary: the human condition
Review: astrid's world is stark white with shades of blue. the real world seems overly bright and painted. that is all the movie is able to capture. the actresses were all well chosen and they are actresses i admire. but their scenes are too short and the tension and pain never has enough time to build. if given the chance, i think they would have brought the characters to life. i could taste the blood and the tears when i read the book. but the movie made things "nice". except maybe the scenes with claire. they gave renee zellweger enough to work with. even ingrid is nice although there are moments. her words aren't as sharp. she doesn't make astrid bleed like she does in the book. even though some of the dialogue was taken word for word, too many important things were left out and they feel dull. i don't know what more they could have done with the time restrictions. but my advice ... read the book.
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