One True Thing poster & wallpaper

Meryl Streep, Renée Zellweger, William Hurt

Based on Anna Quindlen's bestselling novel, this is a mother-daughter and father-daughter story, two for the price of one. But director Carl Franklin also tries to inject a police-mystery angle that i...( read more  read more... )t neither needs nor will support. Renee Zellweger plays a young writer on the rise, who has finally gotten her break for a New York magazine. While home for a birthday party for her nearly famous writer father (William Hurt), she learns that her mother (Meryl Streep) has been diagnosed with cancer. Then her father does the unthinkable: He all but commands her to put her career on hold to take care of her mother and nurse her through her illness. Dad, a popular college professor who has never gotten the literary acclaim he always believed he deserved, essentially checks out--and daughter must play parent to her mother. Strong performances by Streep and Zellweger give this parent-child relationship the heart--and the anger--of the real thing, while Hurt seems slightly disembodied as the self-involved father whose needs have dominated both women. Still, the detective-story aspect (the film is told in flashback, as the cops try to discover whether someone slipped Mom a fatal dose of morphine) is a construct that could have been done without. --Marshall Fine

Flixster Users

65% liked it

2,105 ratings

Critics

89% liked it

61 critics

R, 128 min.

Directed by: Carl Franklin

Release Date: September 18, 1998

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DVD Release Date: August 10, 1999

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Stats: 337 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (337)

  • rebvodka042099
    July 26, 2008
    rebvodka042099
    Sincere and modest. Touching and moving. With balanced share of emotions and wonderful performances.
  • dreamfaeries
    November 9, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Pretty good and emotional.
  • graveling861
    March 29, 2009
    graveling861
    Renee Zellweger's best film role, made before she was a real name. Meryl Streep is also amazing as her dying mother.
  • mvasconcelosperez
    November 10, 2009
    mvasconcelosperez
    Tender,moving.really great,I cried while i watched the part where they sing a chrismas song,and how does she has the courage to take the pills,makes you reflect on yourself...
  • Basht
    September 9, 2009
    Basht
    i could have done without the invstigation
  • ruba1029
    September 1, 2009
    ruba1029
    touching story , it must be so hard to see a person you love die from cancer in front of you , knowing this would be your last time together ...
    excellent performances from both Meryl Streep & Renee Zellwegar .
    i cried in this movie but not as much as in Stepmom ...i actually ...( read more)watched this when i was mad from my dad and mom but after that i changed my feelings towards them
  • javaursula128
    July 6, 2009
    javaursula128
    You got a Harvard education, but where is your heart?
  • BarbieVenom
    June 19, 2009
    BarbieVenom
    I cried watching parts of it on youtube. Meryl has cancer !
    :(
    xx.
  • Tay0915
    April 12, 2009
    Tay0915
    absolutly wonderful , wonderful cast , lovely story , meryl streep plays a wonderful cancer women. just a powerful performance from all four of them !
  • hummo7
    March 7, 2009
    hummo7
    looks a bit old and cheap.

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Critic Reviews

May 11, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Even director Carl Franklin...can't prevent One True Thing from descending into chick-movie hell. full review

January 1, 2000
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Its strong cast and restrained direction lift it above the Kleenex. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It is the craftsmanship that elevates One True Thing above the level of a soaper. full review

January 1, 2000
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Streep shines! full review

View more One True Thing reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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