ONE TRUE THING
The setting is the small town of Langhorn, New York, where George Gulden
(William Hurt) is chair of the English department at a small college. His
daughter Ellen (Zellweger) is a hard-shelled NYC news writer. She travels
home to attend a birthday party for her dad, politely declining her mother
Kate's (Streep) request that all attendees dress as their favorite literary
character. Ellen idolizes her father and respects his critical commentaries
on her work, but cannot comprehend why Kate is so infatuated with being
a homemaker.
When the family learns that Kate has cancer, George asks Ellen to move
back home for a while to help take care of her. Though Ellen is reluctant
to give up her job, he convinces her that she can work from home. Also,
he strokes her ego by asking her to write an introduction to be included
in his upcoming book. This is such an honor for her that she accepts the
mom-sitting job.
But Ellen is soon in over her head. Kate is involved with a ladies' club
called the "Minnies," a group of women who regularly decorate
the town for holidays. Since Halloween is right around the corner, Kate
has a full schedule for the upcoming months, right through Christmas. Ellen's
list of duties quickly grows to include donning a witch costume, roasting
a turkey, and making ornamental cardinals for the Christmas tree, all while
struggling to continue her career as best she can and keep her relationship
going with her boyfriend. She is even made an honorary "Minnie,"
which she sees as a dubious distinction. But everything changes when she
discovers an unsettling secret about her dad.
Based on the best-selling novel by former New York Times columnist
Anna Quindlen, Karen Croner's screenplay shows the kind of torsion exerted
on a family when a member is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
Though Streep is saddled with playing the victim, she does it without making
Kate a pathetic whiner or an unbelievably courageous heroine. But Zellweger's
task may be even a bit more difficult than Streep's, since the entire film
is seen though her eyes. She must come to many revelations about her mother,
her father, and herself, and each one changes her a little. This is a tricky
journey Zellweger must make, and director Franklin must share the credit
for helping her through it.
Hurt is beginning to become somewhat stagnant in his characterizations
of late. His George is phoned in, as was his John Robinson in last spring's
Lost In Space. But he is talented
enough to make it plausible even in the absence of energy, and he has a
few moments. And Tom Everett Scott (Dead
Man On Campus, An American
Werewolf In Paris) also turns in a nice supporting performance as
Ellen's brother Brian.
One True Thing is a tear-jerker, no doubt. But with this script and this calibre of actors, its quality shows through. And Streep's performance will probably secure her another Oscar nomination. ****½